Delicious Swedish meatballs -- Ikea style with a twist!
Delicious Swedish Meatballs, köttbullar, IKEA style in a classic creamy rich sauce with a twist, such a comforting dinner made at home, saving you a trip to Ikea or Sweden.
I did it for you so you don’t have to do it….As British expats who spent four-plus years in Stockholm, I can say without hesitation that it was one of the most memorable times for us and made even more special by the birth of our daughter. Moving to a new country is never easy, but Sweden’s capital city was quite welcoming and accommodating from the start.
One of the first things we noticed about Stockholm was how well-organised, efficient and child-friendly everything was. The public transportation system is top-notch, with buses, trains, and subway lines, running like clockwork. The city is clean and safe, and the people are friendly and helpful.
The most enjoyable thing about Stockholm was the stunning natural beauty of the city and the fishing villages around the city. We had many memorable picnics at the famous Hagaparken as was our neighbourhood. Stockholm is situated on 14 islands, with water and green areas around every corner. It’s a city that seamlessly blends urban sophistication with natural wonder.
In terms of culture and entertainment, Stockholm is a dream come true. The city is home to some of the world’s best museums, including the famous Vasa Museum, which is a must-see attraction. The performing arts scene is equally impressive, with world-class theatres, opera houses, and concert venues that host a wide range of events throughout the year.
Now the thing that we appreciated most about living in Stockholm, was the emphasis on work-life balance. Swedes value their time and prioritise spending it with family and friends. The work culture is supportive and collaborative, with a focus on getting the job done efficiently and effectively without sacrificing personal time.
Swedes place a high value on physical activity and have a reputation for being some of the healthiest eaters in the world and for good reason. The Swedish diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein, and is low in sugar and saturated fats. Even the Swedish government has implemented policies to promote healthy eating. For example, there is a tax on sugary drinks, but the government provides subsidies for organic and locally-grown produce.
Swedish meatballs have become a beloved comfort food for us, with potatoes, peas, cucumber pickles and lingonberry jam. I have worked out an easy short-cut, Slow cooker/Crock-Pot recipe using Lamb mince instead without compromising on the taste. It will allow you to prepare it in advance and let it cook slowly throughout the day. This makes it a dinner for any busy day of the week, but you can absolutely cook this in a regular pan, regular way on a traditional stovetop, recipe will work both ways. Here is my take on the classic recipe with YouTube recipe tutorial, you can try making it at home.
The most enjoyable thing about Stockholm was the stunning natural beauty of the city and the fishing villages around the city. We had many memorable picnics at the famous Hagaparken as was our neighbourhood. Stockholm is situated on 14 islands, with water and green areas around every corner. It’s a city that seamlessly blends urban sophistication with natural wonder.
In terms of culture and entertainment, Stockholm is a dream come true. The city is home to some of the world’s best museums, including the famous Vasa Museum, which is a must-see attraction. The performing arts scene is equally impressive, with world-class theatres, opera houses, and concert venues that host a wide range of events throughout the year.
Now the thing that we appreciated most about living in Stockholm, was the emphasis on work-life balance. Swedes value their time and prioritise spending it with family and friends. The work culture is supportive and collaborative, with a focus on getting the job done efficiently and effectively without sacrificing personal time.
Swedes place a high value on physical activity and have a reputation for being some of the healthiest eaters in the world and for good reason. The Swedish diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein, and is low in sugar and saturated fats. Even the Swedish government has implemented policies to promote healthy eating. For example, there is a tax on sugary drinks, but the government provides subsidies for organic and locally-grown produce.
Swedish meatballs have become a beloved comfort food for us, with potatoes, peas, cucumber pickles and lingonberry jam. I have worked out an easy short-cut, Slow cooker/Crock-Pot recipe using Lamb mince instead without compromising on the taste. It will allow you to prepare it in advance and let it cook slowly throughout the day. This makes it a dinner for any busy day of the week, but you can absolutely cook this in a regular pan, regular way on a traditional stovetop, recipe will work both ways. Here is my take on the classic recipe with YouTube recipe tutorial, you can try making it at home.Ingredients
- 1/2 kg Ground lamb or a combination of beef and lamb
- 1 Large Onion Finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs or Panko
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1 medium Egg
- 1 tbsp Minced garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/2 tea spoon White pepper
- 1 tea spoon Ground Allspice or Garam masala or Five spice
- 1 tea spoon Nutmeg powder or freshly grated
- 1 tea spoon Cayenne pepper
- Handful of finely chopped Pasley or Dill
- 1 tbsp Butter for frying
- 2 large Potatoes cut into chunks
Cream sauce
- 2 tbsp Butter or oil
- 1.5 tbsp Plain flour
- 1 Stock cube in 2 cups hot water
- Cooked onions
- ½ cup Double cream
To serve
- Fresh herbs
- Lingonberry jam
- Green Peas
- Cucumber pickle
Fresh Pickled Cucumber
- Cucumber thin slices
- Dash of honey
- 1 tea spoon Mustard seeds
- Chopped herbs, preferably Dill or Parsley
- White vinegar or Apple cider vinegar
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Mix all in a bowl and leave it aside to pickle
Instructions
- Chop a large onion finely and fry 3/4 of it in a frying pan with 1 tbsp butter until golden brown, set aside.
- In a blender or large bowl, mix together the ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, half of the fried onions, remaining chopped onions, egg, garlic, chopped herbs, salt, black & white pepper, cayenne pepper, five spice and nutmeg until combine well but just don’t over work it.
- Roll the mixture into small meatballs, about 1-2 inches in diameter.
- Heat 1tbs butter or oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
- Now place your meatballs into your slow cooker.
- Add a stock cube into 2 cup hot water, mix well.
- Add remaining butter and the flour to the same pan and cook for a minute, add the stock cube broth mix well and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add cream and rest of the fried onions. Stir to combine with the broth let it cook for a minute or two, add it to the meatballs.
- Now also add little water and the potatoes to the slow cooker and let it cook on stew cooking setting for 50minutes to an hour or on slow cooking setting through out the day.
- Taste, adjust seasoning and serve the meatballs and potatoes with some boiled peas, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumbers, and enjoy!
- Note: Lingonberry jam is a traditional accompaniment to Swedish meatballs, but you can also serve them with redcurrant jam or cranberry sauce. Side can be swap by cooking separately as roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or potato wedges, rice or pasta.
