Swedish meatballs

[CatPoet]

Swedish meatballs, what could be more Swedish then this. Well actually we got it from the Turks around  1700, it is our version of  Turkish kofta.  Yes, we had a king who loved all thing Turkish and we have a lot of classic Swedish dishes which origin is from  Turkey.  So the world wasnt as small as people think.

 

This recipe comes from the  Swedish Military handbook, it is gluten free which is ace and  it can be made milk free too.

In Sweden every family way has  their own way of making them in some family they use oatmeal, others  bone dry bread crumbs and some potatoes, which meat  that is used also come down to family tradition.  Then there is the  pepper either allspice, white pepper or black and every one says their is the most accurate and Swedish. And we get tired of rolling meatballs and arguing who makes the most Swedish meatball, well then we make this into patties or meatloaf.

 

Swedish Meatballs.  10 servings

 

1 kilo ground beef or  300 gram pork and 700 gram beef or  50/50 pork and beef or  pork. 

300 gram of boiled riced or finely grated potatoes

250- 300 ml cream or milk or  water

3/4 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon allspice or white pepper or black pepper or a mix of all three

50 ml of finely grated or finely chopped onions

3 eggs

 

 In a  large bowl  add salt and pepper to the meat,  work quickly in the eggs, onion and potatoes.  

Add the liquid of choice and  work the  meat until it is smooth and  easy to roll into a ball.  It shouldn't be too hard nor to soft. 

Heat  up a frying pan  and add butter or margarine. Roll one ball, flatten and fry, taste.  Season more if needed.  

Turn of the frying pan and now start  the fun task of rolling  a lot of meatballs.   

You need about 20 grams for dinner meatballs and buffet style is 15 grams

To make it easier to roll,  in a bowl add cold water and 1 teaspoon of oil, dip you hand in this before rolling and the meat wont stick to your hand.

Roll into a ball and leave on a  rinsed   cutting board.   

Heat a the frying pan up and melt  knob of butter.   Add about 20- 30 meatballs depending on the size of your frying pan. Rock back and forth  to make sure they stay round.  Fry until done this will take about 10 minutes.

The  cheating way of making a lot of meat balls is this,  You can  brown them in the pan and then cook  until done in the oven  ( 175C for 10 minutes).  

That is what I do for Christmas, we brown and add to oven pan and when it full we bake them.  This is easier done by two people then one.

 

 

How to serve Swedish meatballs.

Meatballs,  cucumber salad or pickles, boiled potatoes, cream gravy and lingon jam or cranberry sauce,

 

Cream gravy , take your favorite  gravy recipe and add some cream and make a thick  lovely  sauce.

 

Cucumber salad also know as pressed cucumber: Serves 4, 1 large fresh  English cucumber  or similar

2 tablespoon of pickling vinegar 

2 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon white pepper milled

1/2 teaspoon  salt

2 tablespoon parsley

 

Slice cucumber in thin slices, mix everything with cucumber. Place in a shallow bowl, add another bowl on top and some  weights. Leave for  1 hour before serving.