These Swedish meatballs are actually pretty easy to make, and they are incredible! I love to serve them (as pictured) with french fries - it's like being at IKEA, but better.
2sliceswhite breadcrusts removed, torn into tiny pieces
¼cupwhole milk
1pound ground beef
1poundground pork
1smallred oniongrated or finely diced
1largeeggbeaten
⅛teaspoonallspiceground
¼teaspooncardamomground
⅛teaspoongingerground
¼teaspoononion powder
¼teaspoongarlic powder
½tablespoonparsleydried
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonpepper
2tablespoonsbutter
For the Gravy
2cupsbeef broth
2tablespoonsflour
¼cupcold water
¼cupheavy cream
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonpepper
Instructions
Steps to make Swedish Meatballs
In a small mixing bowl. soak the bread in the milk until very soft.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients (except the butter), then add the soaked bread, and mix together well with your hands.
Shape the mixture into golf ball sized balls, you should end up with about 2 dozen.
Heat the butter in a large skillet (I use cast iron) and add the meatballs.
Cook a batch at a time, until very browned on the outside, but cooked through, about 10 minutes per batch. shake the skillet from time to time so the meatballs roll around, and brown evenly.
Place the cooked meatballs in the oven to keep warm.
Steps to make Swedish Meatball Gravy:
Pour 1 cup of stock into the hot skillet you used to brown the meatballs, let it simmer for about 5 minutes while scraping the bottom of the skillet with a spatula to release any stuck bits from the meatballs.
Strain that 'gravy' into a small saucepan, then stir in the remaining cup of stock.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk the flour into the cold water until smooth, then whisk this mixture into the warm gravy.
Let this simmer for about 5 minutes, whisking constantly, until it thickens, then add the cream and salt and pepper.
Transfer to gravy bowl and serve.
Recipe Notes
The best way of making the Swedish meatballs is by forming them smaller with a tiny bit of olive oil on your hands so that they don't fall apart. Making them smaller helps reduce the cooking time.
Using a mixture of ground pork and ground beef for the Swedish meatballs will give them a better taste than just beef.
If you don't have heavy cream for the creamy gravy, you can substitute it with sour cream.