Swedish Meatballs (köttbullar)

In Sweden köttbullar are made with minced beef or a mix of beef, pork, veal mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk and finely chopped onions, some broth plus cream and is seasoned with salt, white pepper or allspice. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. These meatballs are an essential part of a Swedish smorgasbord and have the distinct flavour of allspice. Allspice is the dried, unripe berry of the pimento tree. The name allspice was invented as early as 1621 by the English, who thought it combined the flavour of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It is available ground or in seed form and used in a variety of dishes such as pickles, casseroles, cakes and puddings. Make an exciting peppercorn mixture by mixing an equal amount of whole allspice berries to green, black and white peppercorns to use in your peppermill.

Ingredients make 20 -25 balls serve 4

¼ cup breadcrumbs (25g)

½ cup milk (125g)

1 egg (50g)

1 onion finely chopped (125g)

½ tsp salt

1 tsp allspice

500 g lean beef mince

Method

Place breadcrumbs and milk in a large bowl, mix and let the breadcrumbs really soak up the milk. Add egg, onion, salt, allspice and mix well. Add the beef mince and combine so it all binds well together. Make meatballs the size of a small egg and fry slowly in butter on a frying pan or cook on low heat in the oven. Serve with mashed potatoes, Lingonberry jam, sweet gherkins, sauce and finely chopped parsley.

Sauce

2 tbls butter (40g)

2 tbls plain flour (20g)

1 cup beef stock (250g)

 ¼ tsp salt

1½ cup fresh cream (375g)

Method

Melt butter in a saucepan and combine with flour using a whisk. Add beef stock, salt while whisking and bring to the boil. Whisk cream in and simmer for 3 minutes and serve.

Note: If there is any meatballs and sauce leftover, combine them and place in a covered container in the fridge to be reheated the next day. Use red currant jelly if lingonberry jam is not available.

If allspice is not available make this substitute: Instead of 1 teaspoon ground allspice use ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves.