Swedish Meatballs and Rosettes

Recipes Inspired From Around The World,  Culinary Adventures: Sweden. Swedish Meatballs with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Rosettes.  Swedish Meatballs are probably one of the best known Swedish cooking specialties. They are definitely a necessity on the Smörgåsbord. Norway, Denmark and Finland have their own versions too.

Scandinavian Affordable

Every Scandinavian cookbook has at least one or more recipes for Swedish meatballs. Swedish Meatballs are made as a way to use up left-overs and as a way to stretch a meal. In northern Scandinavian countries beef was considered a luxury, that’s why many cooks added ground pork to their meatball recipes. Swedish Meatballs are fast, easy and affordable.

Köttbullar

Swedish Meatballs or “Köttbullar” are served with cooked potatoes, creamy brown gravy and lingonberries. Recipes for Swedish Meatballs were brought to the US by Scandinavian immigrants, many of whom settled in America’s Northern and Midwest States. Swedish Meatballs became very popular in the beginning of the 20th century and then again in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
rosette

Ikea Stores

When I take a trip to IKEA, I’m specifically  thinking about jam, jelly, marmalade and preserves. More to the point; Sylt Apelsin & Fläder Orange/Elderflower Marmalade,  Sylt Krusbär- Gooseberry Jam, Sylt Hallon & Blåbär- Raspberry and Blueberry Jam and Sylt Lingon- Lingonberry Preserves.

Lingonberry

The Lingonberry is a key ingredient in the Scandinavian diet. Lingonberries are a rich source of Vitamin C, an important vitamin necessary during the long winters in Scandinavian countries. Lingonberries are small, red, edible berries that grow on a perennial woody, evergreen shrub with a low growth habit. The lingonberry is related to both the blueberry and cranberry.

Lingonberries are native to Scandinavia, Alaska and Northeastern Canada, similar to cranberries but not quite as tart. Use the lingonberry in jam, jelly, preserves, juice, sauce, wine and liqueurs. Lingonberries can be used in any recipe that calls for cranberries or blueberries. Lingonberries also go by the names: cowberry, red whortleberry, foxberry, rock cranberry and partridge berry.

Next Time

The next time you stop at IKEA pick up an extra jar of Lingonberry Preserves. Then when you get home you can make this recipe for Lingonberry Cheesecake. With the popularity of stores like IKEA, Swedish Meatballs, Lingonberries and Scandinavian cooking in general is once again making a big come back. Thank goodness because Swedish Meatballs, the Lingonberry and the like are wonderful.

On our trips to IKEA, all my son Bob can think about are those amazing Swedish Meatballs, swimming in that incredibly delicious sauce. You can serve Swedish Meatballs and sauce over buttered wide egg noddles or spooned over garlic mashed potatoes. For a delicious change, try serving Swedish Meatballs with sauce over Microwave Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

The nearest IKEA is 2 1/2 hours away, so it’s hard for Bob to get his Swedish Meatball fix…he asked if I could make a “copy-cat” recipe and I found
this copy-cat version of IKEA Swedish Meatballs from Damn Delicious. Damn Delicious says, “They taste even better than the IKEA version” Bob will have to be the judge of that since he is the Swedish Meatball connoisseur in the family. Personally, I head straight for the dessert table…

Swedish Meatballs

This recipe is so easy to prepare. Make a double batch and store the uncooked meatballs in the freezer. When you get a craving for Swedish Meatballs,
you can defrost, brown and whip up the sauce. You’ll be enjoying a big plate of Swedish Meatballs in no time. This recipe for Swedish Meatballs was adapted from Damn Delicious . I had never made Swedish Meatballs and they are absolutely delicious!

 

Swedish Meatballs

 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons
    olive oil, divided
  • 1
    onion, diced
  • 1 pound
    ground beef
  • 1 pound
    ground pork
  • 1/2 cup
    panko
  • 2 large
    egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon
    ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon
    ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon
    kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon
    freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup
    unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup
    flour
  • 4 cups
    beef broth
  • 3/4 cup
    sour cream
  • salt and pepper
    to taste
  • 2 tablespoons
    snipped fresh chives

Cooking Directions

  1. To make meatballs:
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, cook stirring frequently until onion is translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, panko, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and cooked onions. Season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon or your clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs forming about 24 meatballs.
  4. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, add meatballs in batches and cook until all sides are brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
  5. To make gravy:
  6. Melt butter in the same skillet you used to brown the meatballs. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in beef broth and cook whisking constantly until slightly thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in meatballs and cook until heated through and sauce thickens, 10 to 20  minutes.

 

Serve Swedish Meatballs over Garlic Mashed Potatoes

 

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

 

Ingredients

  • 8
    potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 1/2 cup
    milk
  • 1/4 cup
    butter
  • 2 cloves
    garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper,
    to taste
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons
    snipped chives

Cooking Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add potatoes. Boil until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain. Place in a large bowl, add milk, butter, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix with an electric mixer or potato masher until desired consistency. Stir in snipped chives.
Rosettes
For Dessert serve light, crispy and sweet rosettes. Rosettes are a delicious and beautiful Scandinavian cookie made from a thin batter. The batter is fried on specially shaped irons and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Rosettes are usually prepared during the holiday season but we think they are far to pretty and much to tasty to be made only once a year.

 

Rosettes*

 

Ingredients

  • 2 large
    eggs
  • 2 teaspoons
    sugar
  • 1 teaspoon
    vanilla extract
  • 1 cup
    milk
  • 1 cup
    flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon
    salt
  • vegetable oil
    for frying
  • powdered sugar,
    for dusting

Cooking Directions

  1. Whisk together eggs, sugar, extract and milk.
  2. Sift together flour and salt, then whisk into the milk mixture until incorporated into a batter the texture of heavy cream. Refrigerate batter 2 hours.
  3. Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a heavy cast iron skillet to 375 degrees.
  4. Once the oil has reached desired temperature, submerge the rosette iron into the oil to quickly heat it.
  5. Pour batter into a shallow square pan. Carefully dip the heated rosette iron into the batter so that the batter covers the bottom and sides of the iron but does not cover the top.
  6. Dip the batter covered rosette iron into the pot, completely submerging it in the oil.
  7. Allow the rosettes to fry until golden brown.
  8. Using a knife edge to scrape off any excess batter formed at the top.
  9. While browning, the rosettes may fall off of the iron into the oil, if this happens, fry them on each side for a few seconds until browned, then remove from oil with tongs.
  10. If your rosettes have stuck to the iron while browning, use a knife to gently pry them away from the iron. Drain on paper towels, invert and cool slightly.
  11. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
  12. Serve immediately.

Cookie Sweden, Lingonberry, Meatballs, Dessert, Christmas, Potato, Garlic

 

*Recipe adapted from: Scandinavian Rosettes