The secret ingredient is … love?

Do you have any family history connections with Sweden? Meatballs are a classic Swedish dish that, as their national website says, “must be prepared, above all, with love.”¹

Try this recipe for a taste of Sweden’s signature dish!

Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (45 g) day-old white breadcrumbs
• 1¼ cup (300 mL) milk
• 1½ pounds (680 g) ground beef, or ground beef mixed with ground pork
• 1 egg
• 1 small onion
• ⅓ teaspoon (0.6 g) ground allspice
• Salt and white pepper
• Butter (for frying)

Instructions

1. Place breadcrumbs in a bowl and pour milk over the top. Soak for about 5 minutes.
2. Peel and grate the onion.
3. In a large bowl, mix the meat, egg, onion, allspice, salt, and white pepper until they are well mixed.
4. Shape meat mixture into small balls using wet hands or wooden spoons.
5. On medium-high heat, melt butter in a frying pan until it stops sizzling.
6. Place meatballs in the frying pan (not all will fit at once). Stir or shake the pan frequently to brown the meatballs on all sides.
7. After the meatballs have browned, turn down the heat but continue cooking for about 10 minutes until cooked through. (Meat thermometers should say 160° F, or 70°C.)
8. Makes 45–60 meatballs, depending on the size. Traditional Swedish meatballs may be served without sauce or with thick or thin brown gravy. Enjoy!

Notes
1. Read more about meatballs here.
2. Swedish meatballs recipe taken from here.