Swedish Meatballs
What! A! Year! Normally at this time, I’m posting the recipe I made the most this year along with my favorite songs of the year. I’ll do that recipe another time as it was a spring/summer/fall dish that used the grill and I don’t feel like cooking in the snow right now. Plus it was a unique year and wanted to do something that was more meaningful. See, I lost my dad to COVID this year.
He was one of those simple and kind folks. His father immigrated to the US from Sweden. When I visited Stockholm several years ago, the receptionist upon check in at the hotel immediately said “your name is very Swedish!” Not exactly sure what she meant, I asked her to explain. “It’s a real family name. Not common like Anderson but old, traditional and it’s becoming more common.” I thanked her and told her that was exciting to know and that I looked forward to telling my family when I returned. Frequently during that trip, I’d enter a shop or restaurant greeted in Swedish and when I’d respond (in Swedish) “do you speak English for French?”, they’d always apologize and say they thought I was Swedish. Side note….everyone’s English there is impeccable! I’d passed the test. I was seen as a native. It made me feel good to be seen as one of their own. Their culture of modesty, equality, simplicity, and respect speak to me. I remember learning about the word “lagom”, which doesn’t exactly translate to English but essentially means….just enough, balanced, content, don’t take more than you need. It’s a philosophy, a way of life. All of this perfectly explains my dad. Simple. Respectful. Kind.
A few years ago I was going to stay home for Christmas and told some family that they were welcome to join me. Several people did and I wanted to honor our heritage to show some gratitude. So I had basic decorations and made Swedish meatballs as part of the meal. I hadn’t made them before but they turned out well and I’ve played with the recipe since. It was one of the greatest holidays I’ve ever had. A good meal around a table with loved ones but it felt extra special that night and yet…warm…simple…balanced. One of those that I’ll always treasure. So here they are…my Swedish meatballs. In honor of my father and his father. Paired with a playlist of some of my dad’s favorite jazz tunes. He listened to nothing else. Be safe. Be well. Tell your loved ones what they mean to you. Don’t wait for the right moment, tell ’em now for no special reason. It’ll feel good for everyone.
Swedish Meatballs
Makes roughly 20 meatballs
½ cup fresh breadcrumbs
⅓ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 small onion, minced
½ lb ground beef
½ lb ground pork
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon allspice
⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
1 egg
Olive oil
¼ cup of chicken stock
2 tablespoons pan drippings
2 tablespoons flour
1.5 cups chicken stock
¼ cup sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Place breadcrumbs and cream in a bowl and mix together, let sit for 10 minutes
- Melt a tablespoon of butter in a large shallow skillet and saute the onion until soft, approximately 8-10 minutes
- Transfer onion to a large bowl. Add meats, salt and pepper, spices and egg. Mix until combined
- Add bread/cream to bowl and mix until combined
- Melt a tablespoon of butter and a small splash of olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Form meatballs into roughly 1 ½ tablespoon size balls and brown in skillet, in batches, approximately 5 minutes. Be gentle, they’re delicate, which equals delicious….and yeah, I’ll say it, moist meatballs.
- Place browned meatballs on baking sheet
- Pour ¼ cup of chicken stock into baking sheet, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes
- While meatballs are almost done baking, heat the dripping in a saucepan and whisk in the flour. Cook until light gold in color.
- Whisk in the chicken stock slowly and simmer until thick while stirring frequently, approximately 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper
- Turn off the heat, add the sour cream and mix to combine. Add meatballs to the sauce