I’m sure most of you have tried the meatballs from ‘that’ furniture store. Hm, tasty, but this homemade version can definitely compete!
I was going to post this recipe for Swedish meatballs as a ‘certain Swedish furniture store’ copycat recipe. Instead though I am going to blow my own trumpet and say that I think mine are better than theirs (sorry certain Swedish furniture store!).
Just like anyone else I’ve been known to enjoy swirling around said store piling my yellow bag high with colourful bits and bobs – and then guzzling down ten cheap and cheerful meatballs with sauce.
But for those times when you don’t need any flatpack furniture or £1 bits of plastic, why not make some ‘certain-Swedish-furniture-store’-style meatballs for yourself? They taste excellent, they’re really quick and easy to make, and you know exactly what’s going into them (ahem – we better not go there).
I made these in a huge rush to try to catch the light for my photos (the lure of a rare sunny late September Saturday was just too much and so I spent most of the day sitting in the sun). I just made it – hopefully you can’t tell too much that the light was rapidly fading!
Consequently by the time I’d finished my kitchen looked literally like a bomb had dropped on it, with bits of meat, herbs and sauce splattered all over, but it was worth it. Those meatballs were TASTY.
I think the key to the amazingness of this Autumn-Winter warmer is the combination of beef and pork mince you use for the meatballs, the spoonful of allspice … and actually the dill, which isn’t always available in every supermarket over here, but it’s well worth hunting down.
As far as the sauce goes, the bit of mustard and Worcestershire sauce I added are by no means essential, but provide a bit of extra tang. On the other hand, the spoonful of berry sauce and large drizzle of cream are definitely not optional!
As usual, I made sure we had plenty of sauce (better a bit too much than not enough is my motto). This recipe makes enough for four, but I actually just rolled enough meatballs for the two of us and froze the rest of the meat for another time. I’ll make another fresh batch of sauce when I make this again (I don’t think it would save particularly well).
Serve the meatballs either with a big dollop of mashed potato and some peas or green beans or with crusty bread and salad if you’d like to make your meal a bit lighter. I must admit that the mashed potato turns it into a real Winter warmer!
Just don’t forget to serve with a big spoonful of red berry sauce. I know that lingonberry sauce is traditional in Sweden, but over here in the UK it’s cranberry sauce that’s available everywhere, so I just used that. 🙂
Swedish meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 10.5 ounces beef mince
- 7 ounces pork mince
- breadcrumbs 2 slices white bread with crusts cut off, processed into crumbs
- 1 small onion grated
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 handful fresh mixed parsley and dill plus a little extra for garnish
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
For the sauce
- 2 1/2 cups beef stock good quality
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons lingonberry or cranberry sauce
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard optional
- a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce optional
- 4 tablespoons cream
To serve
- lingonberry or cranberry sauce
- mashed potatoes or nice crusty bread and fresh salad leaves
Instructions
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Mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together well with your hands in a large bowl.
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With wet hands, shape into walnut-sized meatballs, then put onto a baking tray or plate.
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Switch on the oven at about 100C/210F. Then heat up a tablespoon or so of oil in a big skillet/frying pan and pan-fry the meatballs for about ten minutes, turning regularly, until golden brown and cooked through (you may have to do this in two batches – see note below). Then transfer the meatballs into a dish and pop in the oven to keep hot.
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To make the sauce, add a knob of butter to the oil left in the pan you cooked the meatballs in. Then add the flour to the pan and stir into the oil/butter, then gradually add the beef stock, stirring all the time. Let it bubble for a minute or two until thickened (*see note below).
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Stir in the berry sauce and mustard and Worcestershire sauce (if using), then take off the heat and stir in the cream. Add the meatballs back into the pan and jiggle around in the sauce until well coated.
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Serve the meatballs and sauce over mashed potatoes or with crusty bread and salad. Garnish with herbs and serve a bit of lingonberry/cranberry sauce on the side.
Recipe Notes
I cooked just half of the meatball mixture and froze the rest for another time. If you do this, remember to halve the amount of sauce! If you decide to cook all of the meatballs though, you’ll probably have to fry them in two batches. Just pop the first batch in the oven to keep warm while you cook the second.
If you can’t find lingonberry sauce/jam, redcurrant or cranberry sauce/jam are good substitutes.
*This is by no means essential, but I poured my sauce into a mini blender to make it super smooth before pouring it back into the pan and adding the meatballs to it.
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Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
28 Sep 15 at 8:55 pmI think that your Swedish meatballs kick butt on ‘that furniture store’s’ version. These look totally mouthwatering!!
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:29 pmThank you so much! I must admit this recipe is a keeper!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
28 Sep 15 at 10:28 pmI’ve never tried Swedish meatballs! They sound so delicious – definitely will have to give your recipe a go! Love the idea of serving them with mash and cranberry sauce. Perfect autumn/winter comfort food! 😀
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:28 pmThank you, Jess! You really must try these. And then have one of your wonderful cupcakes for dessert! 😉
cheri says
28 Sep 15 at 11:59 pmHi Helen, my husband is a big fan of sauce on things, will pin this for when it’s gets a bit cooler. Sounds delicious! I have not had the ahem……furniture store ones but I know by looking at your they are much better. Take care!
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:28 pmThank you, Cheri! Really happy you like the sound of these enough to want to give them a try. But yes, wait until the weather cools down … definitely a bit of a winter recipe!
marcie says
29 Sep 15 at 1:29 amThe lighting in your photos is just perfect…and the meatballs look perfect, too! I would love to eat this whole skillet, Helen, especially since it’s dinner time here. They look amazing, and I can’t wait to try them!
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:27 pmThanks so much for the compliments, Marcie! Mr. Scrummy and I actually did eat this whole skillet. What piggies we are!
Eva says
29 Sep 15 at 8:29 amElles ont l’air succulents comme celles qui fait ma mère. J’en suis sûre que les tiennes sont meilleures que chez I..A !
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:26 pmMerci beaucoup, Eva! Je suis sur qu’elles sont pas meilleures que celles de ta mere! 😉
[email protected] says
29 Sep 15 at 3:41 pmWell firstly, these look so much better than ‘that store’, even though I haven’t tried theirs and your sauce sounds mouth watering, love the sweetness.
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:25 pmThank you, Janette! The allspice and cranberry sauce really does give these a ‘just enough’ hint of sweetness. Hope you try them some time!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
29 Sep 15 at 5:05 pmIf you can believe it, I’ve never actually tried the Swedish meatballs from THAT furniture store. I’m usually too preoccupied with eating a cinnamon bun and an ice cream cone. However, I definitely want to try your meatball recipe because they look and sound amazing!
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:23 pmMmm … well I’ve never tried the cinnamon buns and ice creams from there! Must give those a try! Glad you like the sound of the meatball recipe, Amanda. Do give them a try!
Patricia says
29 Sep 15 at 6:48 pmBeing a swede living in Sweden I have to say that I have never heard of a meatball recipe with dill. Allspice is almost always only used in meatballs for christmas. But I will give your recipe a go – you never know 🙂
Helen says
29 Sep 15 at 8:21 pmWell, I would love to hear your feedback then, Patricia, if you do give these a go! I added the dill because I got used to eating it when I lived in Greece and love the flavour. The allspice because it gives a bit of ‘oomph’ to the flavour of the meat. Guess it was a bit cheeky to call these ‘Swedish’ meatballs really, but at least the sauces are authentic! 😉
Mira says
29 Sep 15 at 10:58 pmI think your meatballs look a lot better than the ones at the “Swedish Furniture Store” 🙂 ! Love the sauce! I use dill in a lot of recipes! Pinning!
Helen says
30 Sep 15 at 5:17 pmThanks, Mira! The dill isn’t traditionally Swedish, but I love it and think it goes really well in the meatballs 🙂
Chrissy says
30 Sep 15 at 1:58 amThese certainly look better than those from that furniture store!
Helen says
30 Sep 15 at 5:16 pmThank you, Chrissy! Glad you think so! 🙂
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
30 Sep 15 at 2:08 amYou’re calling to my Swedish side, Helen! ‘That Swedish furniture store’ does have some great meatballs – but I think homemade is always better. Your meatballs look and sound fantastic – thumbs up on the pork and beef combo! And that sauce – totally drooling!
Helen says
30 Sep 15 at 5:16 pmThank you, Kathleen! Really happy to have appealed to your Swedish side with these! 🙂
[email protected] says
30 Sep 15 at 3:44 pmOh dear Helen, these look amazing and I love love going to “that” furniture store all the time hehe! My husband’s friend loves getting these there so I will sending this recipe his way! Thanks girl 🙂
Helen says
30 Sep 15 at 5:13 pmHi Ami! Oh, that would be wonderful if you gave the recipe to your meatball-loving friend! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
30 Sep 15 at 4:57 pmHaha, the only way I can get my husband to go to Ikea with me is with the promise of meatballs. I am not sure what I am going to do to get him there now he doesn’t eat meat.
Helen says
30 Sep 15 at 5:11 pmOoh nooo! Can you make him a veggie version? 😉
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
30 Sep 15 at 7:27 pmSwedish meatballs are my favorite type of meatball, and believe it or not I have NEVER had them from Ikea. Don’t ask me why, something about the thought of them just doesn’t appeal to me. I mean, they specialize in furniture, not food. One day I will have to try them, and I will probably eat my words. LOL. Until then, I will stick to trying out your version of Swedish meatballs because they look FABULOUS! Pinned! Cheers to a beautiful day!
Helen says
01 Oct 15 at 6:53 pmGlad you like the look of these, Cheyanne! To be honest, the Ikea meatballs are tasty, but quite greasy too. These seem a lot lighter, although the cream makes them taste really rich and luxurious. 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
30 Sep 15 at 7:49 pmHelen – your meatballs are way way better looking than a “certain Swedish furniture store”s are! I love the parsley in them! Your photos are simply stunning!
Helen says
01 Oct 15 at 6:52 pmThank you so much for the lovely compliments, Shashi! (blush blush!)
Lou says
30 Sep 15 at 8:11 pmDevant de telles photos, je ne peux que saliver ! Elles ont l’air délicieuses !
Helen says
01 Oct 15 at 6:51 pmMerci beaucoup, Lou! Tu dois les gouter un jour! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
01 Oct 15 at 2:41 pmThis is such a crowd pleasing meal! We love Swedish meatballs and I have no doubt that yours are MUCh better than the stores! 😀
Helen says
01 Oct 15 at 6:47 pmThank you, Lorraine! Crowd pleaser, or couple-pleaser (we ate the whole lot all to ourselves!) 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
02 Oct 15 at 3:29 amI think this beauty of a dish has to be a Spring meal too because I’m not waiting 6 months to try this. Those photos took my breath away. I love Swedish meatballs!
Helen says
04 Oct 15 at 6:52 pmOoh, don’t tell me! I’ve been listening to Aussie radio and am very jealous of your just-beginning spring. And it’s such a lovely spring you have, too! Really happy you like this dish though, and thank you so much for the compliment on the photos!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
02 Oct 15 at 9:32 amI agree with you – certain store meatballs may be good but yours rock my boat big time.
Helen says
04 Oct 15 at 6:48 pmThank you, Bintu!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
02 Oct 15 at 5:08 pmI have never tried Ikea’s meatballs, but I’ve heard from many people how great they are…but I totally believe yours would be 100x better, Helen! These look delicious, and I love how easy they are to make!
Helen says
04 Oct 15 at 6:48 pmWhat a compliment … thank you! 🙂
Ala says
02 Oct 15 at 6:26 pmhahaha
Ala says
02 Oct 15 at 6:30 pmoops! Accidentally posted. Anyway, you’re lucky your kitchen only looks like a disaster zone every once in a blue moon – you can bet mine looks like that every single time I try to cook in it! We don’t eat meat anymore, but I’m definitely saving the sauce recipe for this because I absolutely love the ingredient list. Hope you have a lovely weekend, Helen!
Helen says
04 Oct 15 at 6:37 pmWell, to be honest my kitchen DOES look like a disaster zone after every cook! I think you could make this with veggie ‘meatballs’, Ala … you should try it!
Meggan | Culinary Hill says
10 Oct 15 at 1:39 amI SERIOUSLY seriously seriously adore Swedish meatballs. They are on of my all-time favorite foods. That combo of beef & pork in the meatballs is crucial. I think I noticed a towel from “a certain Swedish furniture store” in your pictures, too, ha ha ha! I’m pretty sure every blogger everywhere has a set of those towels. 😉 But anyway, I’d love to come over and eat a vat of these with you… dreams! We gotta have ’em!
Helen says
10 Oct 15 at 11:35 amHAHAHAHA …. that is soooo true about the ‘certain Swedish furniture store’ teatowels! I must admit they are perfect for blogging, though …
Pleaaase come over and share a pot of these with me! 🙂
nicole (thespicetrain.com) says
21 Oct 15 at 3:33 amOh, those are some tasty-looking and sounding meatballs, Helen! I have to say I could go for the whole pan. And, oh yes, I am totally with on the sauce, you can never have too much sauce on anything as far as I’m concerned!
Helen says
23 Oct 15 at 5:59 pmThank you, Nicole. The hubs and I DID scoff this whole pan … very greedy of us!