Köttbullar: A Swedish Classic, Made My Way
When I spent Christmas in Stockholm, I couldn’t resist cooking a traditional Swedish dinner — and no Swedish table is complete without köttbullar. The classic recipe calls for pork, but I decided to try a blend of veal and lamb. It turned out even better than I hoped, and I’m excited to share this version with you.
Serves: 2-3
Time: 40-60 minutes
Meatballs
INGREDIENTS
400 g minced meat (50/50 mix of veal and lamb)
1 medium onion, finely chopped or grated
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
100 ml cream
1 egg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
Butter and olive oil, for frying
METHOD
1. Prepare the mixture.
In a small bowl, soak the breadcrumbs in cream for 5–10 minutes until soft.
In a large bowl, mix the minced meat, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, onion, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently, overmixing can make the meatballs dense.
2. Shape the meatballs
Wet your hands with water and roll the mixture into small balls (about 2.5 cm in diameter).
3. Fry the meatballs
Melt 1–2 tablespoons of butter with a splash of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Fry the meatballs in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes, turning often. Add more butter and olive oil if needed. Transfer to a plate, keep warm.
Mashed Potatoes
INGREDIENTS
600 g potatoes, peeled and cubed
50 g butter
100 ml milk or cream, warmed
Salt, to taste
METHOD
1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Drain and mash until smooth.
3. Stir in butter and warm milk or cream, and continue mashing until smooth and creamy.
4. Season with salt.
Cream Sauce
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
250 ml beef or vegetable broth
100 ml cream
1 tsp soy sauce (optional, for color)
Salt and pepper, to taste
METHOD
1. In the same pan used for meatballs, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes.
3. Gradually whisk in the broth, then add the cream.
4. Simmer until thickened, 3–5 minutes. Season to taste.
In Sweden, meatballs are served with pickled cucumbers, and when you try them together, you understand why. They cut through the richness perfectly.
A friend of mine recently shared homemade pickled cucumbers with me, and they were honestly the crunchiest I’ve ever tasted. I’ll ask for her recipe, try it and share with you soon.
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Published: January 2026.