Surely you know the köttbullar since they are the typical meatballs that are served in IKEAs. It is the most popular recipe in Sweden and like everything that is popular there are a thousand different recipes: the one made in the aforementioned furniture store, the one made by the Swedish mother of each one (if you are swedish, of course) and the one in the restaurants. In the end, no one agrees on this recipe, so I give you the most neutral recipe possible.
INGREDIENTS (4 servings):
- 500 grams (1.1 pounds) of minced veal beef
- 1 large red onion (sweet)
- 100 ml (half cup) heavy cream
- Half a cup of stale bread crumbs
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) of unsalted butter
- 1 egg
- Salt
- Ground white pepper
For the sauce:
- Half a cup (100 ml) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Grate the onion and poach it in a pan with a tablespoon of butter until transparent.
In a bowl we pour the minced meat, the cream, the beaten egg, the onion that we just sautéed and the breadcrumbs. Season with salt (a teaspoon) and pepper.
We knead with our hands until it is homogeneous. It is important to do a good kneading so that the meat releases the collagen.
Once we have the dough prepared, we separate pieces to form balls the size of ping pong balls. So that the dough does not stick to our hands, it is better to previously moisten them with a little water.
Once we have turned all the dough into meatballs, we must keep them in the refrigerator for at least an hour so that it consolidates.
We put the rest of the butter in a pan and when it melts we fry the meatballs until they are well browned on all sides. If the meatballs you have made are small they will cook quickly but if they are large they may take longer and they will come out of a darker color. Lower the fire in the second case.
Once fried, they are placed on absorbent paper to remove excess fat.
To make the sauce, pour the meat broth into the pan and deglaze the bottom with it, then add the cornstarch previously diluted in a little water. We keep the fire until it thickens and we add a little salt. We pour over the meatballs and direct to be served to the diner.
They are also usually served with mashed potatoes or with cranberry jam, very typical in Swedish cuisine.