Swedish meatballs with cream sauce and lingonberry jam - Felix jams (2024)

Table of Contents
Ingredients Instructions Notes FAQs

There is probably no other dish that is so connected to Swedish cuisine, as meatballs with cream sauce and lingonberry jam. We are giving you a basic and super delicious recipe, but it is such a versatile dish that it lets you add your own flavors and twists to the recipe.

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Servings 4

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 tbsp beef broth
  • A dash of white pepper
  • Some butter or oil

Cream Sauce

  • 10 1/2 oz beef broth or gravy
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp black currant jelly
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Combine bread crumbs and milk in a bowl and let it stand for about 10 minutes.

  • Stir in beef, pork and salt. Mix in egg, onion, broth, allspice and pepper.

  • Shape into approximately 24 balls and place on a wet cutting board.

  • In frying pan, melt a small amount butter. Add the meatballs in batches and quickly brown the surface of them, then fry for about five more minutes until evenly browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and keep warm while cooking remaining meatballs.

  • Bring the beef broth to a boil.

  • Mix flour and milk, then stir the mix into the broth. Add the soy sauce, cream and blackcurrant jelly.

  • Simmer for about five minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Serve the meatballs with e.g. mashed potatoes, cream sauce, and of course a large dollop of Felix lingonberry jam.

Notes

This recipe is only for the meatballs and the sauce. You have to add vegetables and e.g. mashed potatoes as well.

Swedish meatballs with cream sauce and lingonberry jam - Felix jams (2024)

FAQs

What is the jam they put on IKEA meatballs? ›

Product details. Swedes love to eat lingonberry jam with meatballs, mashed potatoes and cream sauce. But, the light sweetness is also great with other classic dishes like potato fritters, dumplings and pork pancakes.

What can I use instead of lingonberry jam? ›

11 Easy Lingonberry Jam Substitutes [With Recipes]

Cranberry jam, raw-stirred lingonberries, apple sauce, currant jam, pickled lingonberries, lingonberries in syrup, rowan berry jam, pomegranate molasses, cloud berry jam, apples and graded carrots.

Why are Swedish meatballs served with jam? ›

In their most traditional form Swedish meatballs ('köttbullar') are made of ground pork and beef, cream, egg and onion, and are served with creamy mashed potatoes, a thick, brown gravy, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. The latter adds bitter sweetness as a perfect complement to the savoury meatball.

Why are IKEA Swedish meatballs so good? ›

If you're wondering what's so special about Swedish Meatballs, or what they taste like, close your eyes and imagine this: incredibly soft meatballs, made extra juicy by using a combination of both pork and beef and soaked bread instead of breadcrumbs, lightly spiced with just a touch of nutmeg and all spice that gives ...

What is a substitute for lingonberry jam in meatballs? ›

And that if you can't find it, good old fashioned cranberry sauce. makes for an acceptable substitute.

Why are IKEA meatballs so cheap? ›

Like many other things in business, selling inexpensive meatballs is a strategy for the company to turn more profit. To sell their products, they need to get people in the door. To do that, they entice people with cheap meatballs.

What is the English equivalent of lingonberry? ›

Vaccinium vitis-idaea, the lingonberry, partridgeberry, mountain cranberry or cowberry, is a small evergreen shrub in the heath family Ericaceae, that bears edible fruit. It is native to boreal forest and Arctic tundra throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from Europe and Asia to North America.

Why is there jam in Ikea meatballs? ›

The traditional way to serve Swedish meatballs (köttbullar) is with lingonberry jam and a creamy gravy. The lingonberry jam provides a sweet and tart contrast to the savory meatballs, while the gravy adds richness and moisture. Because it tastes better.

Are lingonberries just cranberries? ›

The short answer. Lingonberry, also called cowberry, is not the same as cranberry. However, both lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and cranberry (European Vaccinium oxycoccos or North American Vaccinium macrocarpon) are part of the Vaccinium family of plants, just like blueberries, huckleberries, and bilberries.

How do Swedish people eat Swedish meatballs? ›

Traditional Swedish way: Do not make the cream sauce at all. Serve meatballs over plain or stewed macaroni, plain or mashed potatoes, and lingenberry jam (optional)

Why are my Swedish meatballs falling apart? ›

ANSWER: Usually when meatballs fall apart, it's the binder that is the problem. Most meatball recipes call for using bread crumbs and eggs. But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either.

What is the difference between Swedish meatballs and regular meatballs? ›

Italian meatballs are famously served in a bright, tangy, often chunky tomato sauce (marinara to the layman) whereas Swedish meatballs are cooked in a rich, roux-based, creamy gravy made with beef or bone broth and sour cream (or sometimes heavy cream).

What to serve with Swedish meatballs for dinner? ›

Mashed Potatoes - The creamy gravy on Swedish Meatballs is perfect with potatoes! Egg Noodles - Spaghetti isn't a bad idea either. Green veggies - I love to serve green peas with Swedish meatballs. Roasted Vegetables - Skip the starch and serve the meatballs with a combination of roasted vegetables.

Why do Swedish meatballs taste different? ›

These meatballs tend to be a bit smaller in size and are more savory than their Italian counterpart. They are seasoned with aromatic allspice that balances out the rich flavor of the white, gravy-like sauce they're served in.

What is Swedish meatball sauce made of? ›

Add the sauce mixture (beef broth, chicken bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon, and parsley), in small splashes, stirring continuously. Add the sour cream to a medium bowl along with some of the sauce, and stir until combined. Stir it into the skillet. Add the meatballs back and spoon the sauce on top.

What is IKEA jam called? ›

Ikea Organic Lingonberry Jam – Diet for a Tiny House.

What does IKEA serve its meatballs with? ›

The traditional way to eat Swedish meatballs, including the ones IKEA make, is with mashed potatoes, green peas, gravy, and lingonberry jam. Only the peas are considered “optional”.

How to eat lingonberry? ›

Popular in Scandinavian cuisine, the lingonberry is indeed edible and the taste is much like that of cranberries. Not only are the berries edible, they're used to make a variety of desserts, jams, tea, and a delicious lingonberry juice drink.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 6448

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.