Meatballs with Lingonberry Sauce, Pickled Cucumber and Brown Sauce

6 servings

90 minutes

These meatballs with a classic accompaniment of mashed potatoes and lingonberry and brown sauce have become one of the most famous Swedish dishes thanks to IKEA. The bread crumbs soaked in milk are an extremely important component: they give the meatballs their special, soft texture.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 705.1
• Proteins: 20.8g
• Fats: 45.2g
• Carbohydrates: 54.2g

Ingredients

• Mixed mince: 500 g
• Milk: 250 ml
• Breadcrumbs: 150 g
• Chicken egg: 1 pc
• Onion: 1 head
• Butter: 50 g
• Vegetable oil: 100 ml
• Fresh frozen lingonberries: 250 g
• Sugar: 150 g
• Cucumbers: 1 pc
• Salt: 1.5 tbsp
• Vinegar 9%: 2 tbsp
• Parsley: 30 g
• Water: 100 ml
• Ground black pepper: to taste
• Cream: 100 ml

Cooking steps

1. Slice the cucumber into thin rings, salt it, place it in a colander, and put a weight on top. Let the cucumber drain for thirty minutes.

   Required ingredients:

   • Cucumbers: 1 piece
   • Salt: 1.5 tablespoon

2. Mix one tablespoon of salt, three tablespoons of sugar, vinegar, water, and finely chopped parsley. Pour the marinade over the cucumber. Let it sit in the fridge for about an hour.

   Required ingredients:

   • Salt: 1.5 tablespoon
   • Sugar: 150 g
   • Vinegar 9%: 2 tablespoons
   • Water: 100 ml
   • Parsley: 30 g

3. Sauté finely chopped onion in a small amount of oil until soft. Soak breadcrumbs in milk.

   Required ingredients:

   • Onion: 1 head
   • Butter: 50 g
   • Breadcrumbs: 150 g
   • Milk: 250 ml

4. Mix the minced meat with onion, egg, a mixture of milk and breadcrumbs, and spices in a food processor. If the mince is too thick, you can add a little water.

   Required ingredients:

   • Mixed mince: 500 g
   • Onion: 1 head
   • Chicken egg: 1 piece
   • Milk: 250 ml
   • Breadcrumbs: 150 g
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste

5. Form small balls and place them on plates sprinkled with water.

6. Fry the meatballs on all sides until a crust forms, in a hot pan with a large amount of a mixture of vegetable and butter.

   Required ingredients:

   • Mixed mince: 500 g
   • Vegetable oil: 100 ml
   • Butter: 50 g

7. For the cranberry sauce, mix frozen berries with 100 grams of sugar. Allow the berries to thaw and the sugar to dissolve. Stir before serving.

   Required ingredients:

   • Fresh frozen lingonberries: 250 g
   • Sugar: 150 g

8. Fry the butter in a small saucepan until lightly browned, add flour and fry, stirring continuously. Pour in the broth and cream, cook for three to five minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the meatballs with mashed potatoes, lingonberry and brown sauces, and pickled cucumber.

   Required ingredients:

   • Butter: 50 g
   • Breadcrumbs: 150 g
   • Cream: 100 ml
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste