Mum's Swedish Meatballs

Health score
9%
Mum's Swedish Meatballs
55 min.
8
471kcal

Suggestions

There is nothing quite like the comforting aroma of homemade Swedish meatballs that instantly transports your kitchen into a cozy Nordic dining room. This beloved family recipe, passed down through generations, offers a perfect balance of rich, savory flavors and a velvety smooth gravy that coats every bite with pure satisfaction. What sets this version apart is the clever use of stale bread soaked in evaporated milk, which acts as a natural binder to create meatballs that remain incredibly tender and juicy, never drying out during the cooking process.

The meat mixture itself is a harmonious blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned generously with warm spices like nutmeg and allspice, along with a hint of lemon pepper for a subtle brightness. After browning the meatballs to develop a beautiful golden crust, they are gently simmered in a robust beef stock, ensuring the flavors meld together perfectly before they are set aside. The true magic happens when you create the sauce; by whisking flour into a portion of the cooking liquid and then slowly incorporating the remaining evaporated milk and a splash of sherry, you achieve a glossy, restaurant-quality gravy that is both luxurious and deeply satisfying.

With a mere 471 calories per serving, this dish proves that indulgence does not have to come at the cost of your health goals, making it an ideal choice for a hearty lunch or a comforting dinner for the whole family. Whether you are hosting a casual weeknight meal or preparing for a festive gathering, these meatballs deliver a taste of home that everyone will adore. Serve them hot, perhaps with some creamy mashed potatoes or a fresh green salad, and you will have created a meal that feels like a warm embrace on a cold day. Get ready to enjoy the magic of classic Swedish cuisine right in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

  • cups beef stock 
  • slices bread cubed
  • tablespoons butter 
  • tablespoon parsley dried
  •  eggs 
  • 12 fluid ounce evaporated milk divided canned
  • 0.3 cup flour all-purpose
  • teaspoon ground allspice 
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef 
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg 
  • 0.3 teaspoon ground pepper black
  • 0.5 pound ground pork 
  • 0.5 teaspoon lemon pepper 
  •  onion chopped
  • teaspoon salt 
  • 0.3 cup cooking sherry 
  • tablespoons worcestershire sauce 

Equipment

  • bowl
  • frying pan
  • whisk
  • tongs

Directions

  1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion in the melted butter until tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Place bread cubes in a bowl; pour 1/2 cup evaporated milk over bread cubes. Set aside until bread cubes absorb milk.
  3. Mix ground beef, ground pork, cooked onion, bread cube mixture, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, nutmeg, allspice, salt, lemon pepper, and ground black pepper together in a large bowl. Form mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.
  4. Heat olive oil in the same skillet used for onion over medium-high heat; cook meatballs in the hot oil, turning with tongs, until all sides are browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Pour in beef stock and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. Transfer meatballs to a serving bowl, reserving liquid in the skillet.
  7. Remove 1 cup beef stock from skillet; whisk flour into the 1 cup stock until smooth.
  8. Pour flour mixture back into skillet, whisking until mixture is smooth. Gradually whisk remaining evaporated milk and sherry into beef stock mixture. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until gravy is warmed and smooth, 5 to 10 minutes.
  9. Pour gravy over meatballs to serve.

Nutrition Facts

Calories471kcal
Protein23.94%
Fat62.95%
Carbs13.11%

Properties

Glycemic Index
46.83
Glycemic Load
4.35
Inflammation Score
-5
Nutrition Score
17.469999945682%

Flavonoids

Catechin
0.06mg
Epicatechin
0.04mg
Hesperetin
0.03mg
Naringenin
0.03mg
Apigenin
11.26mg
Luteolin
0.05mg
Isorhamnetin
1.52mg
Kaempferol
0.09mg
Quercetin
2.79mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:470.93kcal
23.55%
Fat:32.28g
49.67%
Saturated Fat:14.02g
87.6%
Carbohydrates:15.13g
5.04%
Net Carbohydrates:14.29g
5.2%
Sugar:6.73g
7.47%
Cholesterol:145.87mg
48.62%
Sodium:788.3mg
34.27%
Alcohol:0.77g
100%
Alcohol %:0.29%
100%
Protein:27.63g
55.26%
Selenium:29.11µg
41.59%
Vitamin B12:2.2µg
36.6%
Phosphorus:357.61mg
35.76%
Zinc:5.04mg
33.57%
Vitamin B3:6.68mg
33.4%
Vitamin B2:0.55mg
32.22%
Vitamin B6:0.52mg
26.19%
Vitamin B1:0.38mg
25.34%
Potassium:770.02mg
22%
Iron:3.31mg
18.39%
Calcium:175.76mg
17.58%
Magnesium:48.84mg
12.21%
Vitamin B5:1.17mg
11.74%
Manganese:0.22mg
10.87%
Copper:0.18mg
8.92%
Folate:35.53µg
8.88%
Vitamin A:309.84IU
6.2%
Vitamin K:6.51µg
6.2%
Vitamin E:0.72mg
4.77%
Vitamin C:3.04mg
3.69%
Fiber:0.84g
3.36%
Vitamin D:0.35µg
2.33%
Source:Allrecipes