Swedish Meatballs

I realized last night that the Olympics run for 17 days, not 14. I have to add 3 more recipes to my menu. Not a problem, I had picked 14 out of my list so I just need to go back and pick 3 more. It works out well too because there are 3 full weekends and it's a lot more fun to prepare an international meal and enjoy it on the weekend when you aren't rushed and are more likely to be enjoying some Olympic viewing at the same time.

Check out my complete Olympics menu and recipe here.

I got another meal into the freezer. Swedish Meatballs! It's pretty simple. You can cheat and buy low sodium, lean frozen meatballs and a can of beef gravy. To bump up the Swedishness, you can add some lingonberry sauce to the gravy. It can be found in jars in larger grocery stores. For those of you up north, lingonberries are also called partridge berries, red berries or low bush cranberries. I find they are less tart than cranberries.





Swedish Meatballs

Serves 4 -6

Ingredients:
Meatballs:

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced finely
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper
• Butter

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/4 cup beef broth
• 1/2 beer
• 2 tbsp lingonberry sauce
• Salt and Pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a frying pan
2. Saute onion in pan until softened
3. Soak bread crumbs in milk for 5 minutes in a large bowl
4. Add onions and remaining 'meatball' ingredients except butter to bowl
5. Mix until just blended
6. Roll into 1/2 inch balls
7. Preheat oven to 350
8. Heat butter in frying pan over medium heat.
9. Brown meatballs on all sides
10. Meanwhile, melt 'sauce' butter in a saucepan over medium high heat
11. Whisk in flour until blended
12. Pour in broth and beer, whisk until blended
13. Heat until bubbly and thickened
14. Add in lingonberry sauce
15. As meatballs are browned, place in baking pan (lasagna style pan works well)
16. Pour sauce over meatballs and cook for 10 - 15 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.
17. Serve with potatoes or pasta and steamed veggies.

Double the recipe! This will be a great meal to get on the table quick for the kids! Freeze in individual serving sizes for quick freezing and defrosting.