(Photo: foodandwine.com)
Lockdown dinner just got an upgrade
Remember the days of wandering IKEA’s maze taking in all the possible DIY projects to spruce up your home?
And do you remember how those long walks in and out of furniture would work up an appetite? No trip to IKEA would be complete if you didn’t stop in the cafeteria for a cinnamon roll or a bite of its famous Swedish meatballs. But since the closing of the store due to the lockdown, the Swedish meatball tasting has been nothing but a fond memory.
Deciding to give the world what it needed during these uncertain times, the Swedish furniture maker released the recipe to its famous meatball for all to make at home.
“We know that some people might be missing our meatballs, which is why we’ve released an at-home alternative which, using easily accessible ingredients, will help those looking for some inspiration in the kitchen,” said Lorena Lourido, country food manager at Ikea, in a press release.
The recipe below makes 16-20 meatballs and includes a recipe to the cream sauce:
For the meatballs, home chefs will need:
• 1.1. pounds ground beef
• A little over ½ pound ground pork
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic (crushed or minced)
• 3.5 ounces breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 5 tablespoons of whole milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
For the cream sauce, you will need:
• Dash of oil
• 1.4 ounces butter
• 1.4 ounces plain flour
• 5 fluid ounces vegetable stock
• 5 fluid ounces beef stock
• 5 fluid ounces thick double cream
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
To put all the ingredients together to make the meatballs:
1. Mince and combine beef and pork, getting rid of any lumps. Add finely chopped onion and garlic with breadcrumbs and egg, and mix. Add milk and season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Form small round balls and place them on a clean plate. Cover and store in the fridge for 2 hours.
3. In a frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. When hot, add meatballs and cook until all sides are brown.
4. Take cooked meatballs and add to an ovenproof dish and cover. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
To make the cream sauce:
1. Melt butter in a frying pan. Whisk in plain flour and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
2. Add vegetable stock and beef stock. Stir in the thick double cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard.
3. Bring to a simmer and let the sauce thicken by continuously stirring.
4. Serve with your freshly made meatballs or favorite potatoes.
Bon appétit or, as they say in Sweden, smaklig måltid!
By: Maytinee Kramer
