topaz119: (dinner is served)
topaz119 ([personal profile] topaz119) wrote in [community profile] cookbook_challenge2021-02-13 09:53 pm

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs
Or

YIELD: 4 dozen meatballs
TIME: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup warm milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed
1 tablespoon brandy
1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef or chicken broth, low sodium or homemade
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
2 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane or minced
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch cloves
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed for drizzling
Chopped fresh parsley or dill, for garnish

PREPARATION
In a medium bowl, soak bread crumbs in warm milk while you prepare the onions.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Stir in onions and a pinch of salt and cook until pale golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer half the onions to a large bowl and set aside.

Prepare sauce: Add brandy to skillet with onions and ignite with a long match or igniter (or if you’re using a gas stove, just swirl pan, brandy should catch fire). Let flame die down, then add the remaining butter, letting it melt. Sprinkle in flour. Sauté until flour browns, about 3 minutes. Whisk in broth, cream and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer, whisking, until reduced to a sauce, about 5 minutes. Add mustard, if you like, and season with more salt, if needed.

To large bowl with onion, add remaining 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, soaked bread crumbs, beef, pork, eggs, garlic, pepper, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Roll into 1-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each), placing them on one or two rimmed baking sheets as you go.

Heat broiler. Drizzle meatballs with oil. Broil meatballs, switching pans' positions if using more than one so they both get close to the broiler, until well browned all over, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with gravy, garnished with herbs.

By Melissa Clark


I didn't use the brandy, but had no other substitutions. Next time, I think I'd make the sauce after I made the meatballs--it comes together very quickly. It's really yummy, too, so I might double the amount of sauce. Also, I didn't even get 3 dozen meatballs rather than the 4 this is supposed to yield, and I was using a 2T scoop.

Otherwise, very good! I served it with buttered egg noodles and some quickly sauteed green beans.