Dorothy’s Swedish Meatballs w/Red Beet Relish

Swedish Meatballs w/Red Beet Relish

Meatballs:
1/2 peeled, boiled potato – grated
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1 cup minced onion
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt & pepper
1 1/2 lbs ground beef chuck
unsalted butter for frying

Combine potato, breadcrumbs, milk, onion, and all spices; let sit for 10 minutes.
Add beef, season with salt & pepper and mix well.
Make small meatballs and fry in butter.

Red Beet Relish:
2 cooked red beets, peeled & chopped
1/4 golden delicious apple, peeled & chopped
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
ginger & nutmeg to taste
salt & pepper to taste

In a food processor, combine all ingredients except mayo, ginger, nutmeg, salt & pepper.
Tranfer to a bowl and add mayo & spices.

For open faced sandwiches:
Spread relish over thinly sliced whole wheat or rye bread.
Top with meatballs.

Shopping for Swedish Eats…

Today for lunch, we went to IKEA and enjoyed a Swedish lunch of Swedish Meatballs. Granted it’s not quite the restaurant setting, but it was one of our highlights of the day.
In Sweden köttbullar (meatballs) are made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef and pork, mixed with breadcrumbs soaked in milk and finely chopped onions. They are seasoned with white pepper or allspice and salt. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam, and sometimes fresh pickled cucumber. Did you know that Swedish meatballs are served at the cafeteria at most IKEA locations around the world?!

Here are Swedish Meatballs with rice and also with potatoes…
For desserts, here is a slice of apple cake we shared…