Meatballs are a beloved dish in Sweden, considered by many to be a national food. Swedish meatballs, known as köttbullar, are typically served with a variety of traditional side dishes and condiments that complement their flavor wonderfully. In this article, we will explore what Swedes commonly eat with meatballs, from staple sides like mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam, to the classic Swedish meal of meatballs, brown cream sauce, and lingonberries known as köttbullar och brunsås. Read on to learn more about traditional Swedish sides and how to create the perfect plate to go with your meatballs!
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes or potatis mos is one of the most classic accompaniments for Swedish meatballs. Potatoes and meatballs is a beloved combination in Sweden, with the creamy, buttery potatoes complementing the rich, savory meatballs perfectly. Here are some key facts about serving mashed potatoes with meatballs in Sweden:
- Mashed potatoes are served with meatballs as part of traditional Swedish homestyle cooking. They are an integral part of the classic husmanskost dishes.
- The potatoes are usually boiled and mashed with milk or cream, and seasoned simply with salt, white pepper and butter.
- Swedes prefer the potatoes to be smooth and creamy rather than lumpy or chunky in texture.
- In Sweden, the mashed potato side is sometimes topped with small browned butter cubes for extra richness.
- Mashed potatoes paired with meatballs is such a staple that it is often on the menu at Swedish cafeterias and school lunches.
To serve the perfect Swedish-style potato side with your meatballs, boil and mash potatoes with a little milk and loads of butter. Season to taste and top with a pat of butter or browned butter cubes. Enjoy this simple, comforting combination!
Lingonberry Jam
What would Swedish meatballs be without lingonberry jam? Known as lingonsylt in Swedish, lingonberry jam is an essential condiment that is always served with meatballs. Here are some facts about this staple Swedish sidekick:
- Lingonberry jam provides the perfect balance of sweet-tart flavor that pairs perfectly with savory, seasoned meat.
- In Sweden, lingonberries grow wild and are foraged or farmed. The berries are cooked into a ruby red preserve jam.
- Every Swedish household has lingonsylt on hand to serve with meatballs as well as other dishes like potato pancakes.
- Commercial lingonberry jam is widely available in Sweden and exported globally as well.
- While cranberry sauce is served with American turkey, Swedes always serve lingonsylt with köttbullar.
To serve like a Swede, make sure to dollop lingonberry jam onto the plate with your meatballs or serve in a small bowl on the side for dipping sauce. Let the sweet-tart jam contrast with the meaty richness.
Pickled Cucumber
In Sweden, meatballs are often served with a side of pickled cucumbers known as pressgurka. Here’s an overview of this refreshing, tart accompaniment:
- Pressgurka is made from thinly sliced cucumbers pickled in a brine of vinegar, sugar, dill and spices.
- It offers a tangy, crisp texture that balances the soft, dense meatballs.
- Serving pickled cucumbers with meatballs is most common in cafeterias or casual, homestyle settings.
- Swedes will often take a bite of meatball with pickled cucumber to enjoy the contrast of flavors and textures.
- Pressgurka can be made fresh or bought pre-made at any grocery store in Sweden.
For the perfect Swedish meal, don’t forget a side of pickled cucumbers to cut the richness of the meatballs and sauce.
Cream Sauce
While meatballs are certainly delicious on their own, pairing them with a cream sauce takes things to the next level. Here’s an overview of Swedish cream sauces for meatballs:
- A popular cream sauce is a brown cream sauce known as brunsås. It is made from beef stock, cream, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and cornstarch.
- Another common Swedish cream sauce consists of cream, mushrooms, white wine, thyme, parsley, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.
- The rich, velvety sauce soaks into the meatballs and contrasts with the lingonberry jam served on the side.
- Cream sauces for meatballs can be thin or thickened to desired consistency.
- In Sweden, meatballs and cream sauce are so connected that köttbullar och brunsås has become short-hand for Swedish meatballs with sauce.
A creamy sauce takes meatballs to new heights of homey comfort food. For a truly Swedish experience, don’t forget to pour on some sauce!
Bread
In Sweden, meatballs are often served with a side of bread to soak up the sauce and provide some carbohydrate balance to this protein-filled dish. Here are some insights on enjoying bread with Swedish meatballs:
- Crispbreads like knäckebröd are a popular accompaniment, offering crunch and nutty, rye flavor.
- Hearty breads like limpa or bondkakor work well for sopping up sauce.
- Bread allows you to make open-faced meatball sandwiches known as smörgås.
- At a Swedish meal, diners may cut pieces of bread to wipe their plates clean after the meatballs and sauce are gone.
- At cafeterias, restaurants or school lunches, bread may be provided as a side item with meal trays.
While meatballs and potatoes or lingonberries are essential pairings, don’t forget to serve some bread on the side or use as a base under open-faced sandwiches.
Open-Faced Sandwiches
In Sweden, meatballs are commonly served on open-faced sandwiches known as smörgås. Here is an overview of this popular meal:
- Smörgås means sandwich in Swedish but refers to a slice of bread topped with meats, cheeses, spreads and garnishes.
- Open-faced meatball smörgås feature slices of bread topped with 1-2 meatballs, mashed potatoes, cream sauce, and lingonberry jam.
- The sandwiches allow you to enjoy the contrast of flavors and textures in convenient hand-held form.
- Smörgås are a quick, easy meal commonly served at home, cafeterias, or lunch restaurants.
- The sandwiches can be made on soft bread like limpa or hearty crispbreads like knäckebröd.
For a portable Swedish meal, serve your meatballs and favorite accompaniments over slices of bread or crispbread. Smörgås make the iconic flavors even more accessible.
Green Salad
While starchy, hearty sides dominate with Swedish meatballs, a green salad provides fresh contrast. Details on enjoying salad with meatballs include:
- A simple green salad often accompanies meatballs in Swedish homestyle cooking.
- Lettuce, cucumber, tomato are common salad vegetables, dressed lightly with oil and vinegar.
- Salad provides freshness and texture contrast to the hot, soft meatballs.
- At Swedish smörgåsbord buffets, a salad side is often included on the table.
- Swedes may even top their open-faced meatball sandwiches with salad for an extra layer.
For a well-rounded meal, serve your meatballs and starchy sides with a light, acidic green salad on the side. The freshness balances the richness perfectly.
Meatball Smörgåsbord
For special occasions like holidays or big gatherings, Swedes may serve a whole meatball smörgåsbord as the main festive meal. This celebratory buffet includes:
- Large serving platters piled high with hot meatballs fresh from the oven.
- Bowls with sides of mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, pickles, breads, and salad.
- Multiple sauces like brown cream sauce and mushroom sauce in gravy boats.
- Plenty of chilled aquavit to wash it all down.
- Diners can fill their plates with desired combinations of meatballs, sauces, and sides.
- The smörgåsbord allows guests to sample all the best accompaniments to meatballs.
When hosting a Swedish meal, setting up a DIY meatball smörgåsbord makes for an festive, interactive dining experience where guests can explore all the tasty pairings.
Traditional Full Meal: Meatballs, Potatoes & Lingonberries
While meatballs pair deliciously with many sides, Swedes have a particular beloved combination of meatballs + mashed potatoes + lingonberries. Here’s an overview of this traditional Swedish meal:
- This trifecta of meatballs, potatoes, and lingonberry jam is considered a national dish.
- It is frequently served at home dinners, school lunches, cafeterias, and restaurants.
- The flavors and textures balance each other perfectly, with starchy potatoes, sweet-tart jam, and savory meatballs.
- In Sweden, saying “meatballs and potatoes” is basically shorthand for this entire dish.
- The components can be served together on a plate, or with potatoes and lingonberries on the side.
- For many Swedes, this meal brings nostalgia and comfort food feelings.
For the quintessential Swedish meal, you can’t go wrong pairing your meatballs with creamy mashed potatoes and tart lingonberry jam. Simplicity at its finest!
Conclusion
Swedish meatballs have the wonderful quality of pairing deliciously with many traditional side dishes. From comforting mashed potatoes to sweet-tart lingonberry jam, starchy breads, pickled cucumbers, creamy sauces, and fresh salad, Swedes have many time-tested favorites for accompanying their beloved köttbullar. While the options abound, the combination of meatballs, mashed potatoes, and lingonberry jam holds a special place as the tried-and-true Swedish go-to. However you choose to complement your meatballs, embracing some Swedish customary pairings is a delicious way to transport your meal to Scandinavia!