Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage Salad with Lingonberries

Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage Salad with Lingonberries
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Get ready for a meal that’s hearty, comforting, and full of Scandinavian charm! Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage Salad with Lingonberries is the ultimate combination of savory, creamy, and tangy flavors. This dish is perfect for family dinners or any occasion where you want to treat your loved ones to something truly special.

The tender meatballs, creamy mashed potatoes, and fresh cabbage salad are balanced beautifully by the sweet-tart burst of lingonberries. It’s a classic plate that will have everyone coming back for seconds!

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 30–40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

What You’ll Need

Ingredients:

Mashed Potatoes:

  • 1.75 lbs potatoes
  • 0.85 cups milk
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Meatballs:

  • 0.4 cups plain yogurt
  • 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • ½ onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons oil (for sautéing)
  • 0.88 lbs ground meat (beef, or a mix of beef and pork)
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Butter for frying

Cabbage Salad:

  • 0.66 lbs white cabbage, shredded
  • 0.85 cups plain yogurt
  • 0.4 cups lingonberries (or cranberry sauce, if lingonberries are unavailable)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Tools You’ll Need

  • Large pot (for boiling potatoes)
  • Medium mixing bowl (for meatball mixture)
  • Frying pan or skillet
  • Small saucepan (for heating milk and butter)
  • Potato masher
  • Large mixing bowl (for cabbage salad)
  • Cutting board and knife

Pro Tips

  1. Fluffy Mashed Potatoes: After boiling, let the potatoes sit uncovered for a few minutes to steam off excess moisture. This keeps your mashed potatoes light and fluffy.
  2. Perfectly Seasoned Meatballs: Taste-test a small meatball by frying it in the pan before rolling the rest. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
  3. Cabbage Crunch: Massage the cabbage lightly with salt before mixing it with the yogurt and lingonberries. This softens it slightly while keeping its crunch.
  4. Lingonberry Alternative: If you don’t have access to lingonberries, cranberry sauce or even pomegranate arils are great substitutes.
  5. Browning Meatballs: Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying the meatballs. Give them space to brown evenly and develop that irresistible crust.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Ground Meat: Use ground chicken or turkey for a leaner option, or try a plant-based ground meat for a vegetarian-friendly version.
  • Dairy-Free Option: Replace yogurt with a plant-based yogurt and butter with olive oil or a vegan alternative.
  • Herbs: Add nutmeg or allspice to the meatball mixture for a more traditional Swedish flavor.
  • Mashed Potatoes: Swap milk with cream for an extra luxurious texture, or substitute half the potatoes with cauliflower for a lighter mash.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

  1. Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot.
  2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks. Boil until soft, about 15–20 minutes. Drain and let them steam off for a few minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Meatball Mixture

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, breadcrumbs, and egg. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to swell.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent (about 3–5 minutes). Let cool slightly.
  3. Add the sautéed onion, ground meat, thyme, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture. Mix until well combined. Roll into small meatballs, about 1–1.5 inches in diameter.

Step 3: Cook the Meatballs

  1. Heat a generous amount of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches, ensuring they don’t crowd the pan. Fry for 5–7 minutes, turning frequently, until browned on all sides and fully cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 4: Finish the Mashed Potatoes

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the butter and milk until warm (but don’t let it boil).
  2. Mash the potatoes in the pot, gradually adding the warm milk and butter mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold in the chopped parsley.

Step 5: Prepare the Cabbage Salad

  1. Shred the cabbage finely and place it in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add the yogurt and lingonberries, and mix until well combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 6: Assemble and Serve

  1. Serve the meatballs alongside a generous scoop of mashed potatoes and a side of cabbage salad. Garnish with extra parsley and a dollop of lingonberry sauce if desired. Enjoy warm!

Leftovers and Storage

  • Meatballs: Store cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave.
  • Mashed Potatoes: Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
  • Cabbage Salad: Best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Conclusion

This recipe for Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage Salad with Lingonberries is a celebration of simple, wholesome, and satisfying flavors. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together around the table and makes any night feel special. Try it for dinner and let me know how it turned out in the comments below—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊

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