Homemade Swedish Meatballs

Homemade  Swedish meatballs are seasoned, baked in the oven then covered in a rich and creamy brown gravy.  The ultimate comfort food! They are low-carb with a gluten free and dairy-free version.

Traditional homemade Swedish meatballs are usually fried in a pan. The gravy is then made in the same pan from the meat drippings. I know fat isn’t our enemy anymore, but that’s a lot of calories. So I lightened them up a bit, and they still taste rich and delcious.

Serve these over a pile of noodles or a heap of mashed potatoes with a side of cucumbers in vinegar.

Here is what you will need to make homemade Swedish meatballs

• lean ground beef such as ground round or ground sirloin
• ground pork
• onion
• egg
• seasonings: allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cloves

Here is what you will need for the brown gravy

• beef broth
• cream or milk
• flour

Meatball Fun Facts

Did you know that Swedish meatballs actually originated in Turkey?   They were brought to Sweden by Charles XII  when he returned home  from Turkey in the early 18th century.

Why this recipe works

Swedish meatballs can be high in fat. This recipe has been lighted up a bit, here is how:

• Traditional meatballs are cooked on top of the stove and the gravy is made in the same pan using the drippings from the meat. These meatballs are baked in the oven and added to the brown gravy that is made by adding a slurry of water and flour to the broth
• Milk or light cream is used in place heavy cream.

Tip!

A few hours before serving  place the  meatballs and gravy into the refrigerator to allow the fat to solidify. Skim it off  the top and place the meatballs and gravy into a pan and re-heat.

Freeze Them

• Once the  meatballs have been baked and drained, place them onto a clean baking sheet and freeze them.  When  they are completely frozen, place them in a freezer container and store for up to three months.   When it’s time to eat them, simply add them directly to the gravy while they are still frozen.
• You can also make extra gravy and freeze it.  When it’s time to eat, thaw the gravy  in the refrigerator, and heat it on the stove.  Once the gravy has been heated up, add the meatballs  and cook until they are heated through.

Variations

Gluten Free

Even though most meatball recipes are made with breadcrumbs, I  don’t use them and don’t really miss them, so the meatballs themselves are gluten-free, the gravy is not.  Here is how to make a gluten-free gravy:

• Pour the broth into a saucepan and add the seasonings.
• Reduce the heat to low and gradually add a mixture of 3 tablespoons of organic cornstarch combined  with 1/8 cup of water to the broth and stir to thicken to your preference of thickness.
• You can also use 3 tablespoons of arrowroot with 1/8 cup water, and be careful to not overheat the mixture.  Arrowroot will lose its thickening properties when it is overheated.

Dairy-Free

Replace dairy milk with your favorite nut milk, like this homemade cashew milk.

You Might Like these Recipes:

Home-Style Turkey Meatloaf

Beef Stew with Vegetables

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