Swedish Cardamom Meatballs

Transport your taste buds to Scandinavia with these irresistible Swedish Cardamom Meatballs, a flavorful twist on a beloved classic. Featuring tender ground beef and pork combined with warm aromatic spices like cardamom, nutmeg, and allspice, these meatballs are perfectly browned for a rich, savory bite. A lusciously creamy sauce made from beef broth, heavy cream, and skillet roux elevates this dish into pure comfort food territory. Ready in under an hour, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners yet impressive enough for entertaining. Serve these cardamom-spiced gems over buttery mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or alongside tart lingonberry jam for a true Nordic-inspired feast.

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Whole milk
• 1 large Egg
• 0.5 cup Yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon Butter
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cardamom
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground allspice
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
• 2 cups Beef broth
• 0.5 cup Heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons Fresh dill (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Allow it to soak for about 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk and become soft.

Step 2

In a medium skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Step 3

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, cooked onion, ground cardamom, ground allspice, ground nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough meatballs.

Step 4

Using damp hands, shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter. Place the formed meatballs on a baking sheet or plate.

Step 5

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, cook the meatballs until browned on all sides and mostly cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the cooked meatballs to a plate and set aside.

Step 6

In the same skillet, melt the butter for the sauce over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Step 7

Gradually whisk in the beef broth, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 8

Stir in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Return the meatballs to the skillet, coating them evenly in the sauce. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thickened to your liking.

Step 9

Serve the Swedish Cardamom Meatballs warm, garnished with freshly chopped dill if desired. Pair with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or lingonberry jam for a traditional experience.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(871.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1179.9

Total Fat 95.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 31.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 19.2g
Cholesterol 463.9mg	0%
Sodium 2134.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 5.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0.6g	0%
Total Sugars 3.2g
Protein 72.7g	0%

Vitamin D 82.8IU	0%
Calcium 207.6mg	0%
Iron 4.1mg	0%
Potassium 464.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 73.5%

Protein: 24.8%

Carbs: 1.7%