It seems as if the entire world is going through the motions these days now that we are in our second month of social distancing. The COVID-19 pandemic has us staying home and moving from breakfast to lunch, lunch to dinner, and it seems as if we are all looking for a little variety.
The variety may be difficult to come by because most restaurants are closed or offering a limited menu that is only available for takeout. We may have had a favorite meal or perhaps even a comfort food that is no longer available. Fortunately, there are a few restaurants, such as Disney Parks and Cheesecake Factory, that are revealing their trademark recipes so we can create them at home.
You can also add IKEA to the mix, and they are now revealing their trademark Swedish meatballs. It’s time to gather the ingredients and preheat the oven because something delicious is about to happen.
IKEA UK and Ireland announced on Monday that they are releasing the recipe card along with illustrations. Like many places, IKEA is closed due to the pandemic, but they are still making people happy with this recipe release.
“We know that some people might be missing our meatballs, which is why we’ve released an at-home alternative which, using easily accessible ingredients, will help those looking for some inspiration in the kitchen,” Lorena Lourido, the country food manager at IKEA UK and Ireland, said in a press release according to CNN. “Staying at home can be hard, but we want to help make everyone’s lives that little bit easier and more enjoyable.
“Bon appétit or, smaklig måltid, as we say in Sweden!”
People on social media are quite happy with this kind gesture.
IKEA has released a recipe for its signature meatballs. Making them looks far simpler than assembling a Billy bookcase. pic.twitter.com/osiUf19jCT
— Josh Barrie (@joshbythesea) April 20, 2020
I was just telling my roommate other day how much I miss #IKEA lunches and then IKEA releases the recipe for its legendary ‘Swedish Meatballs’ and cream sauce.
I 💛 you @IKEAHrvatska
🇭🇷😍🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/GE337MTInN— Domagoj Štimac (@DomagojStimac) April 20, 2020
I heard good news today! IKEA releases their Swedish meatballs recipe online!💜
— Dafugo (@dafugo) April 20, 2020
It seems as if the new normal involves a lot of staying at home and doing our own cooking. We may sometimes opt to grab some take-out, but it is not always the most convenient thing to do. IKEA knows how to make us happy, and they’ve done it again.
Here’s the recipe for those who want to get started right away:
Ikea’s Swedish meatballs with cream sauce (makes 16 – 20 meatballs)
Ingredients for the meatballs:
500 grams (1.1 pounds) ground beef
250 grams (slightly more than ½ pound) ground pork
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic (crushed or minced)
100 grams (3.5 ounces) breadcrumbs
1 egg
5 tablespoons of whole milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for the cream sauce:
Dash of oil
40 grams (1.4 ounces) butter
40 grams (1.4 ounces) plain flour
150 ml (5 fluid ounces) vegetable stock
150 ml (5 fluid ounces) beef stock
150 ml (5 fluid ounces) thick double cream
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions:
1. Combine beef and pork mince and mix thoroughly
Break up any lumps. Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, and mix. Add milk and season well with salt and pepper.
2. Shape mixture into small, round balls. Place on a clean plate, cover and store in the fridge for 2 hours (to help them hold their shape while cooking).
3. In a frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. When hot, gently add your meatballs and brown on all sides.
4. When browned, add to an ovenproof dish and cover. Place in a hot oven, 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius, and cook for another 30 minutes.
And, for the cream sauce:
1. Melt the butter in a frying pan. Whisk in the plain flour and continue cooking, stirring continuously for 2 minutes.
2. Add the vegetable stock and beef stock and continue to stir. Add the thick double cream, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard.
3. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken. Continue to stir.
4. When ready to eat, serve with your favorite potatoes — either creamy mash or mini new boiled potatoes