Scandinavian · main
Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar)
Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar) reads umami 8.0, richness 6.7 and fruity 4.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian main, about 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 8.3 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.2 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 1.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.5 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.4 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 8.0 · Richness 6.7 · Fruity 4.2 · Sweetness 3.4 · Allium 3.0 · Salinity 2.9 · Floral 2.5 · Sourness 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Earthy 1.3 · Bitterness 1.2 · Herbaceous 1.1
What's in it (11)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs soaked in milk
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, grated
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- lingonberry jam for serving
Time & effort: about 40 min · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 206.2 kcal, 17.7 g protein, 12.5 g fat, 5.9 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Mix meats with soaked breadcrumbs, egg, grated onion, allspice, and nutmeg, then roll into small balls.
- Brown in butter over medium-high heat until cooked through, then set aside.
- Make a pan gravy by deglazing with broth and stirring in cream.
- Serve meatballs smothered in gravy alongside boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Abkhazura (Caul-Wrapped Spiced Meat Patties) — Georgian
- Libamáj (Hungarian Goose Liver / Foie Gras) — Hungarian
- Sunday Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes — American
- Classic Beef Stew with Potatoes and Carrots — American
- Ѓувеч (Gjuveč, Baked Lamb, Pepper and Rice Tray) — Macedonian
Keep reading: what umami, richness, fruity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.