Swedish Meatballs?

Question

Are they really of swedish origin?

Answer 1

Creamy goodness ! I love them !

Answer 2

Well, I'm half-Swedish and have organzied a few smorgasbords in my time, so I've done research on Swedish recipes.

Swedish meatballs (Kottbullar in Swedish) have been around for quite a while, many decades from what I've read. The recipe is also found in old cookbooks by Swedish authors, which makes me think they do have real origins in Sweden.

I think many cuisines have their own type of meatball, it's the ingredients that make them specific to that part of the world. Swedes tend to use nutmeg in theirs.

Most key though is making a white creamy gravy for them. That is probably what sets them apart. You see that in a recipe, you probably have a safe bet that it's really Swedish.

Answer 3

Swedish meatballs are one of the best-known Swedish cooking specialities, a necessity on the smörgåsbord. Norway, Denmark Finland and other countries have their own versions. Making meatballs were once upon a time a way to use up leftovers together with minced meat.

Answer 4

I'm a half-Swede who speaks Swedish, and although meatballs (köttbullar) are very, very popular in Sweden I must admit that they most likely don't have their origin there. A long time ago only noblemen could afford eating meatballs; they were for example served at Richard II's court in England in the 14th century. It is definitely true that many countries have their own versions of meatballs, Sweden included. You can find different kinds of recipies everywhere.

I might add that Swedish meatballs are considered "finer" the smaller they are. :) They are usually served with brown gravy, boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam - just have a look at IKEA next time!

Answer 5

Not at all, in fact there are many meatball like dishes in eastern europe, central europe and all the way to India.
Some of the first recorded meatball like dishes is from early
500 Ad by the roman author Apicius.
Most evidence points to the Swedish king charles XII, who in a war against russia in early 1700 AD had to flee to Turkay and stay there several years, got so fond of the food there that he imported many "swedish" dishes.The basic food in Sweden have always been somewhat less than spicy and these new kinds of food with "unusual" kinds of meat in them (lamb) and other "spices" than the common one (salt),soon became a hit all over the country.
(that would actually explain the recent years craving for Kebab here in Sweden :D )

Answer 6

i'm norweign, so i couldn't tell ya.
we just always called them sweedish meat balls.

Answer 7

yup!