Topic: Ikea off my bucket list

[livo]

Having recently turned 59, I can now say I've been to an Ikea store. It wasn't really on my bucket list but yesterday my daughter needed to go and I was travelling with her.  I was suitably impressed and took home a selection on nice stainless steel serving bowls (I'll be using them as mixing bowls).

Yep, I had to have a serving of meatballs.  My daughter had the chicken variety so I was able to taste both. They were nice but I think I prefer Italian over Swedish.

So the questions are:
Are Ikea meatballs indicative of the best Swedish meatballs?
I will be making these myself so:
Is there a better recipe for them?  (The actual Ikea recipe is published and there are copycat versions for some reason.)
Do you prefer Swedish or Italian meatballs.

[livo]

Hit the wrong reply link.

[Peripatetic Phil]

So the questions are:
Are Ikea meatballs indicative of the best Swedish meatballs?
I will be making these myself so:
Is there a better recipe for them?  (The actual Ikea recipe is published and there are copycat versions for some reason.)
Do you prefer Swedish or Italian meatballs.

I have to pass on all of these, but I can report (with considerable chagrin) that a friend/colleague and I were invited speakers at a conference in Sweden.  Following the conference we were taken out for dinner.  And dinner was meatballs.  We were somewhat underwhelmed.

** Phil.

[Sverige]

So the questions are:
Are Ikea meatballs indicative of the best Swedish meatballs?

Nope. What a funny question!  Ikea meatballs are similar but inferior to the scan brand meatballs you

[livo]

I was hoping you'd reply Sverige. Who would know better than you?  While it may appear to be a funny question to you, I can assure you that for me, a meat and 3 veg Aussie kid on the opposite end of the globe, it makes perfect sense to ask.  I enjoyed the dish yesterday but had to question if it is the real deal.   

A Big Mac or Quarter Pounder is nothing like a real Australian Hamburger.

I'm not at all surprised that you prefer the Swedish and I mean no disrespect in that. It would be perfectly acceptable for a Swedish person to prefer the Italian variety and some possibly do.

Of course I can purchase the Ikea Meatballs frozen but I don't live close to the store so I'd be making my own which is fine.  I'd like to try other examples though.  I found this:
http://www.swedishfood.com/swedish-food-recipes-main-courses/44-meatballs and this:
https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_SG/pdf/restaurant/Meatballs_w_creamsauce.pdf

The only apparent difference is the inclusion of potato in the Ikea variety.

Do you have an old Aunt or friend who knows how to prepare a Gourmet version?

[Naga]

Can't help with a meatballs recipe, but here's the recipe I use to replicate the cream sauce sold in Ikea. I can't remember where I sourced the recipe, but it's very good and almost indistinguishable from their packet mix.

CREAM SAUCE FOR SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Serves: 4

Ingredients

300ml beef stock
200ml double cream
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp cornflour mixed to a paste with a little water
salt and ground white pepper to taste

Method

Gently heat the beef stock in a pan.

Whisk in the double cream, followed by the soy sauces.

Whisk in the cornflour paste and continue to whisk the sauce until it thickens and boils.

Add salt and ground white pepper to taste.

Serve.

[Secret Santa]

...a meat and 3 veg Aussie kid...

Aussies always have to go one better don't they.   

[livo]

Don't you guys eat meat?

But really, I grew up on the standard Aussie meat and 3 veg. Either steak, Lamb chops or sausages, served with mashed potato, either peas or beans for green and carrots. Did you only get 2 veg over there?

Occasionally the grown-ups would eat cauliflower, brusselsprouts or choko.  Corn was a rare treat.  I'd never tasted broccoli until I was nearly 30 years old.

I should also point out that for a period of time the mashed potato was Deb instant and the peas were boiled dehydrated packet peas. I think the carrots were always fresh.

Naga, thanks for the sauce recipe. I'll give it a try. One thing may be missing as it appears most recipes for the Swedish sauce contain Allspice, although it is sometimes noted as optional.

[Onions]

Did you only get 2 veg over there?

I think Secret Santa is suggesting that most blokes only need meat and two veg 

[Peripatetic Phil]

Meat and one veg for me, where "one veg" = "potatoes".  Bachelor's processed peas and/or mushy peas are OK, though, when I feel in real need of a healthy meal for a change ...