Description
This Swedish Meatball Soup combines tender homemade meatballs with a flavorful broth enriched by beer, herbs, vegetables, and creamy sharp cheddar for a comforting and hearty meal perfect for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 Tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp. grated fresh nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper or black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
- 12 oz. ground beef
- 4 oz. ground sweet pork sausage
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Soup
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 3 medium stalks celery, sliced into 1/2“-thick half-moons
- 2 small carrots, sliced into 1/2“-thick half-moons
- 5 cloves garlic, grated
- 8 oz. russet potatoes, peeled, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground white or black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. spicy mustard
- 1 cup lager beer
- 2 qt. low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 oz. egg noodles
- 4 oz. grated sharp cheddar
- 3/4 cup heavy or light cream
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine eggs, bread crumbs, grated garlic, heavy cream, kosher salt, allspice, nutmeg, pepper, and ground ginger. Add the ground beef and pork sausage, mixing everything until well combined to form the meatball base.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 18 to 20 meatballs, each about 1 heaping tablespoonful. Place them evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until they are golden brown on all sides and about three-quarters cooked through, roughly 2 to 3 minutes per side. Once browned, transfer meatballs back to a clean parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Vegetables: In the same pot over medium-high heat, add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot. Stir constantly, cooking until the onion and celery begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes. Add the grated garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Add the peeled and chopped potatoes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until the potato edges become translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Flour, Mustard, and Beer: Sprinkle the flour and spicy mustard over the vegetables, stirring to coat them evenly. Pour in the lager beer while scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Simmer Soup with Meatballs: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and reduce heat to medium-low. Bring the mixture to a simmer (avoid boiling). Gently add the browned meatballs to the pot. Let the soup cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly and the meatballs and carrots are tender, about 7 to 9 minutes.
- Cook Noodles: Add the egg noodles to the soup and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until noodles are just al dente, approximately 6 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Finish Soup: Remove the pot from heat. Slowly stir in the grated sharp cheddar and cream simultaneously until the cheese has melted and the soup is creamy.
- Serve: Divide the soup among individual bowls and garnish each with chopped fresh parsley for a bright, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- Ground white or black pepper can be used based on preference.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and allow adjustment to taste.
- For a lighter soup, use light cream instead of heavy cream without compromising flavor.
- Be careful not to boil the soup once meatballs are added to prevent them from becoming tough.
- Fresh grated nutmeg adds a distinct warm flavor; pre-ground nutmeg can be used as a substitute.
- If lager beer is unavailable, a light beer or even a non-alcoholic beer can be substituted for flavor depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Swedish
Keywords: Swedish meatballs, meatball soup, creamy soup, hearty soup, comfort food, potato soup, egg noodles, beer soup