Vegan meatballs

Swedish meatballs, ‘köttbullar’, must be prepared, above all, with love. This is why homemade meatballs are a widespread concept in Sweden, and there are many different favourite recipes – with and without meat.

Photo credit: Gustav Johansson/Sharing Sweden

Vegan meatballs with mash potatoes and cream sauce – recipe

Swedish meatballs, or 'köttbullar', has a cherished status in Sweden. Whether you're taking a break at a furniture store or dining at a trendy restaurant, whether you lean towards the classic beef version or the vegan option, the Swedish national dish, featuring its meatballs, creamy mashed potatoes, irresistible gravy, and tart lingonberries is always a delightful choice.

Last updated 23 August 2023

4 portions

Ingredients:

The meatballs

400 g vegan mince (that’s possible to shape into balls)
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 yellow onion
1.5 tbsp concentrated vegetable stock
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Chinese mushroom soy
½ tbsp ground allspice
Vegan butter to fry in (a lot)
Salt and black pepper

Mashed potatoes

1 kg floury potatoes
2 dl oat cream
2–3 tbsp vegan butter
A pinch of ground nutmeg
Salt and white pepper to taste

Cream sauce

4 dl oat cream
1.5 tbsp vegetable stock
½ dl stirred lingonberries
1 tbsp dark Chinese mushroom soy sauce
1 tbsp dried thyme
5 dried juniper berries
Salt and black pepper

Stirred lingonberries

3 dl fresh lingonberries
1–1.5 dl sugar

Pressed cucumber

1 large fresh cucumber
A lot of salt
2 tbsp vinegar (12%)
1 dl water
3 tbsp sugar
A pinch of white pepper
A small handful of chopped parsley

Method:

First, peel the potatoes for the mash. Cut them into small pieces and boil them until soft.
Mix the lingon berries with the sugar and set aside.
Whisk together vinegar, water, sugar, and white pepper for the cucumber garnish. Cut the cucumber into thin slices and salt them generously in a bowl. Then set the bowl aside.
Now for the vegan meatballs: finely chop an onion, mix it with the vegan mince and season with allspice, mustard, soy sauce, vegetable broth, vegan cream and black pepper. Mix the ingredients together well and then shape the meatballs.
Heat up a frying bot with plenty of vegan butter. Then add the meatballs and fry them until they're firm and nicely browned.
Back to the mashed potatoes: Mash the potatoes and season with salt, nutmeg and white pepper. Add vegan butter and stir until you get a good consistency.
Then press the salt water out of the cucumbers and add it to the vinegar mixture.
Finally, the sauce: add juniper berries, thyme, vegan cream, broth, soy sauce and some of the sugared lingon berries to the pan with Köttbullar and simmer for a minute.
Serve everything together in a deep plate and enjoy the delicious vegan 'köttbullar'.

Recipe by Gustav Johansson. You can find more of his vegan recipes at javligtgott.se.