cold weather comfort food: swedish meatballs

How To Make cold weather comfort food: swedish meatballs

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  Step 1
  PREP/PREPARE
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  Step 2
  THE MEATBALLS
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  Step 3
  Gather your ingredients.
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  Step 4
  Place the bacon in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium to medium-low heat.
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  Step 5
  Allow the bacon to slowly cook until all the fat has rendered, and the bacon beings to brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.
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  Step 6
  Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, and leave the bacon grease in the pan.
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  Step 7
  Add the Italian sausage, ground chuck, egg yolks, onion, and ricotta cheese to a bowl.
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  Step 8
  Season with the salt, pepper, cumin, and the cayenne.
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  Step 9
  Chef’s Note: I usually use about 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and pepper, and a couple of pinches of cayenne. I always use a teaspoon of cumin.
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  Step 10
  Gently mix the ingredients together.
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  Step 11
  Chef’s Tip: If you have a stand mixer, add the paddle attachment and mix on low. This will keep the mixture from becoming too compacted.
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  Step 12
  Form into 1-ounce balls, and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
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  Step 13
  Add a tablespoon of butter to the pan with the bacon grease, and bring up to medium heat.
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  Step 14
  After the foaming subsides, give the pan a swirl to combine the bacon grease with the butter.
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  Step 15
  Add the meatballs to the pan.
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  Step 16
  Brown them on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes.
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  Step 17
  Chef’s Note: If you have a small pan, you might have to do this in batches.
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  Step 18
  Reserve the meatballs.
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  Step 19
  THE GRAVY
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  Step 20
  Gather your ingredients.
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  Step 21
  Wipe out the pan, but return 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
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  Step 22
  Whisk the flour into the beef stock.
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  Step 23
  Add the stock to the pan, and bring up to a simmer.
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  Step 24
  As the gravy is simmering season with salt, pepper, and the cayenne.
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  Step 25
  Return the meatballs and the reserved bacon to the pan, and allow to slowly simmer, until the meatballs are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
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  Step 26
  Remove from the heat, and gently stir in the sour cream.
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  Step 27
  PLATE/PRESENT
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  Step 28
  Serve over egg noodles, or as I do with long-grain white rice. Enjoy.
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  Step 29
  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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