Lihapyörykät (Finnish Meatballs with Allspice Gravy)

Meatballs and gravy

• 200 ml Whole milk
• 80 g Breadcrumbs
• 1 medium Yellow onion
• 40 g Unsalted butter
• 250 g Minced beef
• 250 g Minced pork
• 1 Egg
• 1 ¼ tsp Fine sea salt
• ½ tsp Black pepper
• ½ tsp Allspice
• 20 g Plain flour
• 500 ml Beef stock

To serve

• 240 g Instant mashed potato flakes
• 120 g Lingonberry

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the milk and breadcrumbs and leave for 10 minutes to soften. Meanwhile, finely grate the onion.
2. Melt half the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat, then cook the onion for 6 to 8 minutes until soft and sweet, not browned. Scrape into a bowl and let it cool for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the minced beef, minced pork, egg, salt, pepper and allspice to the bowl with the cooled onion and soaked breadcrumbs. Mix with your hands just until combined, then shape into 16 meatballs.
4. Heat the remaining butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches for 6 to 8 minutes total, turning until well coloured all over; they do not need to be cooked through yet.
5. Lower the heat to medium and sprinkle in the flour, stirring for 1 minute to cook it out. Gradually whisk in the beef stock until smooth, then bring to a gentle simmer.
6. Return all the meatballs to the pan and simmer gently for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until cooked through and the gravy lightly thickens. Taste and adjust with a pinch more salt or pepper if needed.
7. While the meatballs simmer, prepare the instant mashed potato flakes according to the packet directions. Serve the meatballs with the gravy, mash and lingonberry on the side.

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