IKEA reveals secret recipe for its famous Swedish meatballs

On 20 April, SCC patron IKEA launched a new initiative, aimed at making everyday life more enjoyable for people in isolation in light of the current coronavirus pandemic. By having revealed the secret recipe for its popular Swedish meatballs and classic cream sauce, consumers can now recreate the dish at home. Lorena Lourido, Country Manager at IKEA Food UK & Ireland, unravels how IKEA’s Swedish meatball initiative makes life in lockdown more bearable for the many people. 

On 20 March, furniture giant IKEA temporarily closed all its stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland, as a precautionary measure against the current COVID-19 pandemic. A month later, on 20 April, the furniture giant fortunately shared the recipe for its iconic Swedish meatballs and cream sauce. Thanks to the published six-step recipe card designed like an IKEA flatpack furniture instruction, meatball enthusiasts across the world are now given the chance to recreate the traditional dish at home. "With many people across the UK adapting to new ways of living during the ongoing Coronavirus situation, we wanted to do something that would help bring a smile to people’s faces. Seeing people spend the extra at home getting creative, be it by redesigning rooms or rediscovering a love of cooking, is wonderful. We want to help as many people as possible fall in love with their home all over again, and having a go re-creating their favourite dish is just one way of achieving that."

Long-standing heritage
As many would agree, no visit to an IKEA department store is ever complete without tasting its famous meatballs. Interestingly, the popular dish is the result of thorough culinary craftsmanship that took place more than three decades ago. "The IKEA meatball recipe was developed in 1985 when founder Ingvar Kamprad enlisted the help of famed Swedish chef, Severin Sjöstedt, to create what is now an iconic dish. For 10 months Severin barely left the kitchen as he was determined to create the perfect recipe. That care and attention clearly paid off!" says Lorena Lourido. The IKEA meatballs are normally served hot in the café or available for purchase in frozen format in the Swedish Food Market. 

Supporting the community
Releasing the recipe for the meatballs and cream sauce is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at supporting key workers, customers and co-workers amid the COVID-19 crisis. Looking ahead, the furniture giant will continue to support its communities as best as it possibly can. “In the last few weeks, IKEA has undertaken a series of initiatives to help support the community – including re-opening some of our Swedish Food Markets so key workers and the vulnerable can access essential food items more easily, and repurposing our Wembley and Gateshead car parks into NHS drive-through test centres. It's important that everyone does what they can during this time. And IKEA will continue to support our communities in the best way that we can,” concludes Lorena Lourido.

Learn more about how to cook IKEA's meatballs with creamsauce in this IKEA press release.

BY: SARA APÉRIA