Kottbullar

Kottbullar, Swedish meatballs, are the country's most famous dish abroad: small, tender meatballs of beef and pork served with a creamy gravy, tart lingonberry jam, pickled cucumber and mashed potato. Homely comfort food at heart, they are made in every kitchen and served everywhere from cafes to smart restaurants. The recipe is generally traced to the eighteenth century and a Turkish influence brought back by Karl XII, though how direct that line is remains argued over. What makes the Swedish version distinct is the accompaniment rather than the meat: the lingonberry alongside the cream sauce, sharp against rich, which is the combination the dish stands or falls on.

What you actually see

• The meatballs and gravy - the small tender balls in a creamy brown sauce.
• Lingonberry jam - the tart red jam that cuts the richness.
• Mash and pickled cucumber - the traditional accompaniments.
• Home and restaurant versions - from everyday cooking to refined takes.

When to go

Year-round; comfort food especially welcome in the cold, found on menus everywhere. A traditional restaurant does the classic version best.

Honest expectations

It is homely comfort food rather than fine dining, so come for warmth and tradition. The version at furniture-store cafes is fine but not the finest; a good restaurant beats it. The lingonberry and cream combination is essential, not optional.

Nearby

Traditional restaurants across Stockholm serve it; the food halls sell the components to cook at home.