Swedish Meatballs from the Hamline Church Dining Hall at the Minnesota State Fair

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Hamline Church Swedish Meatballs

Served at the Hamline Church Dining Hall at the Minnesota State Fair starting in the 1930s.
Servings: 50

Ingredients

  • 24 slices bread, dried and made into crumbs (approximately 14 cups of crumbs)
  • 1½ qts. water
  • 15 lbs. ground beef
  • 12 eggs, beaten
  • 3 onions, ground
  • 5 Tbsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. allspice
  • 1 tsp. sage
  • ½ tsp. ground cloves
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • ½ tsp. curry powder
  • Prepared beef gravy

Instructions

  • Soak bread crumbs in water. Combine bread mixture, beef, eggs, onions and seasonings; be careful not to overmix.
  • Measure mixture with dipper and shape into 2½-inch balls. Arrange balls in rows in 12-by-20-inch pan.
  • Bake at 400° until done as desired; drain fat.
  • Serve with beef gravy.