Meatballs around the world

Where do they really come from?

Some people might assume they originated from Sweden, butthe Swedish government denied this in 2018 . The Swedes stated that the roots of the popular Köttbullar can be found in the Osman Empire. The public statements said that King Charles XII, who lived in exile in the Osman Empire for about 5 years in the early 18th century, brought the delicious meat dish back home with him. How could it be otherwise, when Swedish köttbullar are so similar to Turkish köfte?

But food historian Richard Tellström partially refuted this statement. According to his research, the meatballs were already consumed in Sweden before the king`s stay in the Osman Empire - but at that time under the name "frikadell".
Köttbullar, as they are known today, were first described in 1755 in Anna Christina Warg`s cookbook. At that time, she made them from veal, sheep or ox meat.

But there is another statement that questions both the Swedish government`s and the nutritional historian`s statement. For indeed, it is now thought that different types of meatballs were developed in parallel in many different countries, and therefore they have no guaranteed origin.
In fact, this theory sounds plausible: there are so many different recipes around the world, it is unlikely that only one people had this recipe idea.

In fact, meatball dishes can be found around the world, all prepared in very specific and individual ways: both in America, as "Spaghetti and Meatballs" - which was eaten by Italian immigrants as a poor man`s food, in Turkey - where Köfte was a popular meat dish in all cookbooks, as well as in Sweden, Germany, Spain and many other countries.
The preparations are as diverse and creative as the names they have been given by the peoples.

The names of the minced balls around the globe:

Germany: Klopse, Frikadelle, Bulette, Fleischpflanzerl, Hackhuller.
Sweden: Köttbullar
Turkey: Köfte
Ukraine: Gretschanikie
Greece: Soutzoukakia
Denmark: Frikadeller
America and England: Meat Balls
Austria: Hackplätzli, Fleischlaberln
Spain: Albóndigas
Portugal: Almôndegas
Thailand: Jok
Italy: Polpettine
India: Kofta
Syria: Kabab
Croatia: Cufte
Poland: Pulpety
Russia: Tefteli

Fun Facts about Neat Balls:

- The USA has a National Meat Ball Day, which is celebrated every year at 09 March.
- The singer Meat Loaf (deceased 2022) had the nickname "Meat Ball" and became world famous with it.
- Lady and the Tramp in the Disney movie ate the immigrant dish "Spaghetti and Meatballs" together
- The Swedish Köttbullar is based on the Turkish Köfte recipe
- The Köttbullar is pronounced "Shoettboullar".

We take you on a journey around the globe to the most fascinating and best meatball recipes.