Seasoned with allspice, sometimes smothered in gravy, and served alongside lingonberry preserves, Swedish meatballs found their way onto American dinner tables and cocktail party menus in the 1950s. Despite their name, Swedish meatballs originated in present-day Turkey in the early 18th century. Swedish meatballs were as much an affordable, comforting meal as an exotic one. Their growing popularity reflected a broader embrace of Nordic culture in postwar America.

“From Taste To Tech: 100 Years of Nordic Innovation + Impact” Exhibition
04.28.26