Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

For the lingonberry preserves (makes about 650g)

• lingonberries 100g (available from scandikitchen.co.uk)

• sugar 450g

• water 950ml

For the pickled cucumbers

• cucumber 1

• sea salt 1 tbsp

• water 360ml

• white wine vinegar 120ml

• sugar 225g

• bay leaf 1

• allspice 2 berries

For the meatballs

• dry breadcrumbs 60g

• double cream 60ml

• red onion 1 medium, finely chopped

• olive oil 2 tbsp

• ground chuck or sirloin beef 225g

• ground veal 225g

• ground pork 225g

• honey 2 tbsp

• egg 1

• salt 1½ tbsp

• black pepper ½ tbsp

• unsalted butter 3 tbsp

For the sauce

• chicken stock 480ml

• double cream 120ml

• lingonberry preserves 165g (see above)

• pickle juice 2 tbsp, from the pickled cucumbers (see above)

• salt ½ tbsp

• black pepper 2 tsp

For the braised cabbage

• bacon 225g, diced

• onion 100g, sliced thin

• carrots 75g, sliced thin

• red cabbage 300g, thinly sliced

• green cabbage 300g, thinly sliced

• apple cider vinegar 60ml

• salt 1 tbsp

• black pepper 2 tsp

DIRECTIONS

1. To make the lingonberry preserves, combine all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low flame and simmer until a syrupy consistency is achieved, then cool.

2. To make the pickled cucumbers, use a mandoline to thinly slice the cucumber. Put in a colander, toss with the salt and stand for about 30 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, combine the water, vinegar, sugar, bay leaf and allspice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool.

4. Rinse the salt off the cucumber and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Put the cucumber and pickling liquid in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 3-6 hours before serving.

5. To make the meatballs, in a small bowl soak the breadcrumbs in the cream, then set aside. In a frying pan over a medium heat saute the onion in oil for about 5 minutes, until softened. Remove from the heat.

6. Combine the ground beef, veal and pork with the onion, honey and egg, and mix well with your hands in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the soaked breadcrumbs and combine well. With wet hands (to stop the mixture sticking) shape into meatballs the size of a golf ball, placing them on a plate lightly moistened with water. You should have about 24 meatballs.

7. Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in batches and cook, turning frequently, for about 7 minutes. Be sure that all sides are browned and the meatballs are cooked through. Transfer them to a plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon of fat from the frying pan for the sauce.

8. To make the sauce, in the meatball frying pan whisk together the reserved fat, stock, cream, preserves and pickle juice and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer and reduce until thickened. Season to taste. Add the meatballs to the sauce, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes.

9. To make the braised cabbage, cook the bacon over a medium heat until the fat has no colour. Add the onion and carrot, and cook for 10 minutes.

10. Add the cabbage and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Finish with vinegar, salt and pepper.

11. To serve, place the cabbage on a plate and top with the meatballs. Spoon some sauce over each individual meatball. Serve with the lingonberry preserves and pickled cucumbers on the side.