Swedish Cream Sauce / Ikea Sauce
⏱️ 5 min🍳 8 min⏱️ 13 min📊 Easy🍽️ Makes about 2 cups (475 ml)Volume 2 · Sunday Sauce
The iconic Swedish cream sauce from Ikea — rich, savory, and subtly sweet with grated apple — made from scratch in 10 minutes. Perfect with meatballs, potatoes, and lingonberry jam.
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 3 tbsp (42 g) | unsalted butter |
| 3 tbsp (24 g) | all-purpose flour |
| 1 cup (240 ml) | whole milk |
| ½ cup (120 ml) | heavy cream |
| ½ cup (120 ml) | beef broth |
| ½ | red apple (such as Gala or Fuji), peeled and finely grated |
| ¼ cup (60 ml) | dry white wine |
| 1 tbsp | soy sauce (for color and umami) |
| ½ tsp | white pepper |
| Salt, to taste |
This creamy, comforting sauce is the soul of Swedish home cooking. The secret is a finely grated apple, which adds a gentle sweetness and fruitiness that balances the savory beef broth and cream.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes — do not let it brown. This is a white roux.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, cream, and beef broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, whisking frequently.
- Add the grated apple, white wine, soy sauce, and white pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Taste and adjust salt. Serve warm over Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
| Storage | Method |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently, whisking in a splash of milk if needed. |
Per Serving (¼ cup / 60 ml): Calories 165, Fat 13g, Carbs 9g, Protein 3g
Recipe from "The Italian Kitchen" by Vita Milanese — Volume 2: Sunday Sauce
Recipe from The Italian Kitchen by Vita Milanese — Volume 2 · Sunday Sauce. Discover all volumes on the ebook page.