It’s time to break my fast in Sweden! After my adventure in Türkiye last week, I have finally arrived in the last country of my Ramadan trip.

Although Sweden does not have a Muslim majority, it is an extremely diverse country with minority communities from many different cultures. In fact, Muslims make up around 8-10% of Sweden’s population, primarily due to immigration. Not only that—Sweden also has a small but growing number of Muslim reverts!

Even though Ramadan is coming to an end this year, the final days are especially significant for Muslims. During the last 10 nights falls Laylat al-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power. The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is unknown and varies each year, but it is believed to be filled with immense blessings, as this is the night the Quran was first revealed to humanity. While no one knows for certain, many Muslims traditionally observe the 27th night as the most likely date. You can read more about this in a wonderful news post written by the Inclusivity Group.

One unique aspect of observing Ramadan in Sweden and other northern countries is the fact that, during certain times of the year, the sun does not fully set in some regions. In places like Kiruna, this could mean fasting for up to 23 hours a day! However, to make fasting more manageable, many Muslims in northern Sweden follow the fasting schedule of Stockholm or other reasonable alternatives, such as Mecca or Medina.

As many of you probably know, one of Sweden’s most famous dishes is meatballs. For this week’s recipe, I’d love to highlight a wonderful vegetarian meatball with gravy recipe!

Meatballs:
• 2 cups cooked wild rice
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• Olive oil (optional)

Gravy:
• 3 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp onion powder & garlic powder
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1½ cups veggie broth
• ½ cup sour cream
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Meatballs: Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix ingredients, roll into balls, and bake on a lined sheet for 15-20 min until firm.
2. Gravy: Melt the butter, add spices and flour, and cook it briefly. Slowly whisk in broth, then stir in sour cream. Adjust the thickness if needed.
3. Toss the meatballs in gravy and serve with potatoes, salad, or veggies. Enjoy!

Have you tried this recipe? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear more! <3

Love,