Swedish Kålpudding Recipe – Caramelized Cabbage Meatloaf

A Swedish staple, Kålpudding or Cabbage Meatloaf, is a delicious and easy dish enjoyed by home cooks and top chefs alike. Tender meatloaf is sandwitched between layers of caramelised cabbage and served with tart lingonberry sauce for a meal the whole family will love!

Kålpudding is a classic Swedish comfort food - not to be confused with Kåldolmar, (Cabbage Rolls or stuffed cabbage leaves - another Swedish clasic, recipe coming soon! ) or regular meatloaf which is often topped with tomato sauce and mustard. It's sometimes called a cabbage casserole and even cabbage pudding. It's most often served with Lingonberry Sauce or Jam.

Swedish Cabbage Meatloaf Ingredients

Serves 4  – My gang LOVE this recipe so I use triple the ingredients and use an extra large oven form.

Cabbage:

2 lb/ 1kg White cabbage head – Outer leaves and core removed. 

2 tbsp Golden syrup – you can use any syrup. 

3 tbsp Olive oil, butter, or coconut oil for frying.

Salt and black pepper to season – 

Meat loaf:

1 Medium onion – peeled and finely chopped. You can if you wish, saute the onion together with the garlic in a little butter for a sweeter flavor.

1 clove of crushed garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 lb / 500g Ground beef

2 tbsp soy sauce

1/3 cup 80ml Cream

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Raw Lingonberry Sauce:

You can also serve this dish with lingonberry jam!

2 Cups /250g Frozen or fresh lingonberries

1/2 Cup / 100g Brown Sugar

You will need: An oven form that is about 12 x 10 inches / 30 x 25cm. You can also use a dutch oven or a deep sided cast iron pan. 

Method

1. Using a sharp knife or a mandolin, slice the cabbage thinly. 

2. Heat butter or oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook the cabbage and golden syrup together over medium-high heat, stirring regularly, until the cabbage turns golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and black pepper, and set aside.

Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook the cabbage in lots. 

3. Pre heat oven to 350°F / 180°C.

4. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion, crushed garlic, cream, brown sugar, eggs, soy sauce and salt. 

You can use your hands or a potato masher!

5. Grease the oven form with a little butter and spread 1/2 of the cabbage mixture over the bottom of the form to cover the whole surface.

Add the beef mixture in a layer on top of the cabbage and scatter the remaining cabbage on top.

Place in the oven to cook for 40 – 45 minutes. Don’t be afraid to let the cabbage get plenty of color!

6. While the cabbage meatloaf in the oven make the lingonberry sauce.  Mix together the lingonberries and brown sugar in a small bowl and allow the berries to defrost, mixing every now and then.

Serving Suggestions

Traditionally, Swedish Cabbage Meatloaf is served with boiled potatoes, raw lingonberry sauce, and sometimes brown sauce. In more recent years, it’s been served simply with lingonberry preserves and salad. 

How to store Cabbage meatloaf

Store kålpudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store any remaining sauce separately. Reheat in the oven at 350°F/ 180°C for 15-20 minutes.

Variations

Use this recipe as a base to build on. Simple substitutuíons, like using ground turkey or other ground meat like venison, make this a really versatile recipe. ( Be sure to check the internal temperature if using poultry or wild meats.) 

Cabbages like savoy and kale can be used together with or instead of simple white cabbage. 

We often add cooked beans or lentils to the meat mixture, along with a little extra cream, salt, and egg. 

A teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce adds a little kick!

If you enjoyed this recipe, I would love it if you would give it 5 stars and let me know in the comments below!