Swedish Meatballs Are Apparently a Lot Less Swedish Than We Thought

Swedish food isn't the most famous cuisine to come out of Europe, but there is one Swedish dish that's known around the world: their petite, gravy-soaked meatballs. Now, the famed food's origins are being called into question by none other than Sweden's official Twitter account, Mashable reports.

On Saturday, April 28, @swedense tweeted the following: "Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century. Let's stick to the facts!" Swedes and non-Swedes alike were understandably shaken by the bombshell (though IKEA has yet to comment on the revelation regarding their signature dish).

A history-making meatball recipe wasn't the only culinary import King Charles XII brought to Sweden following his five years living in Turkey: He also gave the Scandinavian country coffee and stuffed cabbage rolls.

The origins of many of the dishes we associate with certain nations can actually be traced back to different parts of the world. The pasta Italy is so famous for owes its existence to the Asian noodles that predate it by centuries. And that all-American apple pie you love so much? It's a British dish. As was the case with those items, Turkish meatballs have taken on a distinctively local flavor and identity since landing in Sweden 300 years ago. While kofta, a Turkish meatball, is often made from lamb, Swedish meatballs are typically made from pork and beef.

[h/t Mashable]