
The quintessential Finnish weeknight dinner of savory ground beef sauce ladled over fluffy mashed potatoes, a comfort meal found in every Finnish household.
Allergen Warning
Contains: gluten, dairy
Equipment needed
stovetop, pan, pot
Peel and boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large pan over high heat, breaking it into small pieces.
Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle flour over the meat and stir to combine, cooking for 1 minute.
Add broth gradually while stirring, then stir in tomato paste and soy sauce.
Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens, then stir in cream and season with salt and white pepper.
Drain potatoes, add butter and milk, and mash until smooth.
Serve the meat sauce generously ladled over the mashed potatoes with pickled cucumber on the side.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate up to 4 days. Freezes well for 3 months. Store sauce and mashed potatoes separately. Reheat sauce on stovetop, adding a splash of water if too thick.
Cultural Context
The most common weeknight dinner in Finnish homes, jauhelihakastike over mashed potatoes is the definition of arkiruoka (everyday food). Finnish children grow up eating this weekly, and it remains a comfort food that university students and adults return to.
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