25+ Scandinavian Recipes • Nordic Comfort Food! (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical Scandinavian dish? ›

You'll soon discover that the Scandinavian countries have similar diets, featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Common foods include bread, dairy products, potatoes, porridges, creamy soups, salted or smoked meats and fresh, salted or smoked fish.

Generally, though, this is a hearty cuisine based on fresh, local ingredients. While Scandinavian cuisine comes with plenty of traditional dishes that immediately spring to mind—gravlax, cinnamon buns, waffles, reindeer, and aquavit—there's a sophisticated food movement now in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

Scandinavian cuisine focuses on the food as it comes from the earth rather than doing too much to transform it. There's always plenty of fresh seafood from the waters of the North Atlantic, which becomes inspiration for culinary brilliance. Presentation is a huge focus in Scandinavian dining.

Northern Norwegians eat a lot of smoked, dried lamb. Of course, we can't discuss meat without mentioning meatballs. There must be tens of thousands of different recipes – actually, that's probably a vast underestimation. In Sweden, a mixture of pork and beef is usually prepared, whereas Danes prefer pork and veal.

Nordic vegetables are cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, roots and peas. Fish varieties include salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and dried salty cod. Fruits do not grow abundantly in the region; therefore, berries tend to be the primary source of fruit.

Many eat porridge ( mostly oatmeal), typically with milk and jam, applemash, fruit or berries. Many eat yoghurt ( either natural or flavored) or fil ( Cultured buttermilk), with cereal, fruit, berries or jam. Many eat sandwiches, with a variety of toppings; cheese, eggs and various cold cuts are all common.

Lean meats, such as skinless poultry, and eggs are acceptable in moderation, although most Nordic Diet proteins are derived from fish and plant alternatives, such as legumes, nuts, and seeds.

For centuries, Scandinavians have used it to prepare dried whitefish, typically cod, in a dish known as lutefisk. We have the Vikings to thank for the unique technique, which rehydrates dried fish in alternating containers of water and lye.

What do Scandinavians eat for dessert? ›

Pork is an important meat in southern Scandinavia. Flæskesteg pork roast, eaten with a heavy gravy and caramelised potatoes, is as Danish as roast beef is British – and is also the quintissential Danish Christmas lunch.

The Nordic diet, which is based on principles that have been around for centuries, promotes a healthy way of eating by focusing on locally sourced fruits, vegetables and wild seafood.

Copenhagen. Copenhagen is a capital city filled with foodie hotspots. Coffee and pastries are eaten religiously every day, and the city's winding cobbled streets are packed with stylish cafes and restaurants. While you're in Copenhagen, don't miss the chance to savour a spot of New Nordic Cuisine.

Mutton and cabbage stew, or “fårikål” in Norwegian, has repeatedly been named Norway's national dish. It even has its own festive day on the last Thursday in September. Throughout the autumn months, people all around the country arrange lamb stew parties. “The dish is perfect if you want to invite a lot of people.

Fårikål is a dish of just 4 ingredients; lamb or mutton, cabbage, water and peppercorns. Salt is really up to you. The lamb and cabbage are layered up in a casserole dish and cooked slowly over several hours.

Internationally, the most renowned Swedish culinary tradition is the smörgåsbord and, at Christmas, the julbord, including well-known Swedish dishes such as gravlax and meatballs.

Some examples of these classic Swedish foods are: 'isterband' (smoked pork sausages served with creamed dill potatoes), 'rotmos och fläsk' (root vegetable mash and pork sausage) and 'ärtsoppa' (Swedish yellow pea soup, usually accompanied by pancakes), a tradition dating back to the 18th century.