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

FAQs

What is the most popular food in Scandinavia? ›

Köttbullar (Meatballs)

Swedish meatballs are possibly the country's most iconic dish, and you'll find them everywhere—beyond Sweden, too. If there's one Scandinavian food that will give you a real taste of the region, this is it.

A renowned dish across the globe, Swedish meatballs, or Kottbullar, are a firm favourite in Sweden. A combination of ground beef, pork and often veal – classic Swedish meatballs are commonly served with a dollop of mashed potato, gravy and a sweet accompaniment of lingonberry sauce.

Root Vegetables: Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, and beets are staples in Scandinavian cooking. They are often used in soups, stews, and side dishes. Berries: Scandinavia is known for its abundant berry harvests, including lingonberries, cloudberries, bilberries (like blueberries), and raspberries.

The Vikings needed all the energy that they could get in the form of fat – especially in winter. Meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and milk products were all an important part of their diet. Sweet food was consumed in the form of berries, fruit and honey. In England the Vikings were often described as gluttonous.

Pickled herring – centre of the smorgasbord

This fishy favourite remains the basis of every typical Swedish buffet. Swedes have been pickling since the Middle Ages, mainly as a way of preserving the fish for storage and transportation.

Swedish cuisine could be described as centered around cultured dairy products, crisp and soft breads, berries and stone fruits, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, eggs, and seafood. Potatoes are often served as a side dish, often boiled.

Sweden doesn't have an official national dish, but many Swedes consider meatballs and lingonberries to be the national fare.

Today, cardamom and saffron can be found in almost every kitchen in Sweden. Most commonly in baked goods, Christmas recipes, and drinks. The tradition of fika is where you'll most likely enjoy these delicious pastries.

What spice is used in Scandinavian cooking? ›

With so much coastline, it's no surprise that fish play a lead role in Scandinavian cuisine along with herbs like dill and parsley. In the wonderful baking of Scandinavian countries, warming spices like ginger and cardamom are popular.

An open-faced sandwich is a very common Scandinavian breakfast. It can be as simple as a piece of rye bread with butter and a slice of cheese, or you can spruce it up a bit with toppings like cucumber, apples, sliced egg, or bell pepper. Chopped chives or dill are never a bad idea.

The Scandinavian open sandwich (Danish: smørrebrød, Norwegian: smørbrød, Swedish: smörgås or macka) consists of one piece of buttered bread, often whole-grain rye bread (Danish: rugbrød, Swedish: rågbröd, Finnish: ruisleipä), topped with, for instance, cheese, cold steak, ham, turkey, shrimps, smoked salmon, caviar, ...

In the forests and plains grow blueberries, wild strawberries, cloudberries, lingonberries, rowanberries, elderberries and many more. Some are eaten fresh with milk or cream, other turned into homemade marmalade, jam or fruit syrup to be savoured during the cold season.

Common foods include bread, dairy products, potatoes, porridges, creamy soups, salted or smoked meats and fresh, salted or smoked fish. In the bigger cities, like Helsinki and Oslo, you'll find a large amount of international cuisine on offer. Typical Western food is also available in most places.

Scandinavians eat simple, hearty meals. They generally eat three meals a day, plus a coffee break. Breakfast is light and usually includes bread or oatmeal porridge, fruit, eggs, cheese, herring, or potatoes. Fruit soup is a popular breakfast item in the winter and is topped with cream and served with bread and cheese.

Sweden doesn't have an official national dish, but many Swedes consider meatballs and lingonberries to be the national fare.

Taste New Nordic dishes

It's one of the culinary capitals of the world, so you really don't want to miss the exciting dining experiences here in Copenhagen. Take your pick from more than a dozen Michelin-starred eateries, check out the Torvehallerne food market, and hit the trendy bars of the cool quarter, Nørrebro.