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Recipes

The Best Scandinavian Recipes, from Traditional to New-School

How chefs and home cooks are preserving and reinterpreting the cuisines of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden

By SAVEUR Editors


Published on January 11, 2018

From cured salmon to saffron-tinged sweets to Swedish meatballs, the cuisine of today's Scandinavia tells the story of how some of the world's most forward-thinking chefs are interpreting the Northern European landscape around them (and bringing those ingredients elsewhere). Scandinavian cuisine represents the perfect mix of preserving traditions—Finnish crawfish boils anyone?—with looking to the future with sustainable growing practices and a culture of mainstreaming meat-free options. We've rounded up our favorite Scandinavian recipes highlight the food of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

New Year's Eve Dinner Recipes
Danish Rye Bread

Danish Rye Bread

Finnish Twice-Cooked Pork Belly with Pickled Mushrooms and Leeks

A roast of fresh pork belly is common fare both in Finland and in the American Midwest. The author slow-roasts the belly, then slices and sears it, crisping the meat in its own renderings. “Fresh dill in the pickled vegetable side dish is my own addition,” she says. “Traditionally, they might use dry dill instead of fresh in the winter in Finland.” Get the recipe for Finnish Twice-Cooked Pork Belly with Pickled Mushrooms and Leeks »

Christmas Breakfast Recipes
Finnish Creamed Spinach With Crumbled Egg Yolks for Thanksgiving Sides

Get the recipe for frøsnappers

Copenhagen, Smorrebrod, Pickled herring, oranges, creme fraiche
Pickled Herring, Orange, and Crème Fraiche Smorrebrod

An open-face sandwich with two Scandinavian classics: pickled herring and tangy dairy. Get the recipe for Pickled Herring, Orange, and Crème Fraiche Smorrebrod »

Sweden, recipe, Magnus Nilsson, pike-perch, creamed mushrooms, horseradish butter
Pike-perch with Creamed Mushrooms and Horseradish Butter

In Sweden, chef Magnus Nilsson of Fäviken uses pike-perch, a distinct fish that’s neither pike nor perch but is similar in size and taste to American walleye. If you can’t find either, red snapper or any firm, white-flesh fish with moderately sized fillets will work. Get the recipe for Pike-perch with Creamed Mushrooms and Horseradish Butter »

Sweden, recipe, Magnus Nilsson, fried pickled herring, pickling liquor
Fried Herring in Pickling Liquor

The herring in this recipe from chef Magnus Nilsson of Fäviken are “floundered,” a traditional Scandinavian preparation in which the herring sides are removed from the carcass but left attached by the skin over the backbone, forming one large fillet. Ask your fish monger to do this for you, or buy individual fillets and tie two together with kitchen twine for each “floundered” fillet. Get the recipe for Fried Herring in Pickling Liquor »

Swedish "Gooey" Chocolate Cake
Swedish "Gooey" Chocolate Cake (Kladdkaka)

Swedish “Gooey” Chocolate Cake

Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage)

This delightfully basic white sponge cake, encrusted with a coconut and brown sugar topping, is a dream to make and eat.

Icelandic Langoustine Soup
Icelandic Langoustine Soup

Icelandic Langoustine Soup

Icelandic leaf bread
Leaf Bread (Laufabrauð)

Made of a thin, waferlike dough, this crisp flatbread is a holiday tradition in Iceland. Get the recipe for Leaf Bread (Laufabrauð) »

fish soup
Fiskekrogen's Fish Soup

Fiskekrogen’s Fish Soup

cod potatoes
Cod with Potatoes and Sundried Tomato Pesto

In Norway, most cod-based dishes are served with fresh fillets during the fishing season and stockfish (dried cod) or boknafish (semidried cod) the remainder of the year. If you can find stockfish, follow the package directions to reconstitute and allow for several days of soak time. Adjust the amount of parmesan based on the saltiness of the fish you choose. Get the recipe for Cod with Potatoes and Sundried Tomato Pesto »

Roast Pork Loin with Salted Caramel Potatoes
Roast Pork Loin with Salted Caramel Potatoes

Roast Pork Loin with Salted Caramel Potatoes

Creamed Eggs and Smoked Eel with Chives
Creamed Eggs and Smoked Eel with Chives

Creamy, slow-cooked scrambled eggs make a simple but luxurious starter or breakfast during the holidays. Get the recipe for Creamed Eggs and Smoked Eel with Chives »

Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener Schnitzel

Battered and fried veal cutlets—scattered with horseradish, capers and lemon juice—is the perfect breakfast cure after a night of holiday revelry. Get the recipe for Wiener Schnitzel »

Vanilla Wreath Cookies
Vanilla Wreath Cookies

Vanilla Wreath Cookies

Almond Sugar Cookies
Almond Sugar Cookies

These glittering almond squares make a fantastic Christmas cookie on their own, but sandwiched with raspberry jam, they’re even better. Get the recipe for Almond Sugar Cookies »

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

This perfect combination of snickerdoodle and sugar cookie is warmly spiced—just the thing to have with a cup of tea, by a roaring fire. Get the recipe for Cinnamon Sugar Cookies »

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