Easy Scandinavian recipes (2024)

Not spotted your favourite Scandinavian dish? Do you know an awesome Swedish chef or food writer that you’d like to see featured here? Email us or contact us on social media at @olivemagazine to let us know!

Tuck into your Scandinavian food and escape to Sweden virtually with our foodie trip to Skåne.

Easy cinnamon buns

Check out our easiest ever cinnamon buns. Bake and enjoy now or save for a weekend breakfast – just make sure to eat them warm from the oven.

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Easy Scandinavian recipes (1)

Cardamom buns

Our cheat’s take on classic Scandi treat uses bread mixes as a genius shortcut – just add butter and spices for the ultimate swirl bun.

The smörgåsbord

This Swedish-inspired sharing feast makes for an impressive spread. Featuring cheese, fish, potato and egg, it's a great alternative to a buffet if you're feeding a crowd at a gathering.

Swedish meatballs with mash and lingonberry sauce

We all love meatballs and pasta - but have you ever tried them with mash, Swedish-style? Lingonberries are a European relation of the cranberry - you can buy lingonberry sauce from Ikea, or just use cranberry sauce instead.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (4)

Danish potato crunch with preserved lemons

This Danish potato recipe comes from Danish chef and food writer, Trine Hahnemann. Trine says: “We need to celebrate the potato as a worthy staple in the northern hemisphere. The tubers store well in winter and, because of the starch they contain, make a great binder that is useful in a lot of vegetable cooking. Their CO2 footprint is also lower than that of other carbohydrates, such as pasta and rice. Potatoes deserve their place in everyday cooking, not only as a side dish, but as the main event, in all its endless variations.”

Classic gravadlax

This melt-in-your-mouth salmon dish is cured in the traditional Scandinavian way with sea salt, dill and pepper. Serve on toasted rye bread à la Scandi or with one of our salads below.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (6)

Swedish meatball bake with cucumber salad

This Swedish-style meatball bake is perfect for sharing with family and friends. Drizzle with soured cream and serve with a homemade cucumber salad and some crusty bread.

Red cabbage, apple and pomegranate salad

Another Danish recipe from Trine Hahnemann. She says: “This is a classic Hahnemann recipe and I make it whenever I can find pomegranates… In Denmark, we used only to be able to find pomegranates around Christmas time, but now I see them much more frequently. Still, in my kitchen, they remain a real winter treat.”

Danish fig tart with brandy cream

"Figs are sweet and surprising, promising adventures and new frontiers," says recipe author Trine Hahnemann. Try them in this fancy filo tart, served with warming brandy cream.

Scandinavian scallops

Scallops, leeks and reindeer are served on a bed of mussel sauce in this recipe from Joni Ketonen, the Finnish head chef at Eldr restaurant in Belgravia.

Skagen toast

Invented by Swede Tore Wretman in 1958, skagen is now firmly established as a traditional Scandinavian dish. It's really easy and makes a nice, sophisticated change to a prawn co*cktail.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (11)

Finnish lohikeitto (salmon and potato soup)

Flavoured with dill and allspice, this salmon and potato soup is a Finnish classic. Try it all year round for a comforting dinner.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (12)

Jansson's temptation

Scandinavian food has a reputation for simplicity, dishes taste of their core ingredients and made with little fuss. In Sweden, where this dish originates, it would be made with cured sprats rather than anchovies.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (13)

Beetroot and gin-cured salmon gravadlax

Try our zesty and boozy gravadlax, perfect for lunches, canapés or as a show-stopping centrepiece for Midsummer's Eve. Wear gloves when you're grating the beetroot to avoid getting stained hands.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (14)

Swedish mushroom soup

Try an authentic Swedish mushroom soup garnished with cauliflower, fried mushrooms, cress and roasted hazelnuts. Created by the chef and owner of the restaurant, Human.

Venison tartare with blueberries and juniper

This dish is courtesy of executive chef Henrik Ritzén at Nordic restaurant Aquavit, London. Soft and beguiling venison tartare is joined by spicy blueberries. Aquavit uses scraps of batter for crunch, but you can also serve with croutons or toast.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (16)

Cardamom and raspberry Swedish buns

Try these delicious filled buns inspired by classic Scandinavian baking. Made with a brioche-style dough and filled with raspberries, the family will love them.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (17)

Smoked mackerel on rye

This recipe for smoked mackerel on rye with horseradish cream and pickled radish makes for a great lunch or lighter dinner for one. The horseradish gives it a punchy kick.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (18)

Scandi-style salmon with pickled potato salad

A sophisticated meal for two, this quick and easy salmon fillet with sharp and creamy potato salad is exactly what you need to lift you out of that mid-week work slump.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (19)

Apple salad

Sliced fennel, apple and smoked mackerel come together in this fresh Nordic salad. Serve at lunch or as a starter accompanied by good bread.

Salt-baked beetroot with herby yogurt dressing

This hearty, rugged salad is inspired by the Bar Tartine cookbook. Salt baking will intensify the taste of earthy beetroot. This recipe is perfect for a midweek salad or a sharing starter for any summer meal.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (21)

Shrimp Skagen (Skagenröra)

This simple prawn starter is courtesy of executive chef Henrik Ritzén at Nordic restaurant Aquavit, London. If you can’t get fresh horseradish, use 1 tbsp of horseradish sauce instead.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (22)

Vodka-cured herring with dill blinis

Herring is a staple on the Swedish Midsummer table. Blinis with herrings cured in vodka and soured cream make the best canapés. Making the blinis is easy and the cured herrings are quick and easy to do, then leave to marinate until you need them.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (23)

Nordic gravadlax with mustard and dill sauce

Traditionally-cured salmon is a classic smörgåsbord all over the Nordic region and this dish is picked up with a pokey mustard and dill sauce. This starter is courtesy of executive chef Henrik Ritzén at Nordic restaurant Aquavit, London.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (24)

Celeriac, mustard and lovage

This smörgåsbord dish is also from executive chef Henrik Ritzén at Aquavit. Showing off Nordic flavours at their simplest and best, this dish is really easy to prepare. If you can’t find lovage use parsley instead.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (25)

Beetroot, caper and dill salad

A quick and easy salad that takes minutes to prepare. Leave for the flavours to mingle then serve with hard-boiled eggs and fresh dill.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (26)

Scandi prawn salad

A zesty, Scandinavian-inspired prawn salad that would work really well as a festive dinner party starter.

Frozen Daim bar and almond cake

Recreate this adored treat created by Jonas Karlsson of Linnea restaurant in Kew. Frozen Daim bar parfait is topped with caramelised chopped almonds and amaretto sauce.

Easy Scandinavian recipes (28)

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Easy Scandinavian recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical Scandinavian dish? ›

SCANDINAVIAN FOOD: THE BEST RECIPES FOR A CULINARY TRIP TO THE NORDIC REGION
  • Classic Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar) ...
  • Danish Open-faced Sandwich (Smørrebrød) on Rye Bread. ...
  • Danish Breaded Pork Patties (Krebinetter) ...
  • Norwegian Fish Soup (Fiskesuppe) ...
  • Swedish Pickled Herring (Inlagd Sill) ...
  • Danish Pork Roast (Flæskesteg)

What are traditional Scandinavian ingredients? ›

Scandinavian food emphasizes simplicity, freshness, and a connection to the land and sea. Dishes often feature ingredients like fish, potatoes, berries, and dairy products, reflecting the resourcefulness of the people who have thrived in this challenging northern environment for generations.

What is Scandinavian cooking method? ›

Nordic Cooking: How Sweden Copes with Winter in the Kitchen
  1. Pickling. Swedes are well known for pickling vegetables and fish. ...
  2. Curing. One of the most popular forms of cured food in Sweden is gravlax (made with salmon). ...
  3. Smoking. ...
  4. Salting. ...
  5. Fermenting. ...
  6. Jams.
Jul 24, 2023

What's the national dish of Norway? ›

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.

What is classic Swedish food? ›

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

What vegetables do Scandinavians eat? ›

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.

What fruits do Scandinavians eat? ›

Here's everything you need to know about the delicious berries of Scandinavia:
  • Wild Strawberries. Season: early June till July.
  • Blueberries. Season: Mid-July till August.
  • Raspberries. Season: Mid-July till August.
  • Lingonberries. Season: Late July till September.
  • Gooseberries. ...
  • Black/ Red currants. ...
  • Cloudberries.

What do Scandinavian people eat for lunch? ›

A traditional lunch can take hours, and aquavit is enjoyed at regular intervals, of course. Popular dishes for a smörgåsbord include bowls of pickled herring served with rye and crispbread, beetroot and apple salad, meatballs, pâtés, and different types of cured and smoked salmon.

What do Scandinavians eat for dessert? ›

What to eat in Scandinavia? Top 50 Scandinavian Desserts
  • Chocolate Cake. Kladdkaka. SWEDEN. shutterstock. ...
  • Sweet Soup. Koldskål. DENMARK. shutterstock. ...
  • Dessert. Oven Cheese (Kalvedans) NORWAY. ...
  • Dessert. Æblekage. DENMARK. ...
  • Dessert. Våfflor. SWEDEN. ...
  • Rice Pudding. Risengrød. DENMARK. ...
  • Pancake. Æbleskiver. DENMARK. ...
  • Rice Pudding. Risalamande. DENMARK.
Apr 15, 2024

Is garlic used in Scandinavian cooking? ›

Garlic is used regularly in cooking and sauces in Norway. It is much more unusual if somebody does not use garlic.

What do Scandinavians eat in winter? ›

  • Soft Dill Bread (made with Cottage Cheese)
  • Easy Finnish Rye Bread Rings (Ruisreikäleipä)
  • Norwegian Brown Bread with Oats and Rye.
  • Norwegian Vanilla Custard Buns (Skoleboller or Skolebrød)
  • Soft Swedish Flatbreads (Tunnbröd)
  • Soft Whole Wheat Rye Flatbreads with Scallions.

What is the original Scandinavian diet? ›

Aside from the vegetarian diet, Scandinavians took full advantage of the rivers, streams, and the sea. Fish from fresh and salt water as well as eels, squid, seals, walruses, and whales were eaten frequently. Seafood could be preserved through drying or fermenting in brine and remained fresh as a staple food.

What are the three main cuisine of Scandinavia? ›

The three main cuisines of Scandinavia are the Norwegian, the Danish and the Swedish.
  • Norwegian – The cuisine is characterized by a sense of practicality and economy. ...
  • Danish – The cuisine of Denmark is characterized by high levels of meat and animal fat and a rather low level of plants and vegetables.

What is a typical Scandinavian breakfast? ›

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.

What is the famous Scandinavian fish dish? ›

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.

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