Swedish traditional dish. National dishes of Swedish cuisine - what the Swedes eat

The history of Swedish cuisine is dynamic and interesting. Foreign influences from Turkey, France and Germany influenced the development of Swedish cuisine in the Middle Ages and its modern taste. Changes in food are also associated with changes in the way of life of the Swedes and the development of the country.

Back in the last century, when Sweden was a pre-industrial society, workers in the forests and fields needed fatty, satisfying food. A lot has changed since then: Swedes these days are addicted to healthy eating and sports, which is why restaurants are increasingly concerned not about satiety, but about quality and elegant serving.

Meat joys

Sweden will surprise meat lovers with elk (älgfile) and deer (renfile) meat dishes, as well as enchanting ox dishes (oxfile). You can try the real elk served with chanterelles and baked potatoes at the C&C restaurant. Deer dishes are served in the same way, as you can see by visiting one of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Stockholm (there are 8 in total) - Mathias Dahlgren.

To try ox meat delicacies, feel free to visit the restaurants Den gyldene freden, Kryp In, De svarta fåren, located in the Old Town. A variety of game dishes can be enjoyed at Vigårda, Köttebaren and other establishments of the well-known Grupp 12 restaurant chain.

The world-famous Swedish meatballs made famous by Ikea are also worth tasting while in Sweden. After all, this is a classic of real Swedish cuisine! They are usually served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce - Ikea did not deceive you in this. Many note the Pelikan restaurant as one of the places where they should be ordered. By the way, elk dishes are also served here.

fish dishes

Sweden is famous for its fish and seafood, so it's simply impossible to come here and not try the local salmon and herring.

Salted salmon is a famous delicacy that adorns the Swedes' table for the holidays. For example, the Christmas table will not be complete if there is no salmon on it. According to surveys by many Swedes, one of the best places to try smoked salmon is the Amaranten restaurant, also located in one of the narrow streets of the Old Town, Den svarta fåren on Stora Torget square, a small cafe called Under Kastanjen in one of the quiet lanes.

Herring is present in both Russian and Swedish cuisines. Why not compare the familiar Russian herring with its Swedish version? Many advise you to try it in the Fem Sma Hus restaurant, which will offer you not only delicious herring, but also excellent service and a pleasant atmosphere.

sweet swedish life

The Swedes are lovers of coffee breaks, which have their own special name - fika. How does fika differ from the traditional understanding of a coffee break? Fika can be arranged at any time, agreed in advance or spontaneously. You can also leave the fika whenever you want, and your interlocutor should not be offended, even if the fika lasted only half an hour. Of course, fika is impossible without traditional pastries and cakes that will not leave anyone indifferent.

The cinnamon bun (kanelbulle) is the sweet symbol of Sweden. In Stockholm, there was even a poll called "The Best Cinnamon Rolls". The competition was won by the French confectionery Café Saturnus. The cinnamon rolls there are really incredible sizes. Share with a friend - it will be difficult to eat such a bun alone!

In any cafe, your eye will be drawn to a cake with light green icing, under which a delicate biscuit is hidden - Princesstårta. Swedes love to buy this cake for birthdays and other special occasions.

If you find yourself in Sweden in February, you will see fragrant cream buns - semla - in all the cafes, which you can try in the Schweizer cafe, located a stone's throw from the parliament. Traditionally, they were eaten before Lent, when Sweden was a Catholic country, like pancakes are eaten in Russia for Maslenitsa.

Swedish cuisine is able to surprise: dishes with incredible taste, excellent aroma and original appearance are prepared from the most ordinary products.

Chefs in Sweden, carefully choosing the ingredients for cooking, prefer exclusively natural, fresh food that are mined locally. Dishes are made from fish, seafood, meat, mushrooms, vegetables and wild berries.

The first place in popularity among fish is occupied by herring: it can be found in almost every Swedish dish, both the first, second, and in side dishes and snacks. Salmon is found in local reservoirs, and therefore such fish is also used quite often. It is boiled, fried, marinated, baked, smoked. Famous dishes are dishes made from trout, cod and eel.

It is also important that there is a wide choice of seafood in Sweden: here the dishes are supplemented with shrimp, lobsters, crabs, crayfish and other seafood.

There are many meat dishes in the Swedish assortment. Beef, pork, poultry, small game are the products used most frequently. However, there are, especially in gourmet restaurants, dishes with the main component - grilled reindeer meat. This is a real delicacy served with a side dish of potatoes and mushrooms. The national and, perhaps, the most popular meat dish are the famous Swedish meatballs - meatballs.

The food of the Swedes is nutritious, caloric. Abuse of spices, spices and various mixed seasonings is not in the style of Swedish chefs, they are added to dishes in moderation. The fat content of foods is achieved with the help of lard, cream, butter, sour cream. From lingonberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries and other wild berries, the Swedes make excellent sauces used for serving both fish and meat dishes, and, of course, desserts.

Speaking of sweets! Sweden boasts of them: pies, cakes, cookies, buns, pancakes, soufflé, jelly, ice cream with various additives - Swedish cuisine will delight you with all this.

Indulge and surprise yourself, your family members, unexpectedly visiting guests with national dishes of Sweden. With this, the step-by-step recipes with photos offered on our website will help you. And in more detail about the culinary of this northern country, we will tell further.

Recipes for cooking with step by step photos

• swedish bread
• swedish cookies
• swedish buns
• Salmon Gravlax
• Oatmeal cookies for diabetics
• sandwich cake
• swedish meatballs
• Steamed meatballs in a slow cooker

Features of the national cuisine of Sweden

The national cuisine of Sweden has very interesting features: an abundance of fish and meat dishes cooked in a variety of ways, side dishes and snacks decorating the table, desserts and pastries that will appeal to every gourmet, a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

National culinary traditions are based on the geographical location of Sweden: this country is located in the North, washed by many rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, there are a large number of forests, and the general climate in the country is very severe. Traditionally, Swedish dishes are prepared simply, without frills; here you will not find a variety of gourmet dishes, which are many, for example, in French, Italian, Oriental (Chinese, Japanese) cuisines. In Sweden, simplicity in combination with calorie content and nutritional value is valued in food, because due to climatic conditions, it is important that meals are satisfying. Most of the dishes are prepared in advance, all kinds of preservation is done. Particular attention is paid to berries and fruits, which are difficult to enjoy enough in a short summer period. For this reason, in order to be able to refresh yourself with goodies in the winter, decorate the table with berries and fruits that are not freely available during the cold season, prepare dishes based on them, as well as sauces, and they are stocked with conservation.

The main products that are most often used in cooking recipes are vegetables, mushrooms, meat, fish, milk, fruits and berries familiar to many European countries. Nevertheless, Swedish chefs have an important ability to prepare an original and truly unique dish from an ordinary product, which can compete with famous delicacies. This is the main feature of the national cuisine of Sweden. A perfect example would be serving blood sausages along with berries, fruits and drinks brewed from them.

Supplementing meat and fish dishes with sweet additives is a highlight of Swedish cuisine, this fad is quite common in their cooking. Meat dishes are traditionally served with lingonberry sauce, jam or jam from this wild berry. Sweet taste can be felt even in the first and second courses, as well as in bread. For example, soup with peas or beans is supplemented with bacon and sugar. The history of such non-standard compounds is rooted in antiquity. At that time, only rich people, representatives of the upper strata of the population, could afford this brilliant white powder. Cooks added sugar to their dishes, and such food was considered truly royal. Later, when granulated sugar appeared on free sale, becoming available to everyone and everyone, the tradition was preserved. Things are somewhat different with salt, pepper and other spices, spices: the Swedes put seasonings in dishes in moderation.

Perhaps, only its northern neighbors - Norway, Finland, Denmark, where the fishing industry is also developed, can compete with Sweden in the unsurpassed preparation of fish. In these countries, fish is a key product that is simply indispensable in the kitchen. Traditionally, a meal begins with the consumption of foods in which this ingredient is present. Herring is very popular. It is prepared in many ways: it is smoked, boiled, marinated, salted, fried and baked either in an oven or on a grill. One of the most famous dishes called “Surströmming” is made from this type of fish. Its peculiarity is that the herring is first fermented, and then left for a while for the fish to ferment. The smell of food turns out to be very original, but attracting lovers of such exotics. With oysters, crayfish, shrimps, squids, crabs, lobsters, a large number of dishes are also prepared - main and additional.

Bread occupies a special and very important place in the Swedish diet. The most common variety is known as "Knakerbrob". These are baked in thin slices. In other countries, this kind of bread is called loaves. The Swedes spread butter on them and eat them in this form, despite the fact that pastries tend to break easily, crumble and crumble.

There are traditions in Sweden regarding etiquette and serving food on the table. All dishes are served to the table, not immediately laid out in portions. Each person puts food on his own, choosing as much as his heart desires. In the same way, without cutting into pieces, pies and cakes are served. The main condition of Swedish cuisine is to get up from the table completely full. And be sure, especially when visiting, you need to eat up all the food on the plate. According to Swedish tradition, leaving food is considered disrespectful. There are no other special rules to follow.

There is a certain sequence of how dishes are brought to the table. It is impossible to violate or deviate from the approved order. The meal starts with fish snacks. Used in herring dishes, marinated or in sauce. After that, it is the turn to try another fish dish - from a smoked product. Supplement all this with shrimp, crabs, mussels, lobsters and other seafood. Then, next in line is a tasting of meat snacks from boiled veal, boiled pork, ham, and various types of smoked and dried sausages. Next, salads are served. Most often it is the usual one with onions and potatoes, seasoned with vegetable oil. At the end of the meal, they start eating all kinds of desserts and cheeses, which are very numerous in Sweden. The inhabitants of the country pamper themselves with pies, cakes, pies, mousses, whipped cream, creams. For the filling of pastries or other sweets, berries are used - blueberries, lingonberries, gooseberries, strawberries and others. In an effort to make the taste of desserts even richer and more enjoyable, the Swedes supplement sweets with cinnamon, saffron, rhubarb, almonds, vanilla and other spices.

Important! Swedish cuisine has its own peculiarity during the meal: between each change of dishes, plates are changed and served clean.

The Swedes cannot imagine their life without coffee. Not enjoying the wonderful taste of this wonderful drink at least once a day is like not living the day ahead. Lemonade is popular, as well as juices, which are often cooked by housewives at home. I'm thirsty for summer time in Sweden they also satisfy with simple mineral water.

Among alcoholic drinks, the choice of the Swedes falls on beer, vodka, liqueurs, whiskey, punch, tinctures. The basis for this drink is conceived herbal or berry.

So, there are enough features in the recipes for preparing Swedish dishes, and in the kitchen itself as a whole, too. For original dishes prepared from ordinary ingredients, you need to go to this country.

Main dishes

Sweden will delight you with the main dishes: there are vegetable soups, with meat and fish - excellent first courses, charging with strength and energy, fish, meat dishes for the second. Amazing flavors and aromas.

Because Sweden is northern country with appropriate weather conditions, not pleasing the sun and warmth for a long time, the first courses, which are always served hot to keep warm, are given special attention by professional chefs in restaurants and housewives who cook at home. Swedish national cuisine is what you need for those who like to eat hearty, starting with appetizers or a hearty first and ending with sweet desserts or fragrant pastries.

After fish snacks, it is customary to immediately proceed to the first or skip the “little things” altogether and move on to a hearty hot lunch. As a first meal in Sweden, soups are enjoyed, the choice of which is quite large, but the most popular dishes are oyster, mushroom, oatmeal with cereal, pea, beer, noodle and bean soups. Swedish residents hunt and fish, as a result of which they make dishes either with meat, if there are forests nearby, or with fish, if there are water bodies nearby - lakes, rivers, seas. The variety of fish is so wide that recipes for making such soups simply cannot be counted, with all sorts of varieties of these aquatic inhabitants.

Let's talk about some types of first courses in more detail, highlighting their distinguishing features from other dishes.

The name of the soup	Features of cooking recipes
pea	This dish is not much different from that to which the inhabitants of most European countries are accustomed. It contains onions with carrots, as well as peas. But the peculiarity of the Swedish dish is that it is supplemented with smoked meat (most often pork), mustard, thyme, cloves, marjoram. The serving of the soup to the table is also original, because it comes in combination with a glass of cold beer. We refreshed ourselves with a hot pea first course, washed down with beer and were satisfied. Such is the Swedish tradition.
Dietary	Such a soup is quite light, however, it satisfies the feeling of hunger, giving the body strength, energy and supplying vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. This dish is perfect for diet food those who are trying to get rid of excess weight, monitors forms or has malfunctions gastrointestinal tract. Of the ingredients necessary for cooking, a standard set stands out - onions, carrots. The basis for the meal is chicken breast, and rice cereal is used as a supplement. Flavor the dish with butter, and at the end of cooking - with herbs: parsley, dill, onion feathers.
	This type of first course, like peas, is cooked with this bean. It is prepared from carrots, onions, bacon and common spices. However, there are special ingredients in it that distinguish it from other dishes of this type. We are talking about pork here, but salty is used without fail, in nutmeg, mustard and cloves. Another feature is that the meat is removed during the cooking process, cut into pieces, and then returned to the dish and reaches readiness. The onion is removed from the dish before serving.
	This soup can be attributed to a number of light ones, because it consists only of flour, milk, eggs, lemon zest, sugar and salt, as well as the main ingredient for the broth - light beer. Such food is consumed on fasting days. His name is "Elebrod".
	Such a first course is prepared with potatoes, onions (onions and leeks), simple spices and spices (salt and pepper). The difference from other dishes is that pieces of chopped fish fillet are added. The fish can be any variety of the chef's choice. Often the choice falls on salmon, sockeye salmon, trout, salmon.
With meatballs	Soup with meatballs is special because of the presence in the dish of these pre-fried butter in a frying pan meat balls, which are prepared from beaten eggs, cream, breadcrumbs, ground beef or ground turkey combined into a single mass. The broth also contains potatoes, powdered garlic, whipped cream, pepper and salt.

These soups are very popular in Sweden.

For the second, the Swedes prefer to eat meat, fish or seafood dishes. Their choice is great. If a fried or stewed dish is served on the table, then they will use something that is not familiar to us vegetable oil, but exclusively creamy or lard, lard. Spices with spices in fish and meat dishes will be put on the second course in moderation so that the taste of the food remains true, and not overly saturated.

As we have already said, Sweden is a country in which the main product in the diet is fish. It is baked with various sauces, smoked and salted, marinated in mustard, onion mixture, wine. Such dishes can act as second courses, and a meal can also begin with them, because they are considered snacks. It all depends on the amount of additional ingredients in the dish. Fish dishes are served most often with vegetable casseroles, potato salads, and other potato side dishes. Fish dishes are also supplemented with boiled eggs with mushrooms, which are called "Kantereller".

Meatballs occupy a special place among meat dishes. There are a lot of varieties of them, but various sauces and gravies are used to serve all kinds. When processing a meat product, chefs use special knives that are convenient for scraping meat. Second courses are prepared from lamb, pork, beef, in rarer cases, for example, for ceremonial, from deer meat or game. Sweden boasts delicious steaks, rolls, pates, sausages, game meatballs, baked chicken cutlets. The Swedes can also enjoy national dumplings, for the filling of which they use all the same varieties of meat. Their main difference is their large size.

In Sweden, a rather unusual second course known as a sandwich is popular. However, this is not about thin slices of rye or white bread, toast or croutons, where sausages or cheeses are laid out in a single layer on top. Not at all! The Swedish sandwich is not in vain eaten as a second. And all because it includes a large number of ingredients, so that in size this dish exceeds even the famous American hamburger. One such dish, prepared according to a traditional Swedish recipe, you can get enough of. The sandwich consists of fish, meat (they take boiled, fried and smoked meat), vegetable, cheese, egg, mushroom tiers, which are perfectly combined and replace each other. Salads with vegetables, as well as all kinds of national snacks are served as side dishes for this dish.

Swedish dishes for the first and second courses will please everyone, because such a wide choice of them allows you to choose food depending on personal taste preferences.

Side dishes and snacks in Sweden

Side dishes and snacks in Sweden are both ordinary, which most people in Europe are accustomed to, and national ones, which are unique and belong to traditional Swedish cuisine.

Let's start a more detailed story with snacks, because the Swedes begin to eat with such dishes. Again, fish is used in the cooking process. Herring takes pride of place in popularity. It is cooked and served salted, smoked in combination with wine or onions. Fermented herring is also present on the Swedes' menu. Being calling card country, but not popular with most residents. This is a very specific dish that brings incredible pleasure to some, while others are horrified by it. As snacks on the buffet, in addition to fish, sausages, vegetables, meat cuts are served, which everyone is always happy with.

The most popular side dishes are potatoes, which are subjected to various heat treatments. The vegetable is sent to fry in a pan in butter, cut into small pieces. Also, potatoes are boiled whole or chopped until smaller pieces are formed, at the end of readiness they are supplemented with cream, herbs - parsley, dill.

Side dishes for meat and fish dishes are dishes made from pasta or rice cereal, which came to Swedish cuisine from other countries, that is, due to the assimilation of cultures. Served with meat, fish and seafood dishes, a variety of salads with eggs, cheese, mushrooms, boiled vegetables and other ingredients. A very popular recipe for a salad of fresh cucumbers, as a dressing for which is prepared a special composition of honey, water, white wine vinegar and chopped fennel or dill. This dish is a great addition to a salmon fish dish.

The Swedes have a positive attitude towards dairy products: the inhabitants of the state love yoghurts, whether they are classic without additives or with different fruit, berry flavors, yogurt, cheese products, cream, milk. Popular Swedish casseroles are supplemented with these components, in particular, they make potato casseroles and put whipped cream in the dish.

As you can see, Swedish cuisine can surprise with appetizers and side dishes, and maybe even please with the usual classic dishes.

Traditional desserts and drinks

Traditional desserts and drinks in Sweden are striking in abundance: sweet pastries(pies, pastries, cakes, pies, cupcakes), soufflés, puddings, punches, ice cream, sweets, original alcohol - all this will be an excellent buffet decoration.

The national cuisine of Sweden will delight those with a sweet tooth with biscuits, pancakes, cookies, pies, which can be stuffed with apples, blueberries, strawberries, blueberries, and polyberries. It is impossible not to mention the famous Swedish jam, the preparation variations of which vary depending on the ingredient chosen as the basis. Naturally, berries already known to you are most often used. I also make puddings, soufflés, waffles, cakes, ice cream from them.

Sweets are always served with coffee. If the pastry is without filling, then jam made from wild berries, which Sweden is rich in just like its neighbors - Finland, Norway, Denmark, is necessarily served with it. By the way, about the northern brothers. All of them are also very fond of coffee, but it is the Swedes who are the undisputed leaders in the use of this invigorating drink. Among non-alcoholic drinks, the Swedes enjoy lemonades, juices, compotes, jelly.

Without glegg and schnapps, the buffet is not considered buffet. Of course, some calmly do without alcoholic beverages, while others, on the contrary, cannot imagine their feast without strong drink. Schnapps according to the traditional recipe is made from potatoes and cereals, but there can be countless options for additional ingredients, that is, spices and spices - everything that the cook's soul desires will be present in this strong drink. Vodka is supplemented with blackcurrant, caraway seeds, wormwood, St. John's wort, waxwort and other seasonings. Also, the Swedes tend to liqueurs, whiskey, herbal berry tinctures and low-alcohol beer.

Sweet goodies and drinks are in a wide range. Every tourist will find the perfect taste for himself.

Names of popular Swedish dishes

We invite you to study the names of popular Swedish dishes in the table along with their brief description for a general introduction to Swedish cuisine. This information will be useful if you decide to visit this country - you will be aware of what to try. Also, the names of the dishes will come in handy if you want to cook traditional Swedish food at home. And the recipes presented on the site with step by step photos, will reveal the correct technology for creating the selected dish.

Name	Short description
aFirst courses
	Soup, the peculiarity of which is that it is brewed on the basis of light beer.
Nasselsuppa-lead-egg	Traditional Swedish dish for the first meal, prepared with oysters.
	This is a national Swedish dish, in which, in addition to the vegetable base, spices and spices, noodles are added as an additional ingredient.
Ertsoppa	Soup, the highlight of which is the addition of yellow peas and mustard, and unusual herbs - cloves, marjoram.
Main dishes
Zilbular med korintzes	This is a steak made from herring and served with a variety of sauces - vegetable, fruit or berry (from lingonberries, cranberries, strawberries).
	The second dish, consisting of minced deer meat.
Fraskrulader	A roll for which pork is taken.
Chettbullar	The famous Swedish meatballs, also known as meatballs.
	A dish consisting of boiled lamb, beef or pork meat, which is combined with vegetables (most often cabbage) and beans (peas or beans).
Interband	Spicy pork sausages.
Putipanna	This is a potato stew in which any meat (lamb, pork, beef) is put to choose from, or meat products are mixed together.
Leverpastey	Meat pâté, often game.
Unstekt alg	A fried dish consisting of sliced ​​​​salmon meat.
Kottbullar	This is a Swedish analogue of dumplings, characterized by a large size.
Spettkaka	Sweet in the form of a pyramid, the composition of which is berries, whipped cream, chocolate and jam (jam).
	Wafers with cream or chocolate filling.
Pepparkakur	Cookies with spices (allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger).
Lussekat	A bun shaped like an S and filled with saffron and raisins.
	Sweet bread with sprinkles.
Punch roll	Chocolate biscuits in the form of rolls, stuffed with a mixture of liquor, butter and cocoa. They are topped with green marzipan.
Shukladbollar	Sweet dough balls covered with chocolate.

So, now you have a lot more knowledge about the original Swedish cuisine. Despite the simplicity of cooking and the use of the most common products, the dishes of the Swedes are truly unique, which not everyone can repeat exactly. However, you can try to cook a national Swedish dish at home if you ask for help from those offered on our website. step by step recipes with photo. Will you suddenly succeed? Good luck!

Swedish national dishes are undoubtedly close to people with an open mind. Slavic soul. The menu, traditional for the Scandinavian country, is full and simple, typical for a peasant table. The menu of many restaurants and cafes in many ways resembles the Slavic menu, and if you are interested in real Swedish cuisine, original treats that have come down from the depths of centuries, it is better to go to remote regions of the country.

Characteristic features of the national cuisine of Sweden

Tables in Sweden are often bursting with pickles, but the national cuisine cannot be called diverse. Largely due to the fact that spices are not used for cooking. Swedish cuisine is unique because of its natural flavors. Thanks to this, many national treats are remembered and seem special.

For centuries, Swedish national cuisine has been shaped by Scandinavian culinary traditions. Of course, the climate and the location of the country on the world map had a special influence on the local cuisine. Given the proximity of the Scandinavian country to the sea, and the predominance of low temperatures, most of the dishes are distinguished by simple cooking technology and an affordable set of ingredients, but hearty and no less tasty.

Interesting fact! The basis of Swedish dishes are products that can be stored for a long time in a cold climate. In the traditional menu there are no gourmet desserts, treats with a complex composition.

The main food processing technologies in Scandinavian cuisine:

• salting and canning;
• drying and pickling;
• smoking.

Fatty varieties of fish and meat are considered traditional for the Swedish menu. By the way, there are practically no vegetarians in the country - with such culinary principles it is very difficult to survive in a country where a cold climate prevails.

Good to know! To increase the calorie content of the dish, products are fried on pork fat.

The main ingredients of national cuisine

Swedish cuisine is traditionally called homemade and rustic, it is dominated by the simplest products - meat, fish, cheeses, game, bread. Mushrooms, berries, dairy products are also used. The locals add lingonberry jam instead of a bouquet of spices and season a wide variety of dishes with it.

Many Swedish dishes, traditional in the national cuisine, are prepared from ordinary herring, served with a special sauce, light wine, mustard, and seasoned with lemon. Be sure to try seafood dishes, most often served with mussels, squid, oysters, crabs. The Swedes are excellent hunters, so they can skillfully cook any game - venison, poultry, pork, elk.

Surely people who are far from traveling are familiar with the concept of "buffet", it has long gone beyond the borders of the country. This method of serving dishes appeared in Sweden a long time ago. When guests came to the Swedish castle, and it was necessary to feed a lot of people, hospitable hosts laid tables with the possibility of self-selection of dishes.

Interesting fact! Every year in December, many Swedish families set up a traditional festive table, the menu often exceeds 50 dishes. These are sausages, meat delicacies, salty, sweet pastries, pates.

buffet etiquette

Locals strictly adhere to certain table etiquette. If you are invited to a party, do not:

• leave food on the plate;
• start drinking before the toast is made;
• cut the cake - it is always served whole;
• eat from a common meal.

The Swedes treat food with great respect and attention; they prefer to salt and bake their own products.

Swedish Cuisine - Traditional Swedish Dishes

Culinary tours to the Scandinavian country are becoming very popular today. The explanation for this is simple - traditional Swedish dishes are made from organic products and do not have synthetic flavors. Local chefs rarely use spices in their work, the main task of the cook is to emphasize the natural, pure taste of each ingredient.

The traditional buffet consists of salads, cuts, a wide variety of sandwiches. Be sure to try the canape with salmon smoked on juniper twigs.

Fish and seafood

Most traditional fish dishes involve the use of herring. The national Swedish dish surströmming, due to the smell that literally knocks you down, can only be tasted by the most courageous gourmets. The Swedish rotten herring dish is undoubtedly one of the top 10 Swedish dishes. The fish is caught in the first half of spring, fermented in wooden containers for several months, then canned.

Good to know! Due to the fermentation process, the jars become round.

Surströmming

The Swedish dish is traditionally prepared for the holidays. To hide the specific smell, it is served with potatoes, bread, herbs, sour cream and cheese. In Sweden, they only eat rotten fish outside, because the smell is hard to bear in the house.

Traditional crayfish parties are common in Swedish cities, usually held in August. Freshwater crayfish are caught, boiled in large containers with dill and, sitting comfortably right on the balcony or terrace, they eat them, washed down with beer and schnapps. In the 16th century, only representatives of the aristocracy could afford this dish, gradually crayfish became a national dish accessible to all segments of the population.

So the locals call a special shrimp cocktail laid out on a crispy toast. The national dish is traditionally prepared for the holidays, decorated with red caviar on top. In addition to shrimp, the composition includes pickled onions, lemon, dill, Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. White bread is dried in a pan or in a toaster and shrimp salad is spread on top.

Interesting fact! On Sundays, many Swedish families cook pike, casserole with potatoes and sprats, bake mackerel with cream.

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Meat dishes

What to try in Sweden from food for lovers of meat delicacies? A special place in the national cuisine is given to game. Most popular dishes:

• venison - fried, cutlets, meatballs are also prepared for soup;
• elk - fried, prepare a delicious pate.

Meat is often served with home-made dairy products - yogurt, soft cheese. Traditional Swedish dishes are different high calorie. Game is usually fried in lard.

Good to know! Beets and potatoes are used as a side dish for meat dishes. Be sure to serve a lot of bread. It is noteworthy that in each region bakery products are baked according to their own recipe. For example, barley flour is used in Norrland, while crispbread is preferred in the central regions.

An old national dish that has been preserved since the time of the Vikings. There are many recipes for the dish, but everything is united by one fact - the composition includes boiled meat (beef, lamb, pork) and vegetables (beans, cabbage, peas).

There is a version that grutta recipes have been preserved in modern national cuisine only due to the fact that for a long time in areas remote from the capital there were no gas and electric stoves, respectively, the products were cooked in the old fashioned way - over the hearth in a large saucepan.

Interband

It is difficult to imagine a traditional buffet without spicy pork sausages - insterband. They have a bitter taste that not every tourist from Europe will like.

Putippana is a national dish that resembles a traditional hodgepodge. In Sweden, this is a stew of various deli meats and potatoes. For its preparation, everything that is left in the house is used - kupaty, boiled chicken, meatballs, bacon is added and stewed with potatoes.

Swedish meatballs are well known all over the world. These are ordinary meat balls with spices, fried in a pan. Meat treats are served with mashed potatoes, cranberry jam, hearty gravy.

Interesting fact! The cost of meatballs is low, so students buy them and eat them all year round.

First meal

This is beer based soup. Quite simple to prepare and hearty national dish. Instead of the traditional broth, one of the most popular drinks in the world is used - beer. The dish is common in the Scandinavian countries and Germany, but it is best prepared in Sweden. It is believed that the Swedish recipe is classic. In addition to beer, eggs, flour, salt, sugar, milk are needed.

The cooking technology is as follows:

• boil beer;
• beat flour in milk, pour into beer;
• add salt, sugar;
• separate the proteins from the yolks;
• beat the whites with flour, combine with the base;
• beat the yolks, pour into the soup before serving.

Served with crackers. Initially, the dish was prepared for sailors, as the soup warms up perfectly in cold weather.

Pea soup with pancakes will make you feel like a real Swede. In addition, the treat is associated with a specific day of the week, because the national dish is prepared only on Thursday. A tradition originated in the past - with the help of a hearty soup, people prepared themselves for the Friday fast. Many restaurants serve traditional pea soup and pancakes with lingonberry jam on Thursdays.

Interesting fact! There is another version of the emergence of an interesting culinary tradition - pea soup with pancakes was prepared for servants who worked on Thursday mornings.

Nasselsuppa-lead-egg

Do you want to treat yourself to a delicate, dietary dish? Order Nasselsuppa Lid Egg Oyster Cream Soup. Liquor and oatmeal are added to it, and traditionally served with sweet punch.

In Sweden, it is difficult to resist the temptation, because a considerable number of treats flash before the eyes of tourists. To give the dessert a rich taste, local chefs add almonds and rhubarb.

Interesting fact! Bring natural marmalade and handmade chocolate candies to your friends from Sweden as a souvenir.

The drinks

The status of the most sought-after soft drink among Swedes has been held by coffee for a long time. Local coffee varieties - Zoegas (rich, dark roast), as well as Gevalia (with a touch of hazelnuts) at first glance seem not strong enough, however, the Swedes drink it only with almonds and marzipan. Sweetness is sure to be served with a cup of fragrant drink. Locals love to sit and chat with friends over a cup of coffee punch with cognac.

Gevalia

In summer, locals drink a lot of lemonades and natural fruit juices. As for alcoholic drinks, liquor, vodka, punch, herbal tinctures are very popular.

Interesting fact! According to statistics, Sweden is the third largest coffee drinker in the world.

What to warm up?

Branvin

Alcoholic drinks are an indispensable attribute of the local cuisine and festive table. Punch is traditionally prepared, and on winter evenings they warm up with glögg - this is mulled wine with vodka and a set of spices. For a gift to a man, experienced tourists offer to buy branded tincture Branvin or Aquavit.

Absolute Citron

In the Scone region, grapes are grown and quite good wine is made. Barley is grown in the north of the country - beer and whiskey are produced here. The most famous alcoholic brand is Absolut vodka, which has been produced since 1879. The shape of the bottle is used by analogy with the usual pharmacy container, and the absence of a label allows you to see the contents. Today the concern produces vodka with the taste of blackcurrant, black pepper, citrus flavor, raspberry flavor.

Swedish cuisine conquers with its simplicity, natural flavors and, of course, common features with Slavic culinary traditions. The best way learn about the gastronomic habits and traditions of the Swedes - go on a gastronomic tour.

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Detailed data on the history of the development of modern Swedish cuisine is extremely scarce. And the reason for this is not only the rich past of this country, which is a series of endless wars and confrontations for territory and power. But also harsh weather, which significantly narrowed the range of ingredients used in cooking. And, as a result, they forced the inhabitants of Sweden to be content with little. However, despite all these obstacles, today this state boasts an exquisite, hearty and original cuisine, which is based on nutritious and incredibly tasty dishes.

It is worth noting that Swedish culinary traditions were formed mainly under the influence of Denmark and Norway. However, later France, Germany and Turkey played a huge role in their development, thanks to which the Swedes began to pay attention not only to the taste and nutritional properties of dishes, but also to their appearance.

Initially, Swedish cuisine was not very diverse. It was based only on products subject to long-term storage. First of all, these are pickles, marinades, dried and smoked meats. By the way, in the old days, turnips were widely used here. The beloved potato appeared on the territory of Sweden only in the 18th century and subsequently successfully replaced it.

In addition to it, meat and fish are very popular here. The Swedes have been preparing dishes from them for centuries, which is not surprising. After all, cattle breeding and fishing were the main types of fishing for them. And only over time, agriculture was added to them. The favorite type of fish in Sweden is herring. Not a single feast is complete without it. Moreover, the Swedes know a huge number of recipes for its preparation. It is salted, marinated in mustard or wine, fermented, stewed, baked in the oven or grilled, sandwiches and all kinds of fish dishes are made from it. special attention deserves a Swedish delicacy with fermented herring, which was once included in the list of the most terrible dishes in the world.

From meat in Sweden they prefer pork, venison and game. In addition, dairy products, in particular, milk, cheeses, butter, kefir, curdled milk or yogurt, are held in high esteem by the Swedes. They love cereals, mushrooms, as well as vegetables, fruits and berries. But they practically do not use spices, successfully replacing them with delicious sauces.

By the way, the concept of "buffet" really came from Sweden. The fact is that in the old days, guests came to various events for a long time. Therefore, they were offered long-term storage dishes, which were taken out to a cool room and left on a long table. Thus, each newcomer could take as much food as he needed on his own, without bothering either the hosts or other guests.

The main ways of cooking in Sweden:

True Swedish cuisine differs from the cuisines of other Scandinavian countries by the presence of a bright, sweetish flavor in the dishes. After all, the Swedes love to add sugar everywhere and are sincerely proud of it. Meanwhile, this is far from the only feature of Sweden. After all, only in this kingdom they prepare not just gourmet dishes of haute cuisine, but truly unique or even exotic ones. Like, for example, chicken baked in clay. It is worth noting that before cooking it is not plucked, but simply gutted, washed and coated with clay. And then they are baked on stones in order to subsequently enjoy the unique taste of the most delicate roast. In this case, all unplucked feathers remain on the clay. This recipe has been known since Viking times.

In addition to it, in Swedish cuisine there are other, no less interesting dishes:

swedish meatballs

Christmas ham

Fried chanterelle mushrooms

Swedish bread

Sweet cinnamon buns

Cane caramel

Swedish cake "Princess"

Useful properties of Swedish cuisine

Sweden is a country with a high standard of living. That is why only high-quality products are used for food here, which subsequently has a positive effect on the health of the nation. Even alcoholic drinks are very different here. high quality. But the inhabitants of Sweden drink them moderately.

In addition, the food of the Swedes is incredibly diverse. They are very fond of meat and fish, but successfully combine them with vegetables, fruits or berries and complement them with soups. Almost all the ingredients for Swedish cuisine are produced in the country itself.

At first glance, it may seem that the Swedes eat too much fatty and sweet food. However, this is a forced measure necessary for normal life in a rather harsh climate. It does not in any way affect the state of health of the nation. The best proof of this is statistics. Swedes have an average life expectancy of almost 81 years, and only 11% of the population is overweight.

For recent years Swedish national cuisine is called one of the healthiest. Simply because it consists mainly of dishes based on the gifts of the sea and rivers.

Along with ketchup and mustard, lingonberry jam is served with some hot dishes in Sweden: cutlets and pancakes, porridge and black pudding (blodpudding). At the same time, despite the sweetness, it is rarely spread on bread. True connoisseurs of wildlife, many Swedes have been accustomed to picking lingonberries and making jam from these tart red berries since childhood.

2. Pickled herring - a regular buffet

7. Sweet holiday - red date

The Swede will always find a reason to eat sweets - even special days are reserved for sweets in the calendar. Day cinnamon rolls(Kanelbullens dag) is celebrated on October 4th. Semla buns filled with cream and almond paste (semlor) are traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday (fettisdagen) - the day before the start of Lent. Freshly baked waffles (våfflor) are eaten on March 25th, and a creamy biscuit decorated with a chocolate or marzipan silhouette of King Gustav Adolfs (Gustav Adolfs-bakelse) is eaten on November 6th in memory of the Swedish monarch, who was killed on this day in 1632 at the Battle of Lützen.

8. Cancer is the head of everything

Cancer parties (kräftskivor) in Sweden are the symbol of August. Freshwater and marine crayfish are eaten on warm summer evenings in gardens and balconies across the country. In the 16th century, when this tradition began to take shape, only the upper class and aristocracy could afford crayfish. Over time, they have become a national delicacy for everyone. Crayfish began not only to be caught in Sweden, but also imported from other countries - and the price for them has dropped significantly.

9. Sauerkraut - it doesn't smell like roses

In every national cuisine (at least according to the Swedes) there is a dish that terrifies both the natives and the guests. In Sweden, sour herring (surströmming) plays this role - it appears on store shelves in the second half of August. The tradition is as follows: swollen cans of herring are opened in the fresh air because of the unbearable stench. The bouquet of smells combines notes of rotten eggs and sewage. At the same time, pickled herring is really eaten. Nothing human is alien to the Swedes: sometimes you really want fresh fish.

10. Sweets - on Saturdays

The average Swedish family of two adults and two children eats 1.2 kg of sweets a week - most of them on Saturday, the official day of sweets. This tradition is associated with the dubious medical experiment. In the 1940s and 50s, in the Lund Psychiatric Hospital, patients were fed large amounts of sweets as part of a study to deliberately induce tooth decay. Based on the results of an experiment that established a direct link between eating sweets and tooth decay, the National Medical Council recommended that Swedes limit their eating of sweets to once a week. Many families adhere to this unwritten rule to this day.