Swedish Cuisine Recipes and Dishes

Pea soup with smoked pork belly recipe Pea Soup with Smoked Pork Belly

Pea soup with smoked pork belly is a traditional recipe in Swedish cuisine; the recipe for pea soup with smoked brisket is very simple and accessible to everyone.

Boiled corned beef with horseradish sauce recipes Boiled Corned Beef with Horseradish Sauce

Boiled corned beef with horseradish sauce is a traditional dish of Swedish cuisine; boiled corned beef with horseradish sauce is a very satisfying and tasty Swedish dish.

Horseradish and sour cream sauce recipe Horseradish and Sour Cream Sauce

Sour cream sauce with horseradish is a traditional Swedish sauce; sauces based on horseradish and other ingredients are widely used in Swedish cuisine.

Cod with mashed potatoes recipe Cod with Mashed Potatoes

Cod with mashed potatoes is a traditional dish of Swedish cuisine, one of the many Swedish fish dishes, very tasty and filling.

Salmon omelette recipe Salmon Omelette

Salmon omelette with or salmon is one of the traditional dishes of Swedish cuisine; this cuisine contains many fish dishes cooked according to various recipes.

Swedish Cuisine

Swedish cuisine is one of the leading national cuisines of Scandinavia, Swedish recipes are delicious and satisfying dishes made from meat, fish and vegetables. Swedish cuisine has its own unique characteristics, history and traditions. The main factor influencing the formation of Swedish cuisine was the harsh climate of Scandinavia - Swedish recipes may find echoes in other Scandinavian cuisines of neighboring countries such as Denmark or Norway.

Features of Swedish Recipes

The main criteria by which Swedish cuisine can be characterized are restraint and the use of products that can retain their qualities for a long time, since growing something under Swedish weather conditions is quite difficult. Recipes from Swedish chefs can be expressed by two main factors - fat content and sugar content. When stewing and frying, pork lard is used, called lard by the Swedes. Sugar in the traditions of Swedish cuisine is found even at first glance in unusual fish dishes, but it is used for canning and marinade. Among the most general points, it should be said about the Swedish tradition of baking bread, making jam and many other food products on their own. An interesting culinary tradition in Sweden is that pies and cakes are not cut into pieces, but are served whole - each participant in the meal determines his own portion. From the idea of self-service arose the world famous buffet, which will be discussed later.

Swedish Fish Dishes

An equally interesting culinary tradition that Swedish cuisine has, caused primarily by the geographical location of Sweden, is the abundance of recipes for fish dishes in Swedish cuisine. One has only to say that the airy fish pie is baked only on holidays, thus occupying the same niche as dessert holiday pies. There is a certain seasonal hierarchy among fish dishes. The use of fish in Swedish cuisine is due to the requirement for the absolute freshness of the fish itself. For example, we can highlight a dish whose name will actually say a lot about it - spring-style fish. It is in the spring that a large number of schools of mackerel swim to the shores of Sweden, which is necessary for the recipes of many Swedish dishes. Spring-style fish is a confirmation of the Swedes’ love for cold fish appetizers, since it is served cold, although it is cooked.

Swedish Cuisine and Buffet

An undeniable culinary phenomenon, which was mentioned above and which many have heard about, is the buffet. The idea of a buffet dates back to the origins of Swedish culinary traditions. The ancient Swedes, who were preparing to receive guests, were sometimes forced to wait several days if the guest came from afar. For this case, products were prepared that did not lose their qualities during this period. It could be eggs, salted, pickled herring, sandwiches, potatoes. It is advisable to arrange a modern buffet to serve a large number of guests with a tendency towards self-service. The buffet serves to place dishes, but does not provide for seating people at it.

Cultural Traditions of Swedish Cuisine

It must also be said that the Scandinavian countries do not really adhere to formalities in terms of eating, but Sweden has a distinctive feature. A sign of lack of culture in the Swedish culinary tradition is failure to follow the sequence of meals. As mentioned earlier, a Swedish meal begins with cold appetizers of fish and salted herring, followed by hot meat dishes. Eating fish after meat means being considered an ignoramus among Swedes.

Influence of French Cuisine on Swedish Cuisine

An important fact that distinguishes Swedish cuisine from the national cuisines of Scandinavia is the influence of the culinary traditions of France and mainland Europe. This is expressed in the presence of savory sauces, potato dishes that are well decorated, and sometimes look like a casserole. Interesting features of Swedish cuisine combine both the traditions of Scandinavia, formed due to climatic conditions, and the influence of European cuisines. These and other factors provide the originality of Swedish cuisine, which is necessary to recognize it at the proper level in the field of culinary art.

Traditional Swedish Dishes

Traditional Swedish dishes include meatballs with lingonberry jam, pickled herring, crispbread, shrimp sandwiches, pea soup with pancakes, pickled herring, Lindström steak, puttipanna, egg pancakes, spättkaka, cinnamon buns, gravlax, strawberry cake, saffron buns, kropkakor, herring with anchovies, Swedish tea, Swedish eggs and many other Swedish dishes.