35 Scandinavian Recipes That Would Make Our Grandmas Proud (2024)

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35 Scandinavian Recipes That Would Make Our Grandmas Proud (1)Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RDNUpdated: Jan. 31, 2022

    Create memorable meals to pass down in your family or transport yourself to Europe with these old-world Scandinavian recipes from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland.

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    Finnish Meat Pie

    We enjoy this hearty, traditional meat pie year-round, but especially during hunting season. This is one recipe I'll be sure to pass on to our seven children.— Laurel Skoog, Frazee, Minnesota

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    Finnish Pinwheels

    When my sister was hosting an exchange student from Finland, she served these cookies I'd made to her guest. The young lady instantly recognized what they were. So I know they're still being made in our ancestors' country. —Ilona Barron, Ontonagon, Michigan

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    Swedish Meatballs

    Mom fixed this Swedish meatball recipe for all sorts of family dinners, potluck suppers and PTA meetings. The scent of browning meat is intoxicating. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyone’s mouth starts watering. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, Texas

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    Danish Pancakes

    I came to North America from Denmark decades ago, and my mother used to make these pancakes for me and my siblings while growing up. Today, my children and grandchildren love these, so I often have to double the recipe.—Lise Thomson, Magrath, Alberta

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    Pan-Seared Salmon with Dill Sauce

    This is one of my husband's favorite recipes. Salmon is a go-to for busy nights because it cooks so quickly and goes with so many different flavors. The creamy dill sauce with cucumber tastes light and fresh. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

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    Swedish Doughnuts

    One day, my father got a hankering for doughnuts and asked me to make him some. I ended up trying these. Dad—and everyone else—loved the results. They come out so golden and plump. —Lisa Bates, Dunham, Quebec

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    Norwegian Chocolate Chip Cookies

    My best friend, Amber, taught me how to make this classic Norwegian dessert. They are a great mash-up of a sugar and chocolate chip cookie. A pizza cutter is the best tool for cutting into slices after baking. —Bonnie Brien, Surprise, Arizona

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    Danish Crispies

    These crispy treats are like a bread, but more like a cookie! They're a tasty and delicious addition to a breakfast or bunch with coffee. —Martha Nelson, Zumbrota, Minnesota

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    Swedish Apple Pie

    This decadent Swedish apple pie serves up homemade flavor in every bite. This is a perfect snack with coffee or as an after-dinner treat. —Sarah Klier, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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    Scandinavian Pecan Cookies

    We enjoyed these rich, buttery cookies at a bed-and-breakfast in Galena, Illinois, and the hostess was kind enough to share her simple recipe. The pretty nut-topped treats are so special you could give a home-baked batch as a gift. —Laurie Knoke DeKalb, Illinois

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    Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon

    There's nothing like fresh salmon, and my mom bakes it just right so it nearly melts in your mouth. Plus, the sour cream dill sauce is subtly seasoned with horseradish so that it doesn't overpower the delicate salmon flavor. —Susan Emery, Everett, Washington

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    Creamy Cucumber Salad

    This creamy cucumber salad, a Norwegian favorite, was a staple at all of our family holidays. —Patty LaNoue Stearns, Traverse City, Michigan

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    Swedish Rye Bread

    This recipe came from my mother, and it's long been a family favorite. You can make a meal of it with soup and a salad.

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    Almond Spritz Cookies

    This almond spritz cookies recipe can be left plain or decorated with colored sugar and frosting. In our house, it just wouldn't be Christmas without some cookie press recipes.—Tanya Hart, Muncie, Indiana

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    Swedish Rice Ring

    This recipe, which originated in Sweden, is famous at church suppers with our Minnesota neighbors. It's a delicious addition at family gatherings and parties, too. I usually make a double batch because it's so good! —Lori Jeane Schlecht, Wimbledon, North Dakota

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    Swedish Raspberry Almond Bars

    When I was a single mom with a young daughter and little money, my neighbor brought me a batch of these treats at Christmas. My daughter’s 36 now, and I still make these wonderful bars. —Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California

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    Overnight Cherry Danish

    These rolls with their cherry-filled centers melt in your mouth and store well unfrosted in the freezer. —Leann Sauder, Tremont, Illinois

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    Taste of Home

    Danish Julekage

    Cardamom and lots of fruit enliven this unique holiday bread. The recipe was handed down from my grandmother, who came to the United States from Denmark when she was 16 years old.

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    Broiled Cod

    This is the easiest and tastiest fish you'll serve. Even finicky eaters who think they don't like fish will love it because it lacks a fishy taste and is beautiful and flakey. —Kim Russell, North Wales, Pennsylvania

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    Parmesan Baked Cod

    This is a goof-proof way to keep oven-baked cod moist and flavorful. My mom shared this recipe with me years ago and I've loved it ever since. —Mary Jo Hoppe, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

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    Swedish Gingerbread Cookies

    Making Swedish pepparkakor—or gingerbread cookies—is a holiday tradition in our family. I entered these at the Iowa State Fair and took home a blue ribbon.—Kathleen Olesen, Des Moines, IA

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    Creamy Radish Dip

    This Scandinavian dish is one of our favorite spring appetizers. We use homegrown onions and radishes. —Terri Chatfield, Hamilton, Ohio

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    Swedish Creme

    This thick and creamy dessert is my interpretation of my mother’s recipe for Swedish krem. It has just a hint of almond flavor and looks spectacular with bright red berries on top. Serve it in glasses to match the occasion. —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota

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    Taste of Home

    Swedish Limpa Bread

    I've entered my bread in several fairs and it has won every time! Orange and anise give it a subtle but wonderful flavor. —Beryl Parrott, Franklin, Manitoba

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    Taste of Home

    Swedish Meatball Soup

    To me, this is a very comforting, filling, homey soup. I especially like cooking it during winter months and serving it with hot rolls, bread or muffins. —Deborah Taylor, Inkom, Idaho

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    Taste of Home

    Crispy Norwegian Bows

    I've been fixing these cookies for so long, I don't recall where the recipe came from. They're a "must" at our house.—Janie Norwood, Albany, Georgia

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    Taste of Home

    Our family took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Norway, where we got to eat incredible shrimp sandwiches like these. The crustier the bread, the better. —Monica Kolva, Millville, New Jersey

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    Taste of Home

    Creamy Seafood Bisque

    This deceptively simple bisque makes a special first course or even a casual meal with a salad or bread. I like to top bowlfuls with shredded Parmesan cheese and green onions. —Wanda Allende, Orlando, Florida

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    Taste of Home

    I love the classic combination of lemon and fish, and this salmon risotto is delicious and easy to throw together at the end of a long day. —Amanda Reed, Nashville, Tennessee

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    Luscious Almond Cheesecake

    I received this recipe along with a set of springform pans from a cousin at my wedding shower 11 years ago. It makes a heavenly cheesecake. My son Tommy has already told me he wants it again for his birthday cake this year. —Brenda Clifford, Overland Park, Kansas

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    Swedish Rose Spritz

    A spritz is a still or sparkling wine-based cocktail served with a small amount of liqueur and a splash of seltzer or soda.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    Danish Meatballs with Pan Gravy

    My great-grandmother made these meatballs, and I'm sure her mother must have taught her. Six generations have enjoyed them, and one of my daughters even served them at her wedding. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California

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    Originally Published: August 07, 2018

    35 Scandinavian Recipes That Would Make Our Grandmas Proud (34)

    Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RDN

    Wendy Jo is a culinary-trained registered dietitian nutritionist and has published more than 10 books that walk readers through foundational topics like meal prep, using an air fryer, bread making and more. For Taste of Home, Wendy Jo brings her wealth of training to explain the science behind food and how to harness nutrition science for better health outcomes. As the author of the award-winning “Born to Eat: Whole, Healthy Foods from Baby’s First Bite,” Wendy Jo also occasionally covers parent-centric topics like toddler meal ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    35 Scandinavian Recipes That Would Make Our Grandmas Proud (2024)

    FAQs

    What is a traditional Scandinavian dish? ›

    Köttbullar (Meatballs)

    If there's one Scandinavian food that will give you a real taste of the region, this is it. Meatballs are served with boiled or mashed potatoes, a cream sauce, cucumber, and tart lingonberry jam. The meat can vary—some recipes incorporate pork, veal, and beef, for example.

    What is the staple food of Scandinavia? ›

    You'll soon discover that the Scandinavian countries have similar diets, featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Common foods include bread, dairy products, potatoes, porridges, creamy soups, salted or smoked meats and fresh, salted or smoked fish.

    What food did Scandinavians bring to America? ›

    The Scandinavian immigrants brought many food traditions to North Dakota. You might be familiar with foods such as lutefisk, lefse, Swedish meatballs, rømmegrøt, pickled herring, pickled beets, rye bread and a variety of baked goods.

    What is a core food of the Scandinavian diet? ›

    The ND diet is based on traditional foods consumed in the Nordic region (Northern Europe), and includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, low fat dairy, fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring) oats, barley, and almonds [36,37].

    What is a typical Scandinavian breakfast? ›

    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.

    What is Sweden's national dish? ›

    What's the most iconic Swedish dish? Köttbullar or Swedish meatballs are arguably the most iconic, often representing Swedish food culture globally.

    What fish is Scandinavian delicacy? ›

    Surströmming is a traditional dish from northern Sweden that arose during the 16th century when Sweden had a salt shortage. Today, the fish has become infamous due to its stinky smell, yet enthusiasts praise surströmming for its great taste.

    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 is a typical Swedish dinner? ›

    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? ›

    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.

    What is the most popular Scandinavian food? ›

    Meatballs. Thanks to a certain Swedish furniture company meatballs (köttbullar) are perhaps the best known of any individual Scandinavian dish. They are traditionally made with a combination of ground beef and pork, alongside spices including nutmeg and cardamom.

    What did the Scandinavians bring to America? ›

    As immigrants from Scandinavia flooded into sparsely populated areas of the U.S., they helped create a particularly Scandinavian way of life, melding the varied religious, culinary, literary, and linguistic traditions that they brought with them with those that they found in their new country.

    What are the three main cuisines of Scandinavia? ›

    The three main cuisines of Scandinavia are Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian, each with its unique flavors and dishes that reflect the geographical and cultural diversity of the region.

    What is Sweden's most common food? ›

    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.

    What do Scandinavian people eat in a day? ›

    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.

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