Scandinavian Cuisine Culinary Traditions Customs and Flavors Scandinavian

Scandinavian Cuisine Culinary Traditions, Customs and Flavors

Scandinavian Countries

Foods of Scandinavia Each country is similar in the foods & methods of cooking Preservation & Pickling

Historical Food STaples Meats, Fish, Breads, & Root Vegetables are staples.

Common Foods • Berries and dried fruits are abundant • Most other fresh produce is limited

Traditional Foods by Country Sweden Swedish Meatballs with Lingoberry jam and Mashed potatoes Denmark Wienerbrød , Sausages (Pølsevogn), open sandwiches. Iceland Fermented Shark using whey. Skyr – yogurt like cheese Finland Karelian Pasty – Rye crust with eggbutter and rice. Norway Game and Fish. Smoked salmon & Jarlsburg.

Spices and Herbs • Caraway seeds (goulash, stews, pork roast, rye bread) • Cinnamon (desert dishes, custard, ice cream) – Most popular type is Ceylon which has a lighter flavor than it’s sister spice, Cassia • Ginger (salads, breads, cakes, cookies) • Dill (seafood and root vegetables) • Nuts and nut butters

Present Day Food Staples o o o Seafood Cheeses Root Vegetables Pork and Poultry Dried, preserved berries o Cured, Preserved, Dried, Salted, Pickled Foods

Major Food Exports • Dairy Products • Fish/Crustaceans • Live Animals/Raw Meats • Birds Eggs • Cereals

Major Food Imports • “Foodstuffs” • Rice

Crops • Crops – Sweden: grows “energy grass” – Denmark: main trading post – grows sugar beets – Finland: grows barley, oats, potatoes – Medicinal plants – Short growing season

Weather Patterns Finland Iceland Sweden Norway Denmark

Holiday Traditions and Feasts Many Religious Celebrations • St. Lucy’s Day – “Day of lights & sweets” • Shrove Tuesday • Christmas Time - most celebrated time of year

Elaborate Celebration Feasts • Extravagant pastries and desserts • Smörgåsbord – Buffet style feast • Wild game – Moose – Reindeer – Elk – Fowl – Lamb (fenelar)

Popular Meat and Game • Fish – Cod, salmon, herring, mackerel and shellfish • Livestock – Veal, pork, beef • Wild Game – Moose, elk, reindeer and deer • Poultry – Duck, geese, other water fowl