7 Swedish Traditional Foods That You Must Try
European Diary ◆ 12 August 2024
Discover 7 must-try Swedish traditional foods that will make your mouth water. Explore classic dishes like Swedish meatballs, gravlax, and more!
Taste the heart of Sweden through these traditional dishes, which offer a spectrum of 7 absolute must-try Swedish foods. In addition, each plate brings something special to Sweden’s culinary traditions and creates comfort and flavor in every bite. From classic Swedish meatballs to comforting risgrynsgröt, these humble foods will transport your taste buds to Sweden. Furthermore, these classic foods celebrate Sweden’s rich, varied, and delectable food culture. Whether you’re an ultimate foodie or an intrigued cook, these dishes have much to promise in terms of carrying your senses straight to the heart of Sweden.
1. Köttbullar
1 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- Originating from Sweden, this dish is made from minced meat (beef, pork, or veal).
- Specifically, it is commonly enjoyed with lingonberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
- Additionally, it is associated with comfort food and Swedish festive dishes such as Christmas and Midsummer.
Köttbullar, Swedish meatballs, is an admired and classic dish in gastronomic circles that originated in Sweden. Indeed, they are small, succulent meatballs that are made of minced meat, which is beef and/or pork. Moreover, a distinguishing factor about Swedish meatballs can be identified through ingredients, spices, and other additions that flavor them. Traditionally, the Swedish meatballs are enjoyed with a side dish of lingonberry sauce with mashed potato, preferably creamy.
Additionally, lingonberry jam is also perfect to accompany them. Consequently, meatballs are one of the most popular recipes in the world. Symbolically, they enter people’s lives as comfort food and can be found rather often on Swedish festive dishes like Christmas and Midsummer.
2. Sill
2 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- Known as sill in Sweden.
- Used in Swedish cuisine for many years, often pickled.
- Specifically, it is served with various accompaniments like crispbread, potatoes, sour cream, and more.
- Moreover, jars of pickled herring vary in taste.
Herring, also known as the sill in Sweden, is very popular and widely used in Sweden in local cuisine. Indeed, it has been a considerable part of food culture in Sweden for hundreds of years, and it is usually prepared through various types of preparation methods during holiday periods or festive seasons. Among all forms of preparation, pickled herring is probably the most common form of preparation in Sweden. Traditionally, it is conventional for Swedes to use pickled herring with traditional Swedish bread or as an appetizer.
The dish is usually served with crispbread, boiled potatoes, sour cream, chopped chives, or boiled new potatoes, crème fraîche, and flat-leaf parsley. Notably, jars of pickled herring sold in Sweden do differ in taste: the most famous are the mustard herring, onion herring, etc. Nevertheless, it tastes great and is an undeniable part of Swedish cuisine.
3. Gravlax
3 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- Popular Scandinavian dish, especially in Sweden.
- Consists of cured salmon with salt, sugar, and dill.
- Specifically, it is served with mustard sauce, dill sauce, and garnished with dill and lemon.
- Traditionally, it is part of the smörgåsbord.
It is a typically Scandinavian dish that happens to be very popular in Sweden; it consists of thin slices of salmon. In fact, gravlax gets its name from two Swedish words. One word, grav, literally means grave, and the other word lax literally means salmon dish. This name is derived from the ancient practice of burying salmon ground in curing it. Specifically, this type of salmon dish involves raw salmon being cured with a mixture of salt, sugar, and dill. Afterwards, it is thinly sliced and normally served on dark bread with mustard sauce.
Moreover, gravlax is usually served on thin slices of rye bread or crispbread, topped with mustard sauce or dill sauce, and garnished with additional fresh dill and lemon wedges. As such, it is a nice little appetizer or part of the smörgåsbord in Swedish cuisine. Delicate and slightly sweet, its flavor, mixed with the freshness of dill, has become one of those special-occasion dishes or an elegant touch added to brunch or a holiday spread.
4. Janssons Frestelse
4 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- A classic Swedish potato dish, known as Janssons temptation.
- Made with potatoes, onions, pickled sprats, and cream.
- Typically, it is served during holidays like Christmas.
- Moreover, it features a rich, creamy texture with a briny flavor from the pickled sprats.
This is the classic Swedish potato dish that, in English, is referred to as Janssons temptation. Essentially, it is a creamy gratin-style casserole of potatoes, onions, pickled sprats, and cream. Furthermore, it is a dish that appears on nearly every Swedish buffet table during holidays and special occasions, particularly during Christmas.
In this creamy potato and anchovy casserole, often topped with breadcrumbs, the richness of the cream is balanced perfectly by the brininess from pickled sprats or anchovies. Indeed, a true classic, this dish is an evident highlight of Sweden on holiday platters and is usually paired with other Swedish favorites like Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce.
5. Raggmunk
5 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- Traditional Swedish potato pancake.
- It is typically served with crispy bacon and lingonberry sauce.
- In addition, it is similar to hashbrowns.
Most of all, this Swedish potato pancake dish is easy to eat, but above all else, it is very easy to prepare. Specifically, it has to be served with fried crispy bacon and lingonberry sauce. In essence, it is an assortment of potato pancakes, more or less the same as hashbrowns, served with lingonberry sauce and either fried pork or bacon.
Notably, it’s a classic Swedish flavor pairing of savory potato pancakes, salty bacon, and sweet-tart lingonberry sauce. Furthermore, it is one of the more warming and filling dishes that can really hit the spot on a weekend morning or for brunch. In addition, crispy pancakes, all crispy, meet that from the bacon and flavor from the aftermath of the lingonberry sauce to compose a nice and filling meal.
6. Äppelkaka
6 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- Traditional Swedish potato pancake.
- It is typically served with crispy bacon and lingonberry sauce.
- In addition, it is similar to hashbrowns.
Fine and classic Swedish apple cake is brought out from Sweden. It is made with fresh apples, layered in a cake batter, and often sprinkled with a little cinnamon and sugar for flavor. Specifically, this is a classic Swedish apple cake, which is made by layering sliced apples, sugar, and cinnamon. Typically, it is very common to serve it warm with whipped cream or vanilla cream. Indeed, the delightful taste of fresh apples and warm spices results in this sweet treat being dear to Swedish cuisine.
7. Risgrynsgröt
7 of 7 Swedish Traditional Foods
- This is a creamy rice pudding made from rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon.
- It is particularly enjoyed during the winter.
Rice pudding, which in Swedish is called risgrynsgröt, is a Swedish cream-comforting dessert greatly enjoyed all over Sweden, especially during the winter month of December. It consists of just plain food made from rice, milk, and sugar flavored with a hint of cinnamon. Specifically, it is a creamy rice pudding, with rice cooked in milk with sugar and a little cinnamon; sometimes it is served sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar or topped with fruit sauce.
Overall, Swedish rice pudding is a simple but very comforting dessert, perfect for a cozy winter or just sweetly satisfying any time of the year. Moreover, traditional Swedish desserts are enjoyed and associated with specific holidays or celebrations. Thus, they are dishes that share comfort and flavor.
Preserving Swedish Culinary Heritage
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in traditional Swedish ingredients and techniques, collectively referred to as “cuisine.” This cuisine highlights ingredients that are traditionally used in Sweden and which have received international acclaim. By combining simple ingredients with a focus on preserving and celebrating the flavors of the country’s varied landscape, one has a wonderful opportunity to indulge in the culture through traditional Swedish cuisine. Conversely, modern Swedish cuisine has taken on an international influence, while traditional foods are still represented in the country’s gastronomic history. Visit Swedish website!
