Finnish cooking is one of the easiest cuisines you can do in your kitchen! Start with these classic Finnish recipes — with ingredients you can find in your part of the world!
Finnish food is simple, no-fuss preparation and built around what’s available for the seasons.
Even with the noticeably shorter summer in the region, root vegetables, berries, and salmon are still available all year round — so you will tend to see them in most dishes.
If this is your first time cooking a Finnish recipe, please start with Lohikeitto (Finnish salmon soup). It’s an authentic Finnish soup that showcases how simple and delicious food from Finland can be.
And for dessert? You will never go wrong with the traditional Finnish pancake — serve it with your favorite berries, and you’re all set!
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Authentic Finnish Soup Recipes
Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
A creamy fish soup that’s quintessential Northern Europe because of its main ingredients: salmon and fresh dill.
Two ingredients that are used year-round, and a staple in (almost) all kitchens in Finland.
Finnish Summer Soup
The name says it all; it’s a soup for the summer months, and it only contains vegetables.
Light and simple to prepare — it does not require any sautéing.
Just combine everything and let the fresh flavor of the vegetables shine.
Finnish Spinach Soup
A silky, green soup (it’s spinach 🙂 ) that’s traditionally served with boiled eggs.
You can use fresh or frozen spinach, and you can even decide on the texture of the soup — but don’t skip the egg; it rounds up the flavor of the dish too.
Classic Finnish Dinner Recipes
We have here a list of traditional Finnish food including casseroles (yep, the Finns love casseroles) — plus a carrot casserole for the holidays!
Finnish Meatballs (Lihapullat)
Tender, well-seasoned meatballs that are great as an appetizer or a full dinner served alongside bread or potatoes.
Finnish Ground Beef & Cabbage Casserole
An easy, one-dish dinner combining ground beef and chopped cabbage and baking them into perfection.
It’s an excellent dish for preparing ahead, and just as delicious when reheated.
Finnish Carrot Casserole (Porkkanalaatikko)
This baked rice and carrot dish is a Christmas classic.
Traditionally served with baked ham, it delivers creaminess and a bit of sweetness, combined with the saltiness of the ham in every bite — absolutely delicious!
Finnish Macaroni Casserole (Makaronilaatikko)
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Finnish household that does not make this at least once a week. ;-).
It’s baked pasta with ground beef and cheese, served with catsup.
Yep, that’s how locals do it — don’t knock it till you try it!
Traditional Finnish Baking Recipes
Finnish Baked Pancake
Every Nordic country has its own version, and the Finnish one is baked.
So, expect golden, slightly crispy edges, then dust it with powdered sugar, and serve with your favorite fresh berries.
Finnish Carrot Bread Rolls
The grated carrot in the dough makes the bread rolls softer and gives them that hint of natural sweetness.
You haven’t added carrots in bread before? Trust me, this will be a regular in your household!
Finnish Blueberry Pie (Mustikkapiirakka)
A classic summer dessert! You’ve got a golden, buttery crust with sweet blueberries, complemented by the tanginess of the sour cream filling.
Yep, it’s a healthier version than your average blueberry pie.
FAQ
What is Finnish food like?
Finnish cuisine is simple and similar to Swedish cuisine, shaped by their climate.
Dishes are not elaborate, and locals rely on the natural, seasonal flavor when preparing home-cooked meals.
What are popular Finnish dishes?
While they also love soup, casseroles are arguably the heart of Finnish home cooking — they even have ones for special occasions (like the carrot casserole).
The macaroni casserole is a household staple; it’s the first dish that every Finnish kid remembers from their childhood. 🙂
Is Finnish food similar to Swedish food?
Being both part of the Nordics, both countries share some common ground — regular use of dairy and herbs, for example.
But Finnish cooking tends to lean more on simpler, more straightforward preparations.
Is Finnish food spicy?
Not in the slightest.
Finnish cooking favors mild flavors over spice — the focus is on the quality of the ingredients (i.e., letting their natural flavors shine), rather than heavy seasoning.
What is Finland’s national dish?
I don’t think there’s a specific official dish, but if there’s one, I reckon it’s Karelian pastries (Karjalanpiirakka).
It’s a pastry from the Finnish region of Karelia, and it’s made of a thin rye crust and mashed potato filling. They also come in rice and carrot varieties sometimes — but either way, they’ve had a traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG) status in Europe since 2003.
Yep, it’s patented — it’s that good! 🙂
Common Finnish Ingredients
Cream and Dairy. You’ve seen it here; almost every dish has milk or cream for richness — it’s in everyday soups, casseroles, or the healthier version (sour cream) in desserts. Everything in moderation.
Dill. A common herb in Northern Europe, but the Finns seem to have it as their favorite herb. You can use dried dill, but trust me, the difference in flavor is noticeable. Always get the fresh ones if you can.
Root vegetables. They always show up in soups, casseroles, and as you’ve seen from the baked section, they even add it in their bread — carrot bread rolls. 🙂
Berries. Regardless of the time of year, you’ll see wild blueberries, lingonberries, and cloudberries: fresh, frozen, or worked into jams and sauces all year round.
So, which traditional Finnish food have you decided to try first? Let me know how it goes! 🙂
FOR MORE NORDIC DISHES, CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES BY COUNTRY!
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