Are you thinking of trying North European cuisine? This list of traditional Swedish food is an excellent place for you to start. These easy, delicious, everyday Swedish dishes will make you experience the real deal without traveling up north.
There is more to Swedish cuisine than meatballs, and hopefully, this ever-growing list will give you a glimpse into some of the traditional Swedish food that locals love and enjoy.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF MY SWEDISH CUISINE SERIES!
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Popular Swedish food
Swedish food that’s ingrained in every Swede’s life — whether growing up or as part of a tradition that holds up to this day.
Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinnamon Buns)
Breakfast, dessert, fika — we always have time for a kanelbulle.
We love these kanelbullar so much that having them in supermarkets, convenience stores, coffee shops, or bakeries is not enough.
We also have the option to buy these Swedish cinnamon buns, frozen in bags, and all we have to do is stick them in the oven, wait with a cup of kaffe, then voila!
We like these pannkakor so much that we designated a day of the week that everyone should eat it — every Thursday. 🙂
At first glance, you might think they’re crepes.
But nope, these Swedish pancakes are not as chewy as the French ones because we use less flour in the batter.
They’re absolutely delicious, even with just a dusting of powdered sugar.
But if you want to enjoy it like the locals, serve this famous Swedish food with some strawberry or raspberry jam — and whipped cream!
Classic Swedish bread
Ostfrallor (Swedish Cheese Buns)
We have many delicious bread types in Sweden but let me start with the easiest to make at home (that’s just my opinion 🙂 ).
These cheese bread are excellent for making sandwiches or just with plain butter or marmalade — the cheesy bit on the top provides that salty crunch in every bite.
The best part? Ostfrallor are great for freezing, so you can simply place them in the oven when you’re about to have your breakfast or when you’re preparing a sandwich for work.
Authentic Swedish dishes
Pyttipanna is a well-loved Swedish food that is traditionally made from leftovers.
But nowadays, it’s common to find this dish in restaurant menus, right next to meatballs.
Swedish hash is a mix of smoked pork, ham, sausage, and potatoes — and we always enjoy it with some pickled beets and fried egg.
Although it is a potato hash, it’s not really for breakfast. Brunch is the earliest that this Swedish dish is typically served unless you have a hangover. 😉
Swedish Potatoes with Dill Cream Sauce
If you don’t watch it, you will eat this Swedish food as a main dish instead of the side.
Swedish dill potatoes is a vegetable side dish that is excellent with grilled or roasted meat or oven-baked salmon.
Don’t be wary of adding a LOT of dill to this dish – it certainly brings it to a new level of deliciousness.
If you think Swedish food is all about adding cream, this traditional kalops recipe will prove you wrong.
Kalops has undoubtedly, the least number of ingredients that I have come across for a beef stew, but the flavor is so complex and intense that I just can’t believe it when I tried it for the first time.
Allspice and beef — it never crossed my mind that they’re a match made in heaven.
Oh! And to taste the real deal, stick to whole allspice, not the ground or powdered ones.
Korv Stroganoff (Swedish Sausage Stroganoff)
This Swedish food is not as old as pyttipanna but almost as well-loved, especially among the young Swedes.
Its Swedish sausage (falukorv) that’s cooked in cream, with a bit of mustard and tomato paste added to it.
There’s quite a lot of variations for making Swedish sausage stroganoff — some use tomato sauce, some use ketchup, some even add vegetables to it.
Regardless of how you prepare this Swedish dish, korvstroganoff is ALWAYS best served with rice. Yum!
Swedish Salmon Burger with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
Salmon is arguably the most common fish in Sweden and one of the least expensive.
Serve this healthy alternative to burgers with a refreshing yogurt-lemon-dill sauce, and I’m betting you would be making this Swedish salmon burger not just in the summer but the whole year-round.
Traditional Midsummer & Christmas dishes
Västerbottenostpaj (Swedish Cheese Pie)
This cheese pie is a staple for Midsummer celebrations, a classic savory pie that uses Sweden’s best cheese from Västerbotten.
But don’t worry if you cannot find this product in your part of the world, gouda is an excellent substitute.
Serve with some fresh green salad on the side and a glass of chilled rosé or white wine — glad midsommar!
Midsommartårta (Swedish Midsummer Cake)
It’s one of the classic Swedish food that celebrates the season’s best strawberries.
You only need to add some whipped cream in there, and voila — you will get a delicious layered sponge cake with strawberry filling.
You can play around with the number of layers when making midsommartårta, and nowadays, I’ve even seen some friends use a mix of berries.
But regardless of how you decide to prepare it — this Swedish midsummer cake recipe is always a crowd-pleaser!
Lussekatter are soft, sweet bread that are subtly flavored with saffron.
Yep, the spice is ubiquitous in Sweden once the Advent starts.
You see saffron cake, saffron buns, and saffron cookies — and all supermarkets would have a sachet of saffron right next to the cashier.
It’s like a reminder for everyone to pick one and start preparing their holiday treats at home. 🙂
Saffranskaka (Swedish Saffron Cake)
Remember the cake that I mentioned previously? This is it — a soft, buttery cake with a hint of spice.
Some people add raisins and other dried fruits to their saffron cake, but I personally just like it with almond slices and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
It is a very delicate spice, and I don’t want it overpowered by too many sweet elements in there.
So, if you agree with me, give saffranskaka a try!
Glögg is a Christmas tradition in the Nordics, but of course, Swedes have their way of making them at home.
You just have to try and find out all about that ‘fuzzy‘ feeling while you’re enjoying a serving of this deliciously warm holiday drink.
God Jul!
So, which one among these authentic Swedish food is your favorite? Let me know!
Nancy
Thank you for taking the time to write your blog and give us new food to make. I can’t wait to try all your Swedish recipes!