Recently updated on April 30th, 2024 at 05:52 pm
Delicious as they are, meatballs and gravadlax are not the only dishes in Sweden’s culinary repertoire. Scandinavia is a cornucopia of amazing, indigenous ingredients and unique foodie delights. From zingy lingonberry jam, to love-it-or-loathe-it fermented herring, your taste buds will never get bored with this list of superb Swedish foods to try on your next trip.
Kanelbulle
A puffy swirl of sweet pastry loaded with cinnamon and topped with icing sugar, Kanelbulle is Sweden’s favourite baked bun. In fact, they’re so popular there’s even an annual Kanelbulle Dag (Cinnamon Bun Day) in celebration of the sugary spiced snack. Look for them in Stockholm bakeries and cafes.
Surströmming
The Baltic waters surrounding Sweden are teeming with herring, and it’s a fish Swede’s can’t get enough of. Their love affair with Surströmming (fermented herring) dates to the middle ages, when it was salted and fermented as a form of preservation. Fermented fish may sound like an acquired taste, but eaten in tiny quantities atop a tunnbröd (thin bread) with crème fraiche and dill, it’s quite the delicacy and always takes centre-stage on a smorgasbord (a giant Swedish platter). You can buy tins of Surströmming but it’s best experienced in a restaurant if you’re unsure what to pair it with.
Lingonberry
Similar to a cranberry in tartness, the lingonberry is a red berry fruit that’s commonly made into jams and condiments across Scandinavia. It grows in forest shrubs and is used to accompany savoury foods like reindeer steak, blood pudding or those infamous meatballs. Lingonberry lends a deliciously acerbic tang to dishes and are super-healthy too. Stock up on jars from a local deli on your next visit.
Toast Skagen
Featuring peeled prawns mixed with dill, lemon and mayonnaise and served on sautéed bread, think of Toast Skagen as a rather nice version of prawn cocktail on toast. It may seem a bit retro, and it is…Toast Skagen was conceived by famous Swedish restaurateur, Tore Wretman just after World War Two, naming it after a Danish port. A popular starter at dinner parties, you’ll find Toast Skagen on the menu at home as well in restaurants.
Prinsesstarta
Prinsesstarta (princess cake) is Sweden’s most famous dessert. A round, domed sugar-laden confection, it features different alternating layers of light sponge, cream and jam with a bright green marzipan coating, topped with a pink rose. Like its name, the cake has a rather royal history – it was a favourite of Prince Carl, Duke of Vastergotland’s daughters, and created by their teacher in 1948. Pick up a princess cake at a traditional Swedish bakery when you visit.
If you’re inspired to eat your way around Sweden, one kanelbulle at a time, click here to discover Trafalgar’s Swedish tours.
Image Credits: Main image: © iStock/gbrundin. Kanelbulle © iStock/Sergeeva. Prinsesstarta © iStock/vera_g. Lingonberry © iStock/Nadezhda_Nesterova. Surströmming © iStock/marinakhlybova.