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282 recipes

RieskaPotato and barley flatbread

Ten minutes in a very hot oven is all rieska needs, which is why Finnish cooks in Lapland and Ostrobothnia have long baked it on the spot whenever there were cold boiled potatoes in the larder. This version, perunarieska, is unleavened: mashed potato bound with barley flour, rolled thin and baked until speckled brown. It is soft and slightly chewy, with an earthy barley flavour, and is best eaten straight from the oven with plenty of butter melting into it, perhaps with cheese and cucumber or a bowl of soup. Barley gives it the traditional taste but means it is not gluten free. Using warm potatoes is the common mistake; they soak up far more flour and the rieska turns tough. Chef's tip: prick the rounds all over with a fork before baking so they stay flat, then stack them under a cloth as they come out to keep them soft.

26 minScandinavian Breads & Parathas

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Chocolate slices on rye (pålægschokolade)

Pålægschokolade, wafer-thin slices of chocolate made for laying on bread, is a Danish lunchbox treat, usually saved for Fridays or birthdays: buttered dark rye, a slab of chocolate on top, then cut into fingers. The sour, dense rye and the sweet chocolate are a famous match. Shop slices are thin squares; here you make your own from a bar, which lets you pick dark chocolate with less sugar. It contains gluten (rye and wheat), milk and soya (lecithin in most chocolate). Chef's tip: spread the chocolate as thin as a coin; thick pieces crack and fall off.

15 minScandinavian Breads & Parathas

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Bløtkake (Norwegian cream cake)

Bløtkake, 'soft cake', is what Norwegian families bake for children's birthdays, confirmations and above all 17 May, Constitution Day, when it is decorated with strawberries and blueberries. A light sponge is split into three, moistened with juice and layered with whipped cream and berries until it is soft enough to cut with a spoon. It contains egg, milk and gluten. For small children, quarter blueberries and halve strawberries. Chef's tip: assemble it at least four hours ahead; the cake needs time to soak and soften.

70 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Kärntner ReindlingCinnamon raisin yeast cake

Carinthia's Easter loaf takes its name from the Reindl, the round, deep pan it is baked in, and in southern Austria no Easter basket goes to church without one. Inside the golden yeast crust is a spiral of butter, cinnamon sugar and plump raisins, so every slice shows a dark swirl. Locals eat it two ways: sweet with coffee on Easter morning, or alongside the savoury Easter platter with horseradish. Many bakers soak the raisins in rum overnight; warm water or tea works just as well and keeps it alcohol-free. A dry, crumbly Reindling usually means too much flour went in during kneading, so keep the dough soft and only lightly floured. Chef's tip: butter the pan well and dust it with sugar, which caramelises into a thin crunchy shell.

180 min

Austrian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Fiskegrateng (Norwegian fish and macaroni gratin)

Fiskegrateng, a baked gratin of flaked white fish and macaroni in a thick nutmeg-scented white sauce, is classic Norwegian family food and a favourite way to get children to eat fish, served with grated raw carrot on the side. It is soft, creamy and mild, with a crisp crumb on top, and this version uses no added salt for toddlers from a year old. It contains fish, milk, egg and gluten (pasta, flour and breadcrumbs). Chef's tip: let the white sauce cool a little before whisking in the egg yolks, so they thicken it smoothly instead of scrambling.

60 minScandinavian Fish

by KrazyBadal 0 views

MokkapalatChocolate coffee squares

Mokkapalat ('mocha pieces') are what Finnish parents bake on the big oven tray for a child's birthday, a school bake sale or a summer cottage weekend: soft chocolate sponge squares with a thin, glossy coffee-cocoa icing and a shower of coloured sprinkles. The coffee is gentle and only deepens the chocolate, so children love them, and you can use decaf. They are moist enough to keep three days in a tin and freeze well. Icing the cake while it is hot is the classic mistake; it soaks in and goes dull, so wait until it is just warm. Chef's tip: add the icing liquid a spoonful at a time; it should spread like thick paint and set with a shine.

45 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

KransekakeAlmond ring tower cake

A kransekake towers over the table at Norwegian and Danish weddings, christenings, Christmas and the 17 May national day in Norway: eighteen rings of chewy almond paste, each a little smaller than the last, stacked and laced with zigzags of white icing, often decorated with little flags. Guests break off rings from the bottom; the outside is crisp and the inside soft and marzipan-like. It is naturally gluten free, made only of almonds, icing sugar and egg whites. Baking the rings until hard is the most common mistake; take them out when they are just pale gold, so they stay chewy. If you have no kransekake tins, shape ropes and join them into rings over circles drawn on baking paper. Chef's tip: grind the almonds with some of the icing sugar and rest the dough overnight in the fridge; it becomes much easier to roll and the rings keep their shape.

180 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Fiskeboller i hvit saus (fish balls in white sauce)

Fiskeboller i hvit saus, pale, pillowy fish balls in a white sauce with carrots and boiled potatoes, is the gentle midweek dinner of Norwegian childhood. Making the fish balls at home means you control the salt and can be sure every bone is out: they are just white fish, milk, potato starch and a little nutmeg, poached until soft and springy. It contains fish, milk and gluten (wheat flour in the sauce). Chef's tip: keep the fish and milk cold while blending, and the fish balls come out light rather than rubbery.

45 minScandinavian Fish

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Kagemand (Danish birthday cake man)

In Denmark, no child's birthday is complete without a kagemand or kagekone: a big cake shaped like a boy or girl, made from soft, cardamom-scented yeast pastry filled with vanilla custard and remonce, then iced and decorated with sweets and Danish flags. The birthday child traditionally cuts the head off first while everyone shrieks. It contains milk, egg and gluten. Chef's tip: draw the figure on baking paper first and shape the dough on top, so arms and legs stay in proportion.

175 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

LimpaSweet orange and fennel rye loaf

Sweet, fragrant and a little dark, limpa is the soft rye loaf that Swedes slice thinly for breakfast and stack high on the Christmas julbord. Dark syrup gives it a gentle sweetness and a deep brown crumb, while orange zest, fennel and anise make the whole kitchen smell festive. The Christmas version, vörtlimpa, is made with wort or dark beer; this everyday loaf uses milk instead, so there is no alcohol. Eat it with butter and a sharp aged cheese, with marmalade, or with pickled beetroot and egg on the smörgåsbord. Rye dough is sticky by nature, and working in extra flour until it feels like wheat dough is the classic mistake that bakes a heavy brick; oil your hands instead. Chef's tip: brush the loaves with syrup and water the moment they come out of the oven, which gives them their soft, glossy, slightly sticky crust.

180 minScandinavian Breads & Parathas

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Makaronilaatikko (Finnish macaroni and beef bake)

Makaronilaatikko, macaroni and minced beef baked in an egg-and-milk custard, is the dish Finnish children vote for again and again, at home and in school canteens, often eaten with a dab of ketchup. It bakes until the top is golden and slightly crunchy and the inside soft and custardy, ideal for toddlers from a year old. This version adds no salt, only white pepper, so adults can season at the table. It contains gluten (wheat pasta), egg and milk. Chef's tip: bake it until a knife in the middle comes out clean; a wobbly centre means the custard isn't set.

80 minScandinavian Meat

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Hot dogs in lompe (pølse i lompe)

On 17 May, Norway's Constitution Day, children parade with flags and then queue for pølse i lompe: a hot sausage wrapped in a soft, thin potato flatbread instead of a bun, with ketchup, mustard and sometimes crisp onions. The same snack turns up at every football tournament and birthday. Home-made lompe take a little time but freeze well; this recipe makes 8. It contains gluten and milk. Chef's tip: mash the potatoes while hot and let the dough cool completely before kneading in the flour, or it turns gluey.

60 minScandinavian Fast Food

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Välling (Swedish oat and milk drink)

Välling, a thin gruel of cereal and milk, has been the Swedish child's bedtime drink for generations, and many families still make their own for toddlers once they move on to cow's milk at around a year old. It is smooth, warm and lightly oaty, with no added sugar or honey. It contains milk and gluten (oats are often processed with wheat; use certified gluten-free oats if needed); there is no egg, nuts, soya, sesame or fish. Chef's tip: blend the oats to a fine flour first, so the drink is silky and flows easily from a beaker.

10 minScandinavian Drinks

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Matpakke (Norwegian packed lunch)

Nearly every Norwegian child carries a matpakke to school: slices of wholemeal bread, each with one simple topping, stacked with sheets of sandwich paper in between and wrapped in a neat parcel. Yellow cheese, sweet caramel-like brown cheese (brunost) and jam are the classics, with cucumber or pepper sticks on the side; liver paste is the meaty favourite. It is plain, filling and built to survive a school bag. It contains gluten (wheat) and milk. Chef's tip: keep wet toppings like tomato out of the stack; they make the bread soggy by lunchtime.

10 minScandinavian Breads & Parathas

by KrazyBadal 0 views

HønsesalatChicken salad sandwich

Hønsesalat is the chicken course of a Danish lunch table and a bakery-counter classic on crisp rye or a soft white roll across Jutland and Zealand. Poached chicken, white asparagus and small mushrooms are folded into a soft dressing of mayonnaise and crème fraîche, then each serving is finished with crunchy bacon and cress. Leftover roast chicken works well. A common mistake is dressing the chicken while warm, which melts the mayonnaise and turns it greasy. Chef's tip: poach the chicken gently in barely bubbling water so it stays juicy, and use the cooking liquid for soup.

35 minScandinavian Chicken

by KrazyBadal 0 views

ToscakakaAlmond caramel butter cake

Toscakaka is the elegant fika cake of Swedish coffee afternoons, named after the opera and found in every old konditori in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Under a crunchy, toffee-like lid of flaked almonds cooked in butter, sugar and cream is a light, buttery sponge. It is at its best on the day it is made, with coffee. A common mistake is adding the topping too early, so it sinks into the raw sponge. Chef's tip: bake the cake until just set, then spread the hot topping over and return it to the oven until bubbling and amber.

55 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Filmjölk with muesliSoured milk with muesli

Swedish breakfast tables, from Stockholm flats to Norrland cabins, almost always have a carton of filmjölk: a mild, pourable cultured milk that is less sour than yogurt and thinner than kefir. It goes into a deep plate, never a glass, with muesli, fresh berries and a dusting of cinnamon. Here you can make your own filmjölk by culturing milk with a few spoons of shop-bought filmjölk or buttermilk. A common mistake is warming the milk too much, which kills the culture. Chef's tip: let it set at warm room temperature, about 20–22 °C, for 24 hours until it wobbles like soft custard.

5 minScandinavian Breakfast & Brunch

by KrazyBadal 0 views

LagkageLayer cake

No Danish birthday is complete without lagkage, the tall layer cake brought out after the flag-decked breakfast or at the afternoon party, and every family from Odense to Copenhagen has its own version. Three thin sponge layers are spread with vanilla custard, berries or jam, then covered in whipped cream and decorated with fresh strawberries or raspberries. It needs a few hours in the fridge to settle. A common mistake is assembling with warm custard, so the cake slides. Chef's tip: brush each sponge layer with a little fruit juice so it is moist without going soggy.

75 minScandinavian Desserts

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Brunost on breadBrown cheese on bread

Brunost, the brown cheese of Norway, is not really cheese but whey boiled for hours until its milk sugars caramelise into a fudge-like block. In Gudbrandsdalen and across the country it is shaved paper-thin with a cheese slicer onto buttered bread at breakfast, packed into school lunch boxes (matpakke) and laid on hot heart-shaped waffles at weekends. The whey comes from cheesemaking that often uses animal rennet, so strict vegetarians should check the label. A common mistake is cutting it in thick chunks; it is sweet and rich and meant to be almost see-through. Chef's tip: use a proper flat cheese slicer, and add a few slices of tart apple or jam on top to balance the sweetness.

5 minScandinavian Breakfast & Brunch

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Dyrlægens natmadPâté and salt beef sandwich

Copenhagen legend says a veterinarian ordered the same late-night sandwich every evening at Oskar Davidsen's lunch house, and the name stuck. Dyrlægens natmad is a slice of dark rye spread with pork liver pâté, topped with thin slices of salt beef (saltkød), a cube of meat aspic, raw onion rings and cress. It belongs to the meat course of a long Danish Sunday lunch, after the herring and before the cheese. This version uses a quick home aspic made from stock and gelatine. A common mistake is slicing the salt beef thickly: it should be cut paper-thin and folded. Chef's tip: make the aspic the day before so it is firm enough to dice cleanly.

20 minScandinavian Meat

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LeverpostejLiver pâté

Almost every Danish child has had leverpostej on rye in the lunchbox, and in Copenhagen's lunch restaurants it arrives warm from the oven, topped with crisp bacon, fried mushrooms and pickled beetroot. This is a coarse, soft pâté of pork liver and pork back fat bound with a light white sauce, anchovy and allspice, baked in a water bath. It is pork through and through. The most common mistake is pulling it out too soon: the centre must reach 71 °C for pork liver to be safe. Chef's tip: blend the liver until completely smooth before mixing it with the warm sauce, so the pâté bakes even and doesn't split.

90 minScandinavian Meat

by KrazyBadal 0 views

Æg og rejerEgg and shrimp sandwich

On Danish lunch boards from Skagen to Copenhagen, sliced egg buried under a heap of small, sweet North Sea shrimp is the first fish smørrebrød people reach for. It is built on buttered rye or white bread, finished with a ribbon of mayonnaise, a lemon twist and dill. The best are made with cold-water shrimp peeled by hand, so the dish is eaten in spring and early summer when the catch is good. A common mistake is overcooking the eggs until the yolk turns grey-green. Chef's tip: drain the shrimp well on kitchen paper so the bread stays crisp.

25 minScandinavian Fish

by KrazyBadal 0 views

HindbærsnitterRaspberry shortbread slices

Every Danish bakery counter, from Copenhagen to Aarhus, has a row of hindbærsnitter: two thin sheets of crisp shortbread glued together with raspberry jam, topped with white icing and coloured sprinkles. Children choose them on the walk home from school, and they turn up at birthday tables too. The secret is a dough rolled very thin and baked pale. A common mistake is assembling while the pastry is still warm, which makes the jam run and the icing crack. Chef's tip: ice the top sheet before cutting, then slice with a sharp knife while the icing is still a little soft.

45 minScandinavian Baking

by KrazyBadal 0 views

PariserbøfBeef patty on toast

Pariserbøf is an old Copenhagen lunch-house favourite: a thick beef patty seared in butter on a slice of fried white bread, crowned with an egg yolk in a ring of raw onion, with capers, grated horseradish and pickled beetroot. Traditionally the beef is left almost raw in the centre and the yolk is raw. That classic way is not for pregnant women, young children or anyone with a weakened immune system. This safer home version cooks the mince through to 71 °C and tops it with a soft fried egg cooked until the white and yolk edges are set (or use a pasteurised yolk). A common mistake is pressing the patty in the pan, which squeezes out the juice. Chef's tip: shape the patties wider than the bread, as they shrink as they cook.

25 minScandinavian Meat

by KrazyBadal 0 views

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