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Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)

22nd June 2021 by Louise
Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)
Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)

Swedish Midsummer’s Eve falls on 25th June this year. Midsommar is the purest celebration of the summer solstice, involving flowers in your hair, dancing around a maypole and a never-ending supply of pickled herring, crispbread, beer and aquavit (snaps). As it’s not possible to spend it in Stockholm this summer, we’ll be celebrating in style here in Marlow…

Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)
Flower garlands (midsommarkrans) are a must at Midsommar.

When I mentioned to my mum that I was going to make Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake) for Midsummer’s Eve, she was horrified.  You see, mum recalls the hideous 1970’s creations, that many housewives were so proud of.  Today, on the whole, you’ll find they still look much the same – kitsch.  Classically, they’re filled with liver pate, ham and cheese.  Then there’s the seafood version, with smoked salmon and prawns, smothered with a good deal of mayonnaise and crème fraîche.  Then adorned with cucumber roses, cherry tomatoes and radish.  Healthy, it’s definitely not.

However, recently many have given the Swedish Sandwich Cake a revamp and bought it up to date.  I’ve seen healthier semi-naked versions, some decorated with pressed flowers and others with fresh.

Today, I’ve made a seafood Smörgåstårta.  My local fishmonger sells exquisite smoked salmon and has a constant supply of plump and juicy North Atlantic prawns. The only prawn, in my opinion for this creation.  I buy the ones you have to peel. Why you ask…they have so much more flavour.  And the bonus is you can use the shells to make an excellent seafood stock.

I’ve made the sourdough bread for this recipe, but you certainly don’t have to.  I suggest buying a loaf from a good bakery though, baked in a tin, so there’s less waste.

*I made the mistake of starting with the Skagenröra (prawns), the filling is runnier, it’s best to spread it on the top layer, as the recipe suggests.  I flipped my cake over once assembled, to then coated it in cream cheese.

TIPS:

  • Use good quality bread.  Light rye, wholemeal or even white all work well.
  • By spreading a thin layer of butter on the bread, prevents the filling seeping into the slices and making them soggy.
  • Filling options are endless. Although it’s quite normal in Sweden to have meat and seafood in the same cake I stick with one or the other.

Whilst I cannot say this is a healthy version of Smörgåstårta, it’s healthier! Perfect for birthdays and big celebrations, that you really should try!

Smörgåstårta(Swedish sandwich cake)
Print Recipe

Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)

Prep Time50 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Appetiser, Canape, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Swedish
Servings: 6 portions

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf light rye (900g tin) wholemeal or white, baked in a tin, unsliced & one day old.
  • 30 g butter softened
  • 1 bunch dill stalks removed & chopped

Layer 1 – Smoked Salmon Filling

  • 85 g smoked salmon cut into strips
  • 30 g cream cheese
  • 25 g crème fraîche
  • ¼ zest lemon
  • 1 Tbls lemon juice
  • 1 tsp horseradish fresh grated or horseradish sauce

Layer 2 – Avocado Filling

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 small handful chives chopped
  • 60 g cucumber peeled, deseeded & chopped
  • 1 ½ Tbls lemon juice

Layer 3 – Skagenröra Filling

  • 280 g whole North Atlantic prawns
  • ¼ small red onion very finely chopped
  • 45 g mayonnaise
  • 40 g creme fraiche
  • ¼ zest of lemon
  • 1 tsp lemon juice

To decorate

  • 2 -3 baby cucumbers finely sliced lengthways
  • 180 g cream cheese full fat
  • a few pea shoots fresh edible flowers, ie. French marigold petals, pansies and borage

Instructions

  • Begin with the bread, cut the crust off. Slice the bread, lengthways, approximately 1cm thick. I ended up with slices measuring 19 x 9cm. You will need 4 slices. Blitz the crust and remaining bread to make breadcrumbs (stores well in the freezer). Spread both sides of the bread with a thin layer of butter.
  • Have a platter ready to assemble the cake on. Place the first buttered slice on the plate. Combine the salmon, cream cheese, creme fraiche, lemon juice, zest and horseradish. Stir well and add half of the dill. Place the salmon mixture on the first slice and follow with the second buttered slice.
  • Cut the avocado in half and peel, mash roughly with a fork. Add the lemon juice, chives and cucumber, season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread on the second layer of bread. Top with the third layer of bread.
  • Peel the prawns. Keep a few to decorate the cake, roughly chop the remaining. Place in a bowl and add the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, chopped red onion and dill. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and season with pepper and salt if it needs it. Spread the prawn mixture on the third layer of bread and top with the final slice.
  • Now place the cream cheese in a bowl and give it a good stir to loosen it. With a palette knife mask the cake with the cheese. The sides don’t have to be too neat as they will be covered with cucumber slices. Cut the cucumber so they’re a little taller than the cake. Arrange the slices all the way round. Top with a few prawns, petals, flowers and pea shoots.
Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)
Smörgåstårta (Swedish Sandwich Cake)

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Category: Dinner, Fish, Lunch, Nordic, Sharing, Snacks, Spring, SummerTag: cake, celebration, nordic, nordic flavours, scandinavian, scandinavian flavours, swedish
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Only @nigellalawson could make squeezing in just o Only @nigellalawson could make squeezing in just one more baking book sound so elegant. She wrote the loveliest words about Buns: Sweets and Simple Bakes — and went for the Brown Butter & Vanilla, a quiet favourite of mine. Deceptively simple, but the kind of bun that’s never trying too hard, because it doesn’t need to.

So chuffed you took the time, Nigella — thank you.

@quadrillebooks 
#BunsTheBook #MorningBuns #bakingwithyeast #bakingbook #NigellaLawson #brownbutterbuns #vanilla #BunsSweetsAndSimple #nordickitchenstories
With all this hot weather lately, a chilled Cucumb With all this hot weather lately, a chilled Cucumber & Almond soup was just what I fancied. Cool, creamy, and packed with protein and flavour. I used 650g small cucumbers, 250g full-fat Greek yogurt, 2 spring onions, a blanched clove of garlic (raw’s a bit harsh for this, I find), 60g skinned almonds, 50ml strong veg stock, a good drizzle of EVOO, lemon juice, and a splash of sherry vinegar to finish. I also threw in a handful of herbs – fresh dill, blanched parsley, and mint – for a lovely hit of green brightness. (Serves 2.)

Tip: blitz the blanched almonds with the veg stock first until really smooth – that’s key. Then add the cucumber, herbs, spring onions, garlic, EVOO, lemon, vinegar, and just a third of the yogurt. Only whisk in the rest once the soup’s puréed – it gives a lovely thick, creamy texture. If you add all the yogurt to the blender at once, it can end up a bit thinner than you’d like.

Finish with a swirl of EVOO, a drizzle of thinned yogurt, and maybe a few cucumber ribbons if you're feeling a bit cheffy.

As I sat down to eat, it occurred to me that some chopped pickled jalapeños on top would be lovely – so that’s exactly what I added to the finished soup before tucking in!

#chilledsoup #cucumbersoup #summerrecipes #almondsoup #vegetarianrecipes #glutenfree #coolingmeals #easyrecipes #greekyoghurt #souprecipe #healthyandfresh #britishsummerfood
This week’s bits and pieces… 1 & 2. A christe This week’s bits and pieces…

1 & 2. A christening cake I loved making, thank you for the flowers @littlebeechesfarm 

3. A lovely walk and catch-up with @wasielewskamarta – always a pleasure 🤍
 
4. Stumbled on some wild raspberries while out and about 

5. Making the most of the gorgeous summer tomatoes

6. Grass dancing in the wind



#LittleMoments #BritishSummer #SlowDays #HomeBakes #ForagedFinds #SeasonalEating #CountrysideWalks #ChristeningCake #SimplePleasures #nordickitchenstories
I’m fully embracing my current obsession with to I’m fully embracing my current obsession with tomatoes — and honestly, who wouldn’t? They’re so sweet and juicy at the moment. This little tart is packed with toasted fennel seeds, chunks of salty feta, and a mix of whole and sliced tomatoes that roast beautifully. The feta is so good with the sweet, blistered tomatoes — such a lovely mix of textures and flavours. All of that’s tucked into a light spelt pastry that’s perfectly crumbly. The full recipe will be on the blog tomorrow!

#tomatoseason #seasonaleats #summertart #vegetarianrecipes #homebaking #britishseasonalfood #tomatolove #easyvegetarian #eattheseasons #tartrecipe #bloggerrecipes #instafoodie #savourybakes #tomatotart #ukblogger #nordickitchenstories
What a weekend! I managed to deliver a Strawberry What a weekend! I managed to deliver a Strawberry and Elderflower Buttercream Cake in 30°C heat without a single mishap – a small miracle if you ask me. Huge congratulations to the lovely newlyweds Victoria and John –  hope you had the most wonderful day 💐🎂 (There’s a snap of the cake over on stories)

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#strawberryandelderflowercake #buttercreamcake #summerwedding  #tunasalad #seasonaleating #haricotbeans #capers #chives #homemadelunch #simplemeals #foodinspo #saladseason #homecooking #frommytable #inmykitchen #onmyplate #ukfoodie #ukfoodblog #foodbloguk #slowdownwithstills #nordickitchenstories
I meant to post this much earlier, but I’ve been I meant to post this much earlier, but I’ve been busy prepping a wedding cake for a Midsummer wedding tomorrow. Buttercream and a heatwave are not the best combination! I was up at 4:30 to get ahead of the heat, and I’m so glad I did — the cake is finished and happily chilling in the fridge.

Being half Swedish, Midsommar holds a special place in my heart. It’s all about flower crowns, fresh air, and that lovely feeling of long summer days. We gather with family and friends, share a beautiful midsommar feast - pickled herring, new potatoes, strawberry cream cake (this is not the wedding cake), and snaps! 
A time to slow down, dance around the maypole, and celebrate life and light. 

 Glad Midsommar! 💛🌞

#Midsommar #GladMidsommar #swedishmidsummer #weddingseason #Midsommarvibes #FlowerCrowns #ScandiStyle #NordicTradition #SummerSolstice  #SkålToSummer  #Familytraditions #ScandinavianCelebration #nordickitchenstories
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