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…
nordic
Mazariner (Swedish Almond Tarts)
My first encounter with Mazariner or Swedish almond tarts was in my mormor’s (granny’s) kitchen, she was invariably baking one thing and another. I recall being given the task of icing, not too taxing for an eager to help 6 year old. Traditionally made in oval tins, they’re a delicate balance of buttery pastry and…
Swedish Semlor (Lent Buns)
Swedish Semlor buns, enriched sweetened dough flavoured with cardamom and filled with almond paste and cream. Light as a feather and mouthwateringly delicious. The merest hint of cardamom or cinnamon instantly triggers memories of my childhood. How smell can evoke such happy memories. My mother and grandmother always had buns of differing flavours in the…
Speedy Laxpudding (Swedish Salmon Pudding)
This has to be one of the finest examples of Swedish home cooking (husmanskost). This, for me, is nostalgia on a plate; Laxpudding or Salmon Pudding is a meal that is a wonderful way of using up leftovers, however that doesn’t mean it needs to be relegated to the status of a mere mid-week supper. …
Swedish Venison Casserole with Wild Mushrooms and Lingonberries
Swedish Venison Casserole with Wild Mushrooms and Lingonberries or Rengryta has a beautifully earthy sweetness with a rich velvety sauce and good deal of umami flavour. This delicious and comforting dish is often served in the festive period in Scandinavia. Endless forests and a varied landscape are home to numerous game such as elk and deer…
Danish Sourdough Rye Bread (Rugbrød)
I’ve been making this loaf for longer than I care to remember, a consistent sellout at Marlow’s Artisan Food Market and a family favourite. This is a delicious and nutritious wholegrain loaf. It’s much healthier than your average sourdough bread. Contains less carbohydrate, it’s lower in gluten, has more fibre and in general keeps you…
Scandinavian Quick Pickled Red Onions
Generally you’ll always find a jar of these sweet piquant vegetables in my fridge. Pickled red onions transform raw onion from pungent and crunchy to delicate and mellow. Occasionally I add chilli flakes for extra spice or herbs for extra flavour. They couldn’t be quicker to make either, just measure out the ingredients and mix,…
Janssons Frestelse ( Jansson’s Temptation)
Potatoes are always available, whether you like to mash, stuff or fry them they are deeply satisfying. This potato dish is perfect for cold winter nights. Normally served as part of a Swedish Smörgåsbord at Christmas or Easter and traditionally made with cured sprats, cream and onions. Swedish Grebbestads Ansjovis (cured sprats) are available from…
Prinsesstårta
Quite simply the loveliest and most popular celebration cake in Sweden. Let me explain, this is Prinsesstårta or Princess cake, so called because Princesses Margaretha, Märtha, and Astrid, daughters of Prince Carl, brother of King Gustaf V loved it so. And they weren’t alone. It promptly became popular in Sweden and Finland. Every year around 500,000…
Venison à la Lindström with Spiced Celeriac Remoulade
January feels like we’re lumbering through the grey and the cold that forces its way through our clothes and into our bones. I need comfort at this time of year and it had occurred to me whilst sitting in my kitchen flicking through my recipe notebook that I hadn’t made this Swedish classic for some time. ‘Biff à la Lindström’ Beetroot,…
