Top 12 Swedish Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss

From stunning landscapes to vibrant cityscapes, rich culture to welcoming locals, Sweden has everything that makes it popular among tourists. With over 100,000 lakes, some really impressive mountain ranges, bucolic forests, and rolling fields, this country is a true paradise for nature lovers. There are so many places to visit in Sweden that you can see on your trip. In addition to this, northern lights, Mother Nature’s light show, makes it one of the most sought-after holiday destinations. Although Sweden is blessed with abundant natural beauty, this is not the only good thing about this place. Whether you are a history buff or a music lover, a thrill-seeker or a party person, the country has a lot to offer.

Over the years, Swedish food has also gained huge popularity and become one of the main reasons why tourists visit the country. Swedish meatballs are famous all over the world for their unbeatable taste, but Swedish cuisine is a lot more than that.

Popular Swedish Foods

Here we have compiled a list of some of the most famous Swedish food items that you should definitely try on your trip to the country:

Kanelbullar

Also known as Swedish cinnamon rolls, this is one of the most popular Swedish dishes. You can find these in every cafe, bakery, or food shop around the country. These tasty spiced rolls are made with leavened bread dough that has been lightly sweetened. Sometimes, they are flavoured with cardamom, saffron, and vanilla. Generally, kanelbullar is served along with coffee as a sweet side dish.

Oat Milk Latte

If you are a coffee lover, this is one thing you shouldn’t miss while visiting Sweden. This is a well-known fact that Scandanavian food items and beverages are very healthy. A latte with oat milk is unquestionably the best way to get your daily caffeine fix. This hot beverage comes with a slightly sweet, nutty taste, which makes it different and somewhat better than the regular latte you have.

Toast Skagen

Toast Skagen is another name for the famous Swedish shrimp toast. It is made from peeled prawns mixed with mayonnaise, dill, and lemon. Topped with fish roe, it is served on crisp, sautéed bread. This is one of the popular Swedish dishes that are commonly served at dinner parties. This classic starter was invented by famous chef Tore Wretman, who made it from leftovers on a sailing trip.

Herring

The Baltic Sea and North Atlantic Ocean are known for their abundance of herring, a common species of fish. In Swedish cuisine, there are a number of dishes that are prepared by cooking, pickling, or smoking these small, flavorful fish. Pickled herring is a famous delicacy, dating back to times when preserving was the way to make produce last through the winter months. Sill is a slightly larger fish found off the west coast, and stromming is another name for the Baltic herring. Stromming is often enjoyed breaded and fried, while sil is pickled in a variety of marinades and sauces.

Prinsesstarta

Prinsesstarta is a domed, layered sponge cake covered in near-fluorescent marzipan, and it is commonly served on occasions like graduations, retirements, and birthdays. You can enjoy this delicious, bright green cake at most Swedish bakeries, also known as konditori. Jenny Kerström, who taught three of Sweden's princesses to cook, created and named this cake in their honour in the 1920s.

Crispbread

When in Sweden, you will often find a type of crispbread served alongside your main meal. Once considered poor man’s food, crispbread has slowly become one of the most popular side dishes in Swedish cuisine. This bread is one of the most versatile edible products and can last for at least a year if stored properly.

Swedish Sandwich Cake

Swedish sandwich cake is the perfect summer party food in Swedish cuisine. Also known as Smorgastarta, this food item looks like a scrumptious cake at first glance. But when you take a closer look, you will realise that it is a savoury sandwich made of smoked salmon and dill, radishes, egg salad, and chives.

Pea Soup and Pancakes

Yes, you read it right! This may seem like a weird combination to you, but for Swedish people, it is a popular dish. Most people in the country grow up eating pea soup and pancakes every Thursday. The Swedish Armed Forces started this during World War II, and since then it has become a tradition. Almost every restaurant in the country that serves traditional Swedish food has pea soup and pancakes with lingonberry jam or any kind of jam on their food menu for Thursdays.

Crayfish

In Sweden, crayfish parties are extremely popular in the month of August. These warm summer evenings are spent feasting on these bite-sized, red-coloured shellfish. In the 1500s, these were only eaten by upper-class citizens and the aristocracy. But in today’s time, crayfish have become a famous delicacy enjoyed by everyone.

Kroppkakor

Kroppkakor is basically big, hearty potato dumplings that have become an important part of Swedish cuisine. However, there are many different versions and names of these dumplings all over the country, depending on where they are being served! For example, in the southern parts of the country, they are called kroppkakor, but in the north, they are called palt.

These delicious dumplings are made by mixing potatoes and flour, and the dough is wrapped around some fried pork. Both boiled and raw potatoes can be used for this recipe. The only difference is that the kroppkakor made using boiled potatoes is white, while the ones made with raw potatoes are grey. Generally, they are served with melted butter, double cream, milk, lingonberry sauce, and béchamel sauce.

Meatballs

The list of popular Swedish dishes is incomplete without this food item. Commonly known as Swedish meatballs, this classic dish has a special place in the heart of every Swede. This delectable dish is popular among both locals and foreign tourists. Generally, Swedish meatballs are served with boiled or mashed potatoes, a cream sauce, and lingonberry sauce.

Falukorv

The falukorv sausages are an absolute favourite among children of all ages in Sweden. The history of this popular dish can be traced right back to the 16th century. This was the time when the Falu copper mine used ox and horse skins to create strong ropes to lift up the raw copper ore. The meat was a by-product that was simply salted and smoked to eat. When the Germans came to the mine, a new recipe was invented to turn the finely smoked beef into a sausage. Today, falukorv sausages are made from beef and pork. They are served with boiled or mashed potatoes, creamy macaroni, or rice, and together they make a delicious meal.

Any trip is incomplete without some good food. Whether you are planning a fun family vacation or a culinary tour of Sweden, this list of famous Swedish dishes will help you a lot.