15 Traditional Norwegian Recipes (2024)

Take a trip to Norway without ever leaving your kitchen with these delicious Norwegian recipes. With such a cold climate, food from Norway has to be comforting!

A popular term in Norway is hygge, which is the art of being cozy. These recipes will definitely bring a little bit of “hygge” to your home.

15 Traditional Norwegian Recipes (1)

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Brighten up your next rainy day with a little warmth in one of these recipes. From a hot lunch to a sweet treat, we have a recipe for you.

Enjoy the flavors of Norway with these traditional recipes! You may just discover a new favorite dish in the mix.

Warm your home and your heart with these comfort foods.

1. Norwegian Waffles

What are Norwegian waffles? And how are they different from traditional American waffles?

They are shaped like a heart. How sweet!

Norwegian waffles are also thinner and softer than the American version. They’re perfect to pair with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Serve up these waffles this Saturday for a sweet surprise your whole family will love.

2. Norwegian Fish Soup

This creamy soup brings together so many delicious flavors. From fresh lemon juice and herbs to the fish itself, there isn’t a gray day this soup won’t chase away.

Take your time preparing this ultimate comfort food. Let the scent fill your house with the soothing aroma of simmering vegetables and caramelized onions.

Serve up a bowl and curl up with a warm blanket and good book.

3. Norwegian Meatballs

These savory meatballs are served smothered in an irresistible gravy. This dish is a Christmas tradition, but there isn’t a thing stopping you from enjoying it year-round.

Fragrant meatballs are seasoned with nutmeg and ginger for a flavor that bursts through the gravy and brings the entire dish together.

Serve this dish with warm bread or rice for a soothing meal that’s a great way to end any day.

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4. Norwegian Flatbread

This thin and crispy flatbread is the perfect addition to any occasion. Enjoy it plain for a snack, or with a variety of different toppings as part of a meal.

Try warm butter for an afternoon pick-me-up, or orange marmalade for morning toast.

You can also top this flatbread with a variety of cheese and fruits for a heartier option.

Kick bagged bread to the curb and let this simple flatbread be your new kitchen staple.

5. Lefse

Similar to the traditional flatbread listed above, lefse is a thin flatbread made from potato.

Lefse is usually served warm with butter and sugar. I like the sound of that!

Lefse may take a couple of tries to perfect. The steps are simple, but it will take practice to get the dough just right for frying such thin pieces.

It will be worth your effort, though, when you have warm and satisfying slices of lefse on your table.

6. Surkal

Every culture has some form of fermented vegetable, and this is Norway’s. Tender cabbage pieces are soaked in vinegar and butter with caraway and apple pieces.

The result is sauerkraut that has a slightly sweet flavor. This is the perfect side on any cold plate or palette refresher in between courses.

If sauerkraut is too strong for you, try surkal. Its simple ingredients soften the flavor and may be just what your taste buds need to enjoy pickled cabbage.

7. Lutefisk

Lutefisk is a flaky fish fillet that is baked in the oven. This dish is traditionally paired with pea stew and roasted potatoes.

If you need a filling meal, look no further than this classic Norwegian menu. The warm fish provides plenty of protein, and the pea soup and potatoes bring plenty of hygge.

This dish warms you from the inside out. Serve it at the end of a blustery day to chase away the chill.

8. Norwegian Oatmeal Molasses Bread

How delicious does this sound? Hearty oatmeal is combined with molasses for a sweet bread that is perfect for breakfast.

Start your day off right with a warm slice of this traditional bread.

This whole-grain loaf is incredibly sturdy and is just perfect for your favorite spreads.

Try it as a part of your favorite sandwiches, or let it be a side to your favorite meal.

This grainy loaf is a multipurpose bread you can use in all of your go-to meals.

9. Sveler

Sveler are Norwegian pancakes from the northwestern coast of the country.

They are a traditional coffee companion and are enjoyed throughout the morning as a light sweet.

Top your sveler with a variety of spreads. Sour cream, berry jam, and butter are all popular favorites.

Introduce your friends to something new at your next brunch party by bringing the Norwegian coffee shop to you.

10. Norwegian Potato Dumplings

Dumplings are always a favorite comfort food, and these potato dumplings are no exception.

They’re light and fluffy with a soft outer layer, just like a good dumpling should be.

Nothing says home cooking like a homemade dumpling. Give this recipe a spin and see how it stands up next to grandma’s secret family recipe.

11. Norwegian School Bread

One word: donuts. Norwegian school bread is filled with vanilla pudding and topped with vanilla custard.

You can make these delicious treats to tuck into your child’s packed lunch or make them to eat at home for an indulgent sweet.

12. Norwegian Salmon with Dill Sauce

How delicious does this sound? Salmon has such a savory natural flavor that is the perfect complement to tangy dill sauce.

This salmon is roasted to perfection in the oven and then topped with the cooling yogurt and dill spread.

What a perfect dish for the holidays, or any special occasion!

13. Norwegian Almond Cake

Almond flavoring is one of my favorite ways to dress up any dessert. There is just an extra edge that vanilla doesn’t have.

Enjoy the taste of sweet almond in this light and fluffy cake. It’s subtly sweetened, giving you a simple flavor that allows the almond to really shine.

This cake makes a beautiful gift with its light crumb color and elegant glaze topping.

14. Norwegian Porridge

Norwegian porridge is a rice pudding that has been perfectly boiled and sweetened. What better way to start your day than with a delicious, warm bowl?

Top your porridge with your favorite dried fruit or sweet spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. This thick and creamy porridge is the definition of “hygge.”

Introduce your family to the joys of porridge this weekend for a slow and cozy Saturday.

15. Norwegian Lemon Butter Sauce

This simple sauce is a great thing to have on hand in your refrigerator, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.

The lemon flavoring is delightful, and what dish wouldn’t benefit from a drizzle of butter? Your family will rely on this sauce like ketchup and ranch dressing.

15 Traditional Norwegian Recipes (2)

15 Traditional Norwegian Recipe Collection

Take a trip to Norway with these delicious Norwegian recipes! From waffles to soup to dumplings, these dishes are as tasty and cozy as it gets!

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a Norwegian dish in 30 minutes or less!
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15 Traditional Norwegian Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are some traditional Norwegian dishes? ›

Norwegian foods to take home
  • Røkelaks (smoked salmon) ...
  • Brunost (sweet brown cheese) ...
  • Fenalår is traditional Norwegian cured meat made from salted and dried leg of lamb. ...
  • Sild (herring) ...
  • Flatbrød (crispbread) ...
  • Waffle mix (and a waffle iron) ...
  • Tørrfisk (dried cod) Small slices of brittle stockfish make a perfect (and healthy!)

What is the national dish of Norway? ›

Mutton and cabbage stew, or “fårikål” in Norwegian, has repeatedly been named Norway's national dish. It even has its own festive day on the last Thursday in September. Throughout the autumn months, people all around the country arrange lamb stew parties.

What is the main meal of the day in Norway? ›

Dinner (middag)

Norwegians usually eat dinner starting around 4–7 PM. This is the most important meal of the day and typically includes carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes and protein-rich foods such as meat or fish.

What does Norway eat the most? ›

Norway's cuisine is mainly characterized by being rich in fish and seafood. It is famed for its salmon, but also for dried cod, whale meat, king crab or game meat such as elk or reindeer. It is a light cuisine, but very tasty, since many of its dishes are usually accompanied by mild sauces.

What is Norway's signature food? ›

In fact, reindeer is among the dishes regularly referenced as one of Norway's local delicacies. Lamb is also frequently included in Norwegian cuisine. Fårikal, a dish made up of boiled mutton and cabbage served with boiled potatoes, is very popular in the country and has been voted the national dish twice.

What is a typical Norwegian lunch? ›

It doesn't have to be complicated. The traditional Norwegian matpakke consists of slices of freshly baked bread (often as open-faced sandwiches) with a favourite pålegg (fillings and toppings), and maybe a few slices of fruit or vegetables, or berries.

What is a typical breakfast in Norway? ›

Breakfast. Norwegian breakfasts tend to revolve around sea, with meals including smoked salmon, fish in various sauces and marinades (such as sardines in mustard sauce or tomato sauce, or pickled herring), smoked whitefish served with hard-boiled eggs or caviar (kaviar in Norwegian).

What is the unofficial dish of Norway? ›

Today, Norwegians primarily enjoy frozen pizza, with the cherished brand Pizza Grandiosa from the town of Stranda on the Storfjorden, being the most popular. Considered the unofficial national dish of Norway, over 25 million pies were consumed by Norway's 5.3 million inhabitants in 2018.

What is the national dessert of Norway? ›

Kvæfjordkake. Kvæfjordkake is a traditional Norwegian cake originating from Kvæfjord on the island of Hinnøya. It consists of layers of cake, meringue, vanilla cream, and chopped almonds. Rich, yet light, the cake is made with a combination of butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour, baking powder, milk, and vanilla sugar.

What is the drink of Norway? ›

Akvavit or aquavit (/ˈɑːkwəviːt, -və-/; also akevitt in Norwegian; aquavit in English) is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Akvavit is distilled from grain or potatoes and is flavoured with a variety of herbs.

What vegetables do Norwegians eat? ›

Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, rutabaga (kålrabi),and onions, are an important part of the traditional diet. Boiled potatoes are a common and simple accompaniment for meat and game dishes.

What do Norwegians drink with dinner? ›

Aquavit is flavored liquor that has been produced in Scandinavia since the 15th century. This is Norway's national drink (Linie Aquavit) and is typically sipped straight with Christmas dinner. Strongly linked with the Scandinavian drinking culture its name is derived from aqua vitae which is Latin for “water of life”.

What fish do Norwegians eat? ›

Scandinavians eat all kinds of fish. The frequency of eating fish varies from household to household. One of the most popular fish, eaten across the region, is herring, which can be pickled, smoked or fried. Baked, cured or smoked salmon, baked and smoked mackerel and cod are also popular choices.

What fruits do Norwegians eat? ›

Thirty-four per cent of Norway's total production of fruit and berries take place in the Oslofjord region. Here, you'll find a large number of fruit farms, often placed in the middle of a picturesque cultural landscape, that cultivate everything from apples, pears, and plums, to cherries, strawberries, and raspberries.

What food is unique to Norway? ›

Fårikål. Fårikål is Norway's national dish and a glimpse into the country's agrarian past. It's a simple stew made with lamb, cabbage, black peppercorns, salt, and water; it's eaten in fall after the sheep are collected for the winter months.

What is Norwegian traditional dining? ›

Traditional Sami music is centered around a particular vocal style called joik. Originally, joik referred to only one of several Sami singing styles, but in English the word is often used to refer to all types of traditional Sami singing.

What do Norwegians typically eat for breakfast? ›

The Norwegian breakfast doesn't look anything like a traditional American breakfast. Breakfast is a light affair often involving Norwegian rye bread cheese, jam and butter. There's also often meat and fish, like salami, ham, smoked salmon or pickled herring. Muesli is also common.

What is a famous Norwegian breakfast? ›

An extremely common breakfast dish you'll more than likely come across throughout your Norwegian cruise is laks og eggerøre, or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

What is Norwegian street food? ›

Every single street food stand in Norway sells hotdogs or pølse as they are called here. But the Norwegians like to eat them with a baffling array of toppings that I had never seen in England. Potato salad, prawn salad and coleslaw are commonplace. They also often served in a potato pancake called a "lompe".

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