26 Norwegian specialties to discover

Salmon, bread, hot berries, reindeer... Here are the best Norwegian specialties to enjoy the time of a Scandinavian stay!

In northern Europe, Norway is in all exceptional points. Dominated by nature, dotted with fjords, overlooked by mountains, the country offers multiple facets all ones more beautiful than others. The exceptional Scandinavian environment promotes superior quality of life - with higher cost - like all Scandinavian countries.

A trip to Norway is the promise to discover a world with natural, artistic and architectural wonders. But it is also an immersion in local culture: Norwegian specialties. Emblem and renowned, Norway is full of delicious dishes! A trip to the remote areas where exceptional cuisine rhymes with simple products.

Do you have water in your mouth? Perfect, let’s take a look at Norwegian specialties to discover during your stay. Trust the Chief!

Food habits

Food mode often varies depending on countries. This is the case of Norway, which, with its particular climate, implies a different way of life... to food and eating habits!

• Frokost (breakfast): in Norway, breakfast mixes sweet and salty. It is quite usual to find on the table both liver paste, cooked salmon, fish eggs, ham, hard cheese...and white cheese, oatmeal, cereal bread with jam. Note that bread is an important basis for Norwegian food. The best known is grovbrød, made with complete flour.
• Matpakke: at noon (by the way it’s a little earlier, around 11h) is more like a snack break or a snack than a lunch as we can usually have in France. Their meals are not frankly balanced because they are sandwiches, hot dogs, pizzas or burgers.
• Middag: nickname hot meal, it often takes place after work so Between 4pm and 6pm. Just like breakfast, it is fairly consistent because it is often a protein (meat or fish) accompanied by feculents and vegetables (often potatoes and crucifers).
• Kveldsmat (the evening meal): the last meal, more like a snack, takes place around 22h. Note that it is at this meal that Norwegians like to accompany their alcoholic beverage food.

Maten er klar! (To table!)

The madness of seafood

You doubt that, some of the Norwegian specialties are based on fish, seafood and other crustaceans. Of course, when we talk about Norwegian specialties, we think of salmon immediately, but there are plenty of other dishes to discover. Here are some typical dishes based on sea products that you can enjoy in Norway:

• Salmon: he eats "at all sauces". Based on their diet, Norwegians eat it especially smoked and accompanied by bread during breakfast. You can also find it cooked, soup, gravlax or marinated.
• Rakfisk: trout usually served in slices or nets with raw red onion, sour cream, lefse (traditional Norwegian bread composed of potatoes, milk or fresh cream, and flour) and potatoes, this meal eats raw.
• The herring: renowned for its nutritional values, herring is a fish whose Norwegians are very fond of. They like to consume it on toasted with almondine potatoes cut into slices and chopped onions. Usually accompanied by beer or schnaps! Grilled, boiled, in soup, fried or salad, the herring comes in a thousand ways.
• Lutefisk: this dish is consumed during the winter period, just before Christmas parties. It is a white fish dried often from the dried fish tørrfisk (dried dried) accompanied by potatoes, bacon, mustard and goat cheese. It should be noted that this dish is quite special for foreigners: its smell and taste is quite pronounced.
• The seafood: appreciated by Norwegians, seafood is eaten at timeson. Surrounded by water, the country enjoys its maritime benefits! Thus, in many restaurants, you find both shrimp and shellfish. One of the specialities is the gratin of fish and shrimp accompanied there again... of potatoes.

Jeg er sulten! (I’m hungry!)

For the carnivores

No ellipse on Norwegian meat-based specialties! Like fish, Norwegians consume it at all meals. If you have the opportunity to travel to this Nordic country, here is what you must absolutely taste:

• The game: The elk, reindeer, deer, duck and other gallinaceae are very present in Norwegian specialties, especially during the holiday season. Due to its fairly pronounced taste, the meat is often accompanied by a thick sauce. Some berries can also come to scent the latter. Note that in the restaurant, prices of meat can quickly rise!
• Fårikål : typical Norwegian dish, it is the emblem of the country. Composed mainly of sheep and cabbage, it is usually served in the cooking coconut. As usual, Norwegians are accompanied by potatoes. For the anecdote, this dish entered the record book in 2012 with 594.2 kg of Fårikål prepared for 10,000 guests present in Oslo!
• The sausages: A key ingredient in Norwegian gastronomy, sausage is accompanied by bread and fresh cream. The best known sausages are fenalår (a lamb in salaison) as well as the bite (a smoked sausage whose composition varies by region). Attention, in the composition of some sausages, you can find various meats!
• Finnbiff: This is a traditional Scandinavian meal. Composed of finely sliced reindeer, this stew is served with potatoes and red berries. We recommend you to taste it because this dish is extremely tender and tasteful.
• Dried meat: The Norwegians are full of dried meat! They appreciate the momentum, the reindeer or the deer. In summary, dried meat can be eaten as meat cutlery, i.e. with bread and beer. Nevertheless, it is also used for stews like stews pinnekjott (throat taste) or finnbiff. Moreover, one of the most popular dishes is fenalår : a bunch of salted and dried lamb, served with azyme bread, scrambled eggs and accompanied by a Mack beer.

Jeg er vegetarianer! (I'm a vegetarian!)

As surprising as it may seem, Norwegian gastronomy is very close to the vegetarian culinary mode. Indeed, the practice of offering a vegetarian dish has become common for restaurants. And then in Norway, you will have the embarrassment of choice!

A large part of the diet is based on starch like potatoes. Economic and easy to produce, they are the flagship product of many Scandinavian countries. With respect to fruit and vegetables, we recommend that you consume those of season. Don’t miss the berries you can cook with all the sauces.

Who said the French had the monopoly of bread? The bread is an important basis for Norwegian food. Nothing comparable to the traditional baguette, Norwegian breads are large and often full or cereal. We advise you to taste the flatbrød (type azyme bread). These thin crunchy stools will make you spit!

How do we talk about Norwegian specialties not to mention dairy products? Few but no less interesting! Lovers and lovers of milk, know that Norwegians don't slow on cheeses and other dairy products.

The best known dishes are:

• Mjølkkultur: sort of fermented milk.
• Jarlsberg: typical goat cheese.
• Brunost: reduction of goat or caramelized cow milk.
• Gammelost: supermattered cheese very odorant based on caillé milk.
• Pultost: milk-based cheese scented with carvi seeds.

Godteri eller kaker? (Bonbons or cakes?)

Sweet lovers and lovers, don’t worry, you’re not going to be in the rest! The Norwegians love the sugar! Here are some dishes that will put water to your mouth:

• Julek: This is the traditional Christmas cake. In this bread you find dried fruits and spices. Delicious, he'll make you capsize!
• Fyrstekake: It is a Norwegian pie with almonds and cardamom. Nothing simpler but so delicious! The taste of this cake is halfway between the caramel and the cookie, so to fall!
• Norwegian waffles: You're gonna tell me the waffles aren't Norwegian. However, the locals are thrilled, which is why they appear in this top concerning Norwegian specialties. They taste soft with sour cream and jam, or with a slice of ham or a piece of goat. In any case, Norwegian waffles will not leave you indifferent.
• Tilslørte bondepiker : Traditional Scandinavian dessert, it is composed of purée apples and whisk cream based on toasted bread. Like a thousand-sheets, we find several layers. This dessert, very aesthetic, served in verrins is very popular in Norway and we understand why!

Helse! (Health!)

Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages are extremely expensive in the Nordic countries. Note that it is not possible to find anything other than beer and wine in supermarket. Alcohols strong when they are in stores called Vinmonopolet.

• Mjød: This drink is similar to hydromel.
• **Aquavit :**Norwegian alcohol par excellence, this life-water made from potatoes and scented with cumin, anis or coriander, is served ice.
• Cidre: the climate characterizing fjords is ideal for apple cultivation.
• Beer: Beer connoisseurs, go to Norway! Of excellent quality, people like tourists appreciate it. The juleøl is a spicy beer traditionally brewed at Christmas.
• Karsk: drink made of coffee accompanied by vodka or moonshine, Karsk is consumed with or without sugar. The proportion of alcohol depends on the taste of the consumer and can vary from 10 to 90 per cent. Note that a popular recipe consists of placing a coin at the bottom of the glass, pouring coffee until the room is invisible, then alcohol until the room appears again.

Non-alcoholic beverages

• Hot berries: In Norway, it’s cold, which is why Norwegians are lovers of hot drinks. They drink a lot of juice with berry extracts. If you like red fruit like blueberries, bells, pancakes, raspberries and strawberries, you'll be houru·x·se!
• Coffee: Norwegians drink more than 150L a year! It is common to drink several times in the day as in breakfast, to taste, during a reception...

You now know Norwegian specialties! Nyt måltidet !