Typical Danish dishes: Top 8 of the best known

The typical dishes of Denmark are a representation of many cultures that have influenced its gastronomy in some way, which allowed creating some of the dishes that I will mention below, to keep in mind how you could experience a little of this Nordic country in your home or region; as well as, to give you an idea of ​​what you can expect to eat if you visit the country that is part of the happiest countries in the world.

In general, what characterizes typical Danish dishes is the use of ingredients such as fish, shellfish, pork, potatoes, cabbage, onion and, occasionally, apples. Some of these dishes you can see in a different version in cuisines of other Scandinavian countries and Germany.

1. Smørrebrød

First on the list, Smørrebrød is one of the recipes that most represents typical Danish food. Its name literally means in Danish ” bread with butter “; but the modern English translation, open sandwich, has much more to do with what the dish actually consists of.

In short, this recipe consists of a slice of black bread spread in butter, on which various cold ingredients are arranged, such as sausages, meats, eggs, cheese and fish. It is usually served buffet style.

Its popularity and acceptance are linked to the fact that it turns out to be a very versatile open sandwich, where the diner can freely choose the ingredients, in addition to the black rye bread and butter, which will be part of the final recipe.

 2. Gravad laks

This is one of the typical dishes of Denmark that is not exclusive to the country, but that manages to have a great presence in your kitchen, enough to be included in this list. Gravad laks is a typical Scandinavian recipe in general, which consists of thin slices of salmon cured with sugar, salt and aromatic herbs, such as dill.

The gravad laks is the purest representation of a part of Scandinavian history. This dish originated thanks to the fact that fishermen in medieval times needed a way to store the salmon they caught; From this, they began to bury thin layers of salmon underground next to the salt, until it was possible to produce a certain fermentation, which not only helped preservation, but also gave it a very succulent flavor that made this dish reach the sophistication that it possesses today.

3. FlÆskesteg.

It is a dish with a peculiar name that basically consists of roast pork ; in Denmark they usually use pork tenderloin. What characterizes this recipe is that the pork is used without removing the leather, so that when everything is cooked, it is crunchy.

Traditionally, the meat is rubbed with salt, some pepper and a few bay leaves before grilling. In more current versions, ingredients such as cloves can also be used .

The quintessential side dish of this dish is boiled and caramelized potatoes, which is often the perfect combination for a Christmas meal in Denmark.

4. Kraasesuppe melbolle

This is a soup that for many years the Danes adopted as their effective cold and cold remedy. It is usually served very hot and accompanied with some flour and butter fritters, which are usually thrown into the soup.

Among other important ingredients, you can find carrots, leeks, small liver , vinegar and, if you prefer, celery.

5. Frikadeller

Frikadellers are part of the traditional dishes shared by the countries that make up Scandinavia, although each one adds its own characteristic touch. In Denmark, these meatballs resemble hamburgers normally eaten in Northern Europe.

The most common is to consume the meatballs accompanied by boiled potatoes and with a brown sauce, which becomes a very easy dish to see in homes during the Christmas season.

What makes this dish unique, belonging to Denmark and different from the rest of meat dumplings in the world, is the combination of proteins, which consists of part beef and part pork, and then season it with onion, juice, breadcrumbs, milk, salt and pepper.

6. Boller i karry

The meatballs appear again , but this time they are only prepared with pork, which are seasoned with curry sauce and a few pieces of apple. This is a dish that does not seem like a classic of Danish food, but the truth is that it has been part of the kitchens of Danish homes for decades.

A very characteristic element of these meatballs is that apples are added to the water in which they are cooked and then used all together and make a sauce with a curry that is significantly softer than Indian. Other elements of the sauce can be cumin, coriander and turmeric. All this combination occurred in this part of the world after the nineteenth century this type of spices were introduced to the country.

7. Wienerbrød

After mentioning many salty Danish dishes, it’s dessert moments. Wienerbrød is a quintessential Danish sweet dish. This is a sweet bread delicately flavored with cardamom, which is responsible for the main flavor in the entire dessert. This is a very common Sunday recipe to eat after the main course, and it is also a popular item at special celebrations.

It has a spiral appearance, which creates ideal grooves to add some chocolate, sugar or marzipan.

8. Segt sild

This is a very typical Danish recipe, which consists of herring accompanied by rye bread, mustard and a few finely chopped herbs. Fish can be cooked in many ways: fried, smoked, stewed, marinated, among others.

Herring is very popular in Denmark, so if you want to taste the true typical marine food of this country, you better enjoy it.

This is a relatively elaborate way to eat this fish, but the reality is that the Danes eat it in every possible way you can imagine. It is something that can give you an important reference of what the culture of this country is and what its most fundamental economic activities are based on.