Around the World: Swedish cuisine

Amidst coronavirus, I’m sticking to what I – and a lot of other people – love most: cooking and baking.  One challenge I’ve presented to myself is to make a dish (or dishes) of international cuisines every week, learn some words from the language, and e-visit some of the country’s landmarks.  Some of these dishes will be more complex than others, based on what ingredients I have available in the house.

Greetings from Sweden!

Swedish cuisine is often divided by the North and South. In the North, meats play a larger role, whereas the South focuses more on vegetables. Some classic dishes include meatballs, mashed potatoes, a cream sauce, and lingonberry jam. The Swedes are famous for their smörgåsbord tradition, which is a buffet with small dishes. Smörgås means sandwich, gas means goose, and bord means table.

THE DISH: HAVREFLARN (GF + V)

You may have heard of havreflarn – from IKEA, perhaps?

Havreflarn are thin, crispy oat cookies. If you want to follow an IKEA-esque look, you can sandwich these together with melted chocolate.

These cookies are light and perfect for coffee time. My brother also enjoyed putting vanilla ice cream in the center. Not so Swedish, but still delicious 🙂

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Recipe: Chocolate & Zucchini’s IKEA-Style Havreflarn

• Note: I used all purpose gluten-free flour and added some buckwheat flour for more of a “whole wheat” taste.

USEFUL WORDS

Greetings

• Hej –> Hello
• Hejdå –> Bye
• Hur mår du? –> How are you?
  • Jag är bra –> I’m good

Conversation

• Vad gillar du att göra? –> What do you like to do?
  • Jag gillar… –> I like …
    • Att dansa – to dance
    • Att laga mat – to cook
    • At springa – to run
• Jag skulle vilja … –> I would like …
• Trevligt att träffas –> Nice to meet you
• Tack –> Thank you
• Varsågod –> You’re welcome

Slang

• Sockergris –> “sugar pig”, or someone with a sweet tooth
• Besserwisser –> a know-it-all
• Het på gröten –> “hot on the porridge”, someone who can’t keep their hands off freshly baked goods and eats them with hot fingers and a burning tongue

LANDMARKS

The Royal Palace, Stockholm

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Swedish monarch. It houses 1,430 rooms!

Stortorget, Stockholm

Stortorrget is a public square in the old section of Stockholm. It is known for its Christmas markets.

Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde, Stockholm

Once the home of Prince Eugen, this museum is now one of the most popular art museums in Sweden.

Kosterhavet National Park, Ekenäs

Kostterhavet Nationa Park is Sweden’s first national marine park.

Vi ses nästa gång! (See you next time!)