Nyt måltidet – Norway says bon appetit!

Do you fancy a culinary journey to the North? Well then, let’s travel to Europe’s northernmost country and see what traditionally graces the plates there! Norway is already quite unique on the map due to its shape: the country is elongated, stretching over 1,700 kilometres from north to south. Not only is the nature and climate diverse, but the cuisine also has a lot to offer.

Norway boasts as many coastal kilometres as few other countries worldwide. Therefore, treasures from the crystal-clear sea play a significant role. Skrei, cod, and salmon, as well as seafood like crabs and shrimp, regularly grace the dining table. Often, these sea treasures are used to make a simple but delicious Norwegian fish soup.

The Fiskesuppe typically includes pieces of fish and seafood, depending on availability, along with vitamin-rich vegetables such as carrots, leeks, and celery. The soup is thickened with cream and sometimes egg, seasoned with cayenne pepper, a bit of curry, and chives. Sounds like a spicy and nutritious meal!

Due to the long winters and short summers, pickling, canning, and preserving have always been integral to Norwegian culinary tradition. Salmon cured with plenty of dill, salt, and sugar is also known and loved in Norway – there, other types of fish are also salted or even air-dried, which is considered a special delicacy!

The Norwegian national dish is called Farikal, a slow-cooked lamb stew with cabbage. This meat dish is precisely what is referred to as ‘Hausmannskost’ in Germany: it is cooked slowly and with much love, seasoned simply with salt and plenty of black pepper. It is typically served with potatoes or good bread. The last Thursday in September is celebrated as Farikal Day in Norway – the stew is enjoyed as a festive meal across the country!

Norway’s official National Day is on May 17th. On this significant day, the signing of the constitution in 1814 is celebrated in grand fashion. Norwegians dress in traditional costumes and participate in long parades through the streets. In the capital city, Oslo, about 100,000 people typically join the march. The parade always passes by the royal palace, where the royal family stands on the balcony, waving to the crowds.

Kvaedfjord Kake is touted as the best cake in the world. It is the Norwegian national cake: a fluffy sponge cake filled with delightful vanilla cream, topped with a meringue cap and almonds. The cake graces the table on all festive occasions – it owes its name to a small community in northern Norway, where the recipe was developed in a small bakery.

And what about something fruity? The cold-resistant cloudberry is widespread in Scandinavia. The orange, somewhat tart-tasting fruits are traditionally used to make jam and compote, enhancing various desserts. As the symbol of Lapland (spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia), the cloudberry is also depicted on the Finnish 2-euro coin!

Did you notice while reading that some Norwegian words are very similar to their German counterparts? The Norwegian language (‘norsk språk’) is indeed closely related to the German language. This is why German-speaking visitors to Norway can surprisingly understand some headlines in Norwegian newspapers!

Do you feel like travelling to Norway and trying one of their specialities? We wish you ‘nyt måltidet’ – enjoy your meal!