Relatively easy to cook but still packing plenty of wonderful flavors, Scandinavian cuisine is the perfect balance of simplicity and quality. Whether you’re just starting to get into cooking or are looking to expand your current culinary capabilities, there is a Scandinavian dish out there for you.

In many ways, Scandinavian cuisine is similar to Scandinavian kitchens. There are plenty of details and little nuances to them, but overall they embrace a similar minimalist mentality; less is more. Case and point, Scandinavian cabinetry is a unique blend of modern minimalism with warm textures. There is a comfort to design, much like their cuisine!

For those interested in remodeling their kitchen, the cabinetry is a good place to start. Check out our gallery of authentic, stunning Scandinavian cabinetry! If you’re interested in learning more about how Puustelli can help you build your perfect dream kitchen, contact us today.

Once you craft the perfect Scandinavian kitchen, here are 9 delicious Scandinavian dishes to cook up in your new space.

Gravlax with Cucumber Pickle and Dill Mustard Mayonnaise

Fish is a staple of Nordic cuisine, and this recipe is a relatively straightforward fish dish, though it does take a bit to prepare. That’s because the salmon needs to be placed in the fridge for 5 days while it cures. It’s definitely worth the extra time commitment and patience. An ideal starter for a dinner party or just a personal celebration with family, this recipe from Donal Skehan serves up to 8 people.

Finnish Salmon Soup

Another recipe with fish being the focal point, this soup is ideal for those cold winter evenings when the fire is on, and you have a book in your lap. It’ll warm you right up in addition to being delicious. According to the recipe’s source, The View From Great Island, “Finnish Salmon Soup, Or Lohikeitto, is a simple Nordic salmon chowder and comforting 30-minute meal.” The dish contains a light cream broth, salmon, and plenty of fresh dill. If you’re a seafood fan and love chowders, this is guaranteed to be one of your favorites.

Icelandic Pancakes

Iceland has become a favorite spot for tourists lately, due in large part to stunning scenery. But anyone who has had an authentic Icelandic Pancake knows that the tasty crepe-like dish is reason enough to visit. You can create your own Icelandic Pancake at home with ease! There are a lot of great recipes you can find online and in cookbooks. This recipe courtesy of Fresh off the Grid is one of our personal favs!

Meatballs with Celeriac and Apples

The ingredients of celeriac, apples, nutmeg, and meatballs may sound a little odd, but this skillet is worth trying. Not to mention, it’s a beautiful dish to look at, with fresh green colors. For the chefs who can’t help but snag a pic of their latest dish to share on social, you’re sure to get plenty of likes for this one!

Swedish Potato Pancakes

Raggmunk is a potato pancake dish that is one of the quintessential Swedish dishes. You can feel free to experiment with this recipe—which is a basic version of the pancakes. Feel free to add bacon, lingonberries, or anything else that sounds tasty! Many people in the comment section of the linked recipe suggest adding 4 cloves of garlic and even a little bit of ginger.

Scandinavian Cardamom Dough

This simple, cardamom-spiced yeasted dough serves as the basis for many Scandinavian coffee breads, rolls, and buns. Prep takes about 90 minutes, with 3 minutes of actual cooking. The recipe provided is great because it contains 26 servings. For anyone who loves baking, this is a dough that you absolutely must try. One tip regarding this recipe is if you are using a stand mixer, exchange the mixing paddle for the dough hook after adding the first 5 cups of flour. Use the dough hook to mix and knead the dough as you add the remaining 3 to 4 cups of flour.

Kroppkakor (Swedish Potato Dumplings Stuffed With Bacon and Onion)

A specialty of Oland, an island just off the other coast of Sweden, Kroppkakor is a meal that consists of hearty mashed potato dumplings stuffed with an allspice-laden filling of bacon and onion. They’re traditionally enjoyed with sour cream to boost their richness and lingonberry preserves, which lend acidity and sweetness. This recipe courtesy of Saveur will yield you 14 delicious dumplings to share with friends and family (or, you can just keep them all for yourself!)

Swedish Semlor

You may just find yourself running to the grocery store to grab the ingredients after reading this recipe for Swedish Semlor. As far as we’re concerned, this is the peak dessert right here. It doesn’t get any better than this. A filling that includes blanched almonds, cane sugar, lemon, and whipped cream? Sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t!

Sour Cream Waffles With Cloudberry Cream

Cloudberries are a very rare berry that grows high in the cold northern climates of Scandinavia. But, they are also easily one of the tastiest berries. The combination of being both scarce and delicious makes them quite costly as well. But, if you can get your hands on cloudberry preserves, they are well worth the extra cost. If you are unable to track some down, you can use lingonberry, cranberry, or raspberry preserve instead. Cloudberries have a magnificent and unique taste and are perfect for pancakes and waffles. This recipe combines cloudberry cream with sour cream waffles for easily one of the best breakfasts you’ll ever have.

These are just a few of the many, many traditional Scandinavian dishes out there. If you really want to dive into this type of cuisine, check out these fantastic Scandinavian cookbooks!