The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Norwegian Foods. If you manage to be in an Norwegian restaurant or you are visiting Norway, I recommend the following:
1. Sodd
If you want to try some traditional soups in Norway, you should try Sodd, which is a traditional lamb soup with potatoes and carrots. If you’re visiting during the colder times of the year, this hearty meal will definitely warm you up.
2. Smoked Salmon
Norwegian salmon is undoubtedly one of the most famous and acclaimed products of Norwegian cuisine. The dish has a unique and admirable taste, which makes it the star of many restaurants. There are many ways to prepare it, for example marinated or baked with a cream sauce, and of course, the most popular, smoked salmon.
3. Lapskaus
Lapskaus is another Norwegian stew that must be tried. It can be made with fresh or leftover meat, such as beef or lamb, but pork can also be used. Potatoes are also included in the stew along with vegetables such as onions, carrots, swede, celery root, as well as various spices and herbs. There is a similar dish known as European seaman’s stew, which may have its origins in the Vikings.
4. Fårikål
Fårikål is a very easy stew to prepare and a very popular dish in the cold winter months. There is even a dedicated day of the year when Fårikål is eaten. It is commonly eaten in the western parts of Norway, but you can also find some good places to eat Fårikål in Oslo, such as Dovrehallen.
5. Sursild
This is again one of the most common Nordic delicacies and is made in many homes and restaurants, especially as the recipe is simple. Pickled herring is treated with lots of vinegar and salt as preservatives. The addition of onions, sugar and various spices gives it a unique taste – sour, sweet and tart all at the same time.
6. Lutefisk
Also called lutfisk (in Swedish), it is a famous but unusual dish with a somewhat gelatinous texture, and is made from aged cod fish (or dried and salted white fish). The intricate cooking process is very traditional, and that is exactly what makes this fish dish taste so appealing. It is typically eaten at Christmas.
7. Brunost
The most popular type of brown cheese in Norway is Gudbrandsdalsost. It is also known as Mysost and is typically eaten on sandwiches or crispbread. It is made from buttermilk and milk or cream. The brown colour comes from the milk sugars heated during production.
8. Kjøttkaker
Very similar to meatballs, and Kjøttkaker literally means meatloaf and is usually served with brown gravy, potatoes and carrots. It is a simple, but very delicious Norwegian dish. It’s best eaten homemade, but you can also find some gourmet versions in restaurants, and if you’re lucky, you might be invited to dine with a Norwegian person.
9. Finnbiff
If you travel to northern Norway, you may have the opportunity to eat Finnbiff, which is another traditional Norwegian meal, made with sautéed reindeer meat and served with gravy in the form of a stew. It is also popular in the Lapland region of Sweden and Finland, as well as in Russia.
10. Smalahove
Of all the traditional Norwegian food, Smalahove may be the most unpleasant and bizarre Norwegian food you can taste. This is not something the average Norwegian eats on weekdays, but Smalahove is nevertheless a traditional dish that basically consists of sheep’s heads. The sheep’s head is boiled or steamed for about 3 hours and usually served with turnips and potatoes. It was typically a food for poor people in history, and sometimes the brain was also cooked inside the skull before being eaten with a spoon.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.