17 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Stockholm

The cinnamon roll or kanelbulle is a famous Swedish pastry made with yeasted, butter-rich, sweetened, and cardamom-flavored dough and has a cinnamon, butter, and sugar filling. Traditionally, kanelbulle will also have pearl sugar on top, although some variants can have either cardamom sugar or slivered almonds instead. Cinnamon rolls are typically associated with fika, a well-established Swedish coffee-and-cake form of socializing. Although the origin of these tasty swirls is still subject to considerable debate, the pastry has its own day in Sweden – October 4th, known as Cinnamon Roll Day.Expand

Köttbullar are famous Swedish meatballs with a crispy brown exterior, and light, airy and tender texture on the interior. The original recipe for the dish first appeared in Cajsa Warg's 1754 cookbook. The meatballs usually consist of beef mixed with pork or veal, and the combination is typically seasoned with onions, salt, pepper, and allspice. The mixture is shaped into small, round meatballs and browned in hot butter. This dish is traditionally accompanied by lingonberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, and a thick gravy on the side, although lighter side dishes such as cucumber salad or red cabbage are also quite popular. In southern Sweden, people like their meat with a little extra fat, and that is the reason why they use pork in the meat mixture, but the further north one goes, the less pork there is in the mixture. Köttbullar are a key part of numerous buffets and smorgasbords all over Sweden, tempting the potential consumers with their unique aroma and flavor.Expand

Semla is the famous Swedish cream bun. This traditional Swedish dessert is made with a plain wheat bread bun which is lightly flavored with cardamom, then cut in half. The inside is filled with a layer of delicious almond paste and a generous amount of vanilla-flavored whipped cream. The bun is finished when the top is placed on the whipped cream, and the sweet creation is lightly dusted with a layer of powdered sugar. Semla is an old-fashioned Swedish dessert that was originally invented and eaten on Fat Tuesday, the last day of indulgence before Lent. Soon they became one of the favorite Swedish treats and are now commonly eaten from the Christmas period all through Lent. During this time they can be found in numerous Swedish bakeries across the country. Traditional practice suggests that the top should be eaten first, and it is used to scoop the delectable whipped cream. However, the oldest Swedish tradition is to serve the entire bun soaked in a plate of warm milk, when it's known as hetvägg.Expand

Smørrebrød is a traditional open-faced sandwich consisting of buttered rye bread that is topped with numerous ingredients and typically accompanied by vegetables, herbs, and salads. Toppings include ingredients such as cold cuts of meat, cheeses, spreads, meatballs, caviar, and condiments such as mayonnaise. This sandwich was invented in the 19th century by Scandinavian agricultural workers who would pack a variety of open-faced sandwiches for lunch–often made with leftovers from the previous night–in order to provide them with energy during the long working hours. Some claim that the basic idea stems from the Middle Ages and the tradition of serving food on stale bread. Today, smørrebrød is a staple of Scandinavian cuisine that is served either as an appetizer, main course, or a dessert. The sandwiches are especially popular during the holiday festivities such as Christmas and Easter. Open-faced sandwiches are also common in other countries - in Austria, they're known as belegte brote.Expand

Toast Skagen is a classic and elegant Swedish open-faced sandwich that's typically served as an appetizer. It's made with white bread, shrimps, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whitefish roe, dill, lemon, and butter. The crusts are removed from the bread, which is then sautéed in butter until goden brown. The shrimps are chopped and mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, and dill. The mixture is then placed on the bread and the roe is placed on top of each sandwich. It's recommended to garnish each toast Skagen with a sprig of dill and serve it with a lemon slice on the side. This sandwich was invented right after WWII by a famous Swedish resteaurateur Tore Wretman, and it was named after a fishing port in Denmark.Expand

Semmelwrap is a Swedish pastry and a modern twist on the classic semla bun, which is traditionally consumed on Shrove Tuesday. Unlike semla, the dough for semmelwrap is rolled very thin, then lightly baked and rolled into a wrap, which is subsequently filled with a delicious combination of almond paste and whipped cream. The pastry was invented by Mattias Ljungberg in Stockholm in 2015. Semmelwrap quickly went viral, and not long after, several Swedish bakeries tried to copy Ljungberg's idea because he did not trademark it.Expand

Våfflor are extremely popular Swedish waffles, consumed since the early 1600s, when they were shaped into squares. Today, the waffles are traditionally shaped into hearts and served with fruit jams, whipped cream, and ice cream. Because våfflor are made without yeast, they are much thinner than Belgian waffles, with a texture that is similar to pancakes. There are two popular waffle varieties - egg waffles and crispy waffles, the egg variety being more filling than the other one. Waffles are consumed throughout the year in Sweden, but they are at the peak of their popularity on March 25th, which is known as Waffle Day. Earlier, it was an important day because it marks the start of the crop-growing season, and with it, the increased availability of eggs and milk used in the production of waffles. Today, there is also a variety of salted, savory waffles that are served with various ingredients, from shrimps to cheese.Expand

One of the most popular Swedish desserts is a rich chocolate cake known as kladdkaka. This classic Swedish creation combines eggs, cocoa (or chocolate), butter, sugar, and flour into a dense and luscious dessert. During baking, the cake should always remain moist in the center, while the outer layer is transformed into a thin, crunchy coating. Since the cake is incredibly dense, and typically heavy on the bitter chocolate or cocoa, it is usually dusted with a delicate layer of powdered sugar, and traditionally served with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream on the side. It is one the most beloved Swedish desserts, typically enjoyed during fika, a traditional Swedish coffee break. Expand

Wallenbergare is a classic Swedish patty made with ground veal which is mixed with egg yolks and cream, then rolled in breadcrumbs. The usual accompaniments include green peas, carrots, boiled or mashed potatoes, and lingonberry jam. There are different stories regarding the origin of this dish, but it is certain that it was named after Marcus Wallenberg, a member of a renowned Swedish family. One story suggests that Wallenberg, after his return from a business trip, went to his favorite restaurant Cecile in Stockholm, and asked the chef, Julius Carlsson, to make a dish similar to the one he consumed on his trip. Another story suggests that the dish was created by Wallenberg's father-in-law Charles Emile Hagdahl, a famous Swedish chef, in the late 1800s. Whatever the case may be, this classic Swedish dish is very popular throughout the country.Expand

Stekt strömming or fried herring is a hearty Swedish specialty consisting of herring fillets that are seasoned with salt, white pepper, and fresh dill, coated with flour and breadcrumbs, then fried in butter until crisp and golden brown on the outside. There are many ways to eat and serve these delicious fish fillets, but usually, they are accompanied by mashed potatoes, lingonberries or lingonberry jam, red onions, or pickled cucumbers. Another way to consume fried herrings is by topping them with a mixture of vinegar, sugar, allspice, and chopped red onions, which is also used in another Swedish fish dish known as inlagd sill (pickled herring). In Sweden, freshly fried herrings placed on top of a buttered crispbread or Swedish knäckerbröd are sold as a popular street food item. Other delicious variations of this dish include herring roll (strömmingsrulle) and herring burger (strömmingsburgar).Expand