Top 6 Scandinavian Potato Dishes

Hasselbackspotatis are Swedish roasted potatoes. The dish is made in a unique way – the potatoes are cut into thin slices about halfway through, making them visually attractive. Various toppings can be added on the potatoes, such as breadcrumbs, cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, or parsley. The dish was invented in 1953 by Leif Elisson, a trainee chef at the Hasselbacken restaurant in Stockholm, hence the name. It is recommended to serve hasselbackspotatis with roasted meat or poultry dishes.Expand

Traditionally associated with Christmastime, brunede kartofler (lit. caramelized potatoes) is a simple, yet immensely flavorful Danish dish, also eaten in the Northern Germany. The dish is usually made with a combination of new potatoes, butter, nutmeg, salt, and sugar. The butter, salt, sugar, and nutmeg are mixed together, and the mixture is poured over boiled new potatoes that have been lined in a greased gratin dish. The ingredients are gently tossed so that all of the potatoes are coated with the mixture. The dish is baked until lightly browned and crisp. Karamellkartoffeln is typically served as an accompaniment to kale steExpand

Färskpotatissallad is a traditional potato salad. Although there are many variations, the salad is usually made with a combination of new potatoes, sour cream or crème fraîche, chopped dill, and mayonnaise. The new potatoes are scrubbed and boiled in salted water until soft. They're drained and cut into smaller chunks. The crème fraîche or sour cream is mixed with the mayonnaise and dill, and the potato chunks are then folded into the mixture. Färkspotatissallad is well-chilled for at least one hour before serving. This potato salad is often served as part of a smorgäsbord buffet or Swedish Midsummer's Eve picnics.Expand

Brændende kærlighed, which can be translated as burning love, is a simple Danish dish consisting of creamy mashed potatoes topped with fried onions and strips of bacon. Mashed potatoes are usually mixed with butter and seasoned with nutmeg, while the whole dish is occasionally topped with chives and served alongside pickled or fresh salads. This traditional dish is believed to have originated in the rural areas of Denmark more than 200 years ago. Today, it is mostly eaten as a satisfying winter meal that should always be served piping hot.Expand

Initially regarded as a simple dish assembled from available leftovers, this rustic hash nowadays stands as the ultimate comfort food and a favorite meal in many Nordic countries. Pyttipanna is incredibly versatile and usually consists of diced potatoes and different types of meat and vegetables that are pan-fried in butter. Served with a fried egg on top and alongside various pickled salads, it is usually enjoyed as a nutritious breakfast.Expand

This classic casserole is one of the most popular Swedish dishes, which is often served for Christmas. It consists of potatoes and sprat fillets—do not mistake these with anchovies as it is suggested in many recipes—which are layered with onions and then doused in cream. The top of the casserole is occasionally basted in butter and sprinkled with breadcrumbs before it is baked until golden. Although it is believed that this Swedish casserole appeared earlier, the first written recipe under the catching name of Janssons frestelse, translated as Jansson's temptation, appeared in 1940. Allegedly, the name was inspired by Pelle Janzon, a popular Swedish opera singer. There's also Hansson's temptation, a vegetarian version without the sprats, loved by children, and Karlsson's temptation, in which the sprats are replaced with sautéed ground beef.Expand