Sweden is renowned for its natural beauty, clean air, and people. However, Swedish food often gets less attention. The country is home to various traditional dishes prepared for generations using local ingredients. Make sure to sample some of these traditional Swedish foods during your trip to experience the authentic local flavors.
Sweden – A Land of Hearty Comfort Foods
- Köttbullar – Swedish Meatballs
- Jansson’s Frestelse – Creamed Potato, Anchovy and Cheese Casserole
- Pannkaka – Swedish Pancakes
- Smörgåstårta – Swedish Sandwich Cake
- Gravlax – Cured Salmon
- Prinskorv – Swedish Hot Dogs
- Pitepalt – Potato Dumplings from Northern Sweden
- Kalops – Swedish Beef Stew
- Kanelbullar – Swedish Cinnamon Buns
- Prästost – Priest Cheese
Swedes have adapted to the cold climate by creating filling meals to keep them warm from the inside out. Most traditional Swedish foods are hearty stews, baked goods, and warm casseroles packed with nutrition.
The long winters meant meals had to be prepared for energy and sustenance. Premier local ingredients like berries, potatoes, fish, and dairy are highlighted in classic dishes. Comfort ruled the cuisine, creating flavors you want to curl up on a cozy evening. Here are some traditional Swedish foods you must try while visiting the country.
Köttbullar – Swedish Meatballs
No trip to Sweden is complete without tasting köttbullar or Swedish meatballs. Thought to bring happiness and prosperity, these flavorful meatballs are tossed in a thick creamy gravy and traditionally served with boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam. Ground beef, pork, and onion give the moist balls richness, while allspice lend warmth. A true soul-satisfying classic, köttbullar is a taste of Sweden itself.
Jansson’s Frestelse – Creamed Potato, Anchovy and Cheese Casserole
This warm, comforting baked pasta dish hails from Stockholm. Thinly sliced potatoes are layered with creamy béchamel sauce mixed with fried anchovies and cheese. When baked, a crispy crust forms on top.
Salty, creamy, and slightly smoky flavors emerge from each spoonful. Look for Jansson’s Frestelse as an essential side during Swedish holidays. It’s the best Swedish traditional food you can add to your list to try!
Pannkaka – Swedish Pancakes
Thinner and larger than American pancakes, pannkaka is a favorite breakfast or dessert. The lightly golden pancakes are often paired with salted butter and jam. Expect creative variations like banana and chocolate sauce, lingonberries, and whipped cream at cafes. Enjoy the simplicity of this traditional Swedish food.
Smörgåstårta – Swedish Sandwich Cake
This colorful creation takes the standard Swedish open-faced sandwich to towering new heights. Thin slices of rye bread are layered with varied fillings like egg, shrimp, caviar, and cheese into a dramatic tiered cake shape. Smörgåstårta is admired as much for its beauty as its tasty blend of flavors in each bite. It is a perfect party or celebration showstopper of Swedish food.
Gravlax – Cured Salmon
Salmon plays a starring role in Swedish cooking, and gravlax is an elegant yet easy-to-find dish. Fresh Arctic salmon is cured in a dill and salt mixture that turns its flesh pink. Thin slices of moist gravlax are commonly served with a mustard-dill sauce, potatoes, and bread for a light meal. Savor its delicate yet complex taste of the sea.
Prinskorv – Swedish Hot Dogs
An icon of Swedish street food, prinskorv are grilled wiener-style sausages commonly enjoyed at events. The pork and veal cocktail sausages are topped with mashed potato covering and lingonberry jam inside a hot dog bun. Their mild garlic flavor and heartiness make Prinskorv the perfect portable festival fare with a Scandinavian twist. It’s an exceptional traditional Swedish food!
Pitepalt – Potato Dumplings from Northern Sweden
Hailing from the northern county of Norrbotten, pitepalt are hand-rolled potato dumplings mixed with flour and usually served with meat like reindeer or pork. Soft inside with a light crust, their mild potato flavor absorbs surrounding gravies beautifully. Today, many local eateries offer a warming pitepalt stew as a specialty.
Kalops – Swedish Beef Stew
A beloved traditional Swedish home cooking, kalops is a hearty stew cooked for hours until fall-off-the-bone tender. Thick cuts of beef simmered with onions, carrots, and bay leaves in a sumptuous gravy often thickened with sour cream. Serve kalops over boiled potatoes or mashed root vegetables for the ultimate winter evening meal.
Kanelbullar – Swedish Cinnamon Buns
Rich and fragrant kanelbullar are sticky, cardamom-scented rolls swirled with cinnamon. The soft doughnuts flavored with candied peel emerge from Swedish bakeries steaming hot, best enjoyed freshly made. Swedes love kanelbullar at any time of day, especially with a steaming cup of coffee. Bite into the sweet, doughy warmth of tradition.
Prästost – Priest Cheese
Not your average cheese, Prästost hails from Västerbotten in northern Sweden and has a distinctive tang.
The rounded cow’s milk cheese has been aged for several months, developing robust flavor from the interior wood-pressed culture. Slice Prästost thin to appreciate its complex character, commonly paired with thin crispbread, lingonberry preserves, and a craft beer or snaps.
Try Incredible Swedish Foods on Your Visit
If you’re traveling to Sweden, your trip can’t be complete without trying the best traditional Swedish foods. It’s a must for you to try out at least the ones mentioned above to experience Sweden in its true sense.
All of the Swedish foods are often bursting with flavors, which will make you crave their unique dishes even more. Don’t think twice, and try out these foods to make the most of your trip to Sweden.
