What can you eat in Norway

Fårikål – Mutton and Cabbage

Fårikål, directly translated to “mutton in cabbage”, is the Norwegian national dish. Hearty and juicy, this recipe is surprisingly simple.

Fårikål is similar to a stew. Mutton and cabbage are added to water and seasoned with salt and pepper. The stew is then cooked on the stove for several hours until the meat and cabbage are tender.

Even though it is such a simple dish, it is often served for family gatherings or as a weekend meal.

Fårikål is mostly eaten in the fall when the temperature in Norway drops. It’s a Norweigan favorite and a traditional dish that has been eaten in Norway for generations.

It’s a must for anyone visiting Norway in the fall and winter who wants to enjoy traditional Norwegian cuisine!

Lapskaus – Stew

Lapskaus is a much-loved traditional Norwegian dish. It originates from Germany, but it has been enjoyed by Norwegians since the 1800s.

Norwegians eat lapskaus for dinner any day of the week all year round. It’s wholesome and filling, particularly during the colder months.

Traditional lapskaus is made with beef, potatoes, carrots, swede, and leeks. All are added to a pot, as you would with a stew.

The meat and vegetables are boiled until they are tender. Once the juices are running and the dish is piping hot, lapskaus is normally served with flatbread and butter.

There are two variants of lapskaus: light and dark. The dark kind is made with a brown sauce base, giving it even more flavor.

Kjøttkaker – Meatballs

You can’t have a discussion about traditional Norwegian food without mentioning meatballs.

Kjøttkaker, however, are not to be mistaken for Swedish meatballs. Norwegians will be offended if you say it is the same thing!

Kjøttkaker are balls of minced beef, rolled with spices like nutmeg, pepper, and ginger. This gives them a spicy flavor and an aromatic quality.

Norwegian meatballs can be served with a wide range of sides and foods. Common serving pairings include potatoes, cabbage stew, and brown sauce.

Every grocery store in Norway sells them, but meatballs always taste the best when they are homemade.

This is the dish Norwegians long for when abroad. Students who move away from home will utter the sentence “I can’t wait to go home and eat meatballs and potatoes that my mom makes” at least once!

Pinnekjøtt – Dried Lamb Ribs

Pinnekjøtt is normally served on Christmas eve as a celebratory meal. The type of Christmas dinner served in Norway varies from district to district.

This Norwegian food is one of the two main dishes that most Norwegians eat on Christmas Eve. It is very popular in the western region of Norway.

Pinnekjøtt, or lamb ribs, need plenty of love and preparation to achieve the desired flavor. Traditionally, the lamb is salted, dried and smoked for weeks.

To get the lamb meat really juicy and tender, you should let it soak for 30 hours, before steaming it for 3 hours.

Pinnekjøtt is delicious on its own, but for Christmas, it is normally served with mashed swede and sausage.

It’s a classic Norwegian dish and definitely worth trying when visiting Norway around Christmas!

Fiskeboller i Hvit Saus – Fish Balls with Béchamel Sauce

Food brand Vesteraalen started producing canned fish balls in 1912, and since then they have been a staple in Norwegian cuisine.

However, as with any foods, the homemade recipes are always the best.

Homemade fish balls are normally made with a combination of haddock and cod, cornflour, milk, and eggs.

All these delicious ingredients are mixed into a mince. The mince is then rolled out into balls, and the balls are boiled on low heat.

Fish balls are normally served with potatoes, carrots, and a white béchamel sauce.

Some like to sprinkle a little bit of curry powder on top, whilst others enjoy fish balls with crispy bacon.

Fish balls are a traditional, everyday Norwegian dish. It’s enjoyed by both children and adults, and it’s definitely a Norwegian dish worth making at home.