Swedish cuisine is capable of surprising: from the most ordinary products they prepare dishes with incredible taste, excellent aroma and original appearance.

Cooks in Sweden, carefully selecting ingredients for preparing dishes, prefer exclusively natural, fresh products that are obtained locally. Dishes are made from fish, seafood, meat, mushrooms, vegetables and wild berries.

The first place in popularity among fish is occupied by herring: it can be found in almost every Swedish dish, both first and second, and in side dishes and appetizers. Salmon is found in local reservoirs, and therefore this fish is also used quite often. It is boiled, fried, pickled, baked, smoked. Famous dishes are dishes prepared from trout, cod and eel.

It is also important that Sweden has a wide selection of seafood: here the dishes are supplemented with shrimp, lobster, crabs, crayfish and other seafood.

The Swedish assortment includes many meat dishes. Beef, pork, poultry, small game are the most commonly used products. However, especially in gourmet restaurants, you can find dishes with the main ingredient – ​​grilled reindeer meat. This is a real delicacy, served with a side dish of potatoes and mushrooms. The national and, perhaps, the most popular meat dish is the famous Swedish meatballs - meatballs.

Swedes' food is nutritious and calorie-rich. Excessive use of spices, herbs and various mixed seasonings is not the style of Swedish chefs; they are added to dishes in moderation. The fat content of foods is achieved using lard, cream, butter, and sour cream. From lingonberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries and other wild berries, the Swedes make excellent sauces used for serving fish and meat dishes, and, of course, desserts.

By the way, about sweets! Sweden can boast of them: pies, cakes, cookies, buns, pancakes, souffles, jelly, ice cream with various additives - Swedish cuisine will delight you with all this.

Pamper and surprise yourself, your family members, and unexpected guests with the national dishes of Sweden. The step-by-step recipes with photos offered on our website will help you with this. We will tell you more about the cuisine of this northern country later.

Cooking recipes with step-by-step photos

• Swedish bread
• Swedish cookies
• Swedish buns
• Salmon gravlax
• Oatmeal cookies for diabetics
• Sandwich cake
• Swedish meatballs
• Steamed meatballs in a slow cooker

Features of the national cuisine of Sweden

The national cuisine of Sweden has very interesting features: an abundance of fish and meat dishes prepared in a variety of ways, side dishes and snacks that decorate the table, desserts and pastries that will please every gourmet, a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

National culinary traditions are based on the geographical location of Sweden: this country is located in the North, washed by many rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, there are a large number of forests, and the general climate in the country is very harsh. Traditionally, Swedish dishes are prepared simply, without frills; here you will not find a variety of gourmet dishes, which are many, for example, in French, Italian, oriental (Chinese, Japanese) cuisines. In Sweden, simplicity in food combined with calorie content and nutritional value is valued, because due to climatic conditions it is important that the food be satisfying. Most of the dishes are prepared in advance, and all kinds of preservation are done. Particular attention is paid to berries and fruits, which are difficult to enjoy enough during the short summer period. For this reason, in order to have the opportunity to refresh yourself with goodies in winter, decorate the table with berries and fruits that are not on sale during the cold season, prepare dishes based on them, as well as sauces, they are stocked with preserves.

The main products that are most often used in cooking recipes are vegetables, mushrooms, meat, fish, milk, fruits and berries that are familiar to many European countries. However, Swedish chefs have the important ability to use an ordinary product to prepare an original and truly unique dish that can compete well with the famous delicacies. This is precisely the main feature of the national cuisine of Sweden. An excellent example would be serving blood sausages along with berries, fruits and drinks made from them.

Supplementing meat and fish dishes with sweet additives is a highlight of Swedish cuisine; this fad is quite common in their cooking. Meat dishes are traditionally served with lingonberry sauce, jam or jam from this wild berry. The sweet taste can be felt even in first and second courses, as well as in bread. For example, soup with peas or beans is supplemented with bacon and sugar. The history of such non-standard connections goes back to ancient times. At that time, only rich people, representatives of the upper classes, could afford this shiny white powder. Cooks added sugar to their dishes, and such a dish was considered truly royal. Later, when granulated sugar appeared on the open market, becoming available to everyone, the tradition was preserved. Things are somewhat different with salt, pepper and other spices: Swedes add seasonings to their dishes in moderation.

Perhaps, only its northern neighbors - Norway, Finland, Denmark, where the fishing industry is also developed, can compete with Sweden in the unsurpassed preparation of fish. In these countries, fish is a key product that you simply cannot do without in the kitchen. Traditionally, a meal begins with eating foods that contain this ingredient. Herring is extremely popular. It is prepared in many ways: it is smoked, boiled, pickled, salted, fried and baked either in the oven or on the grill. One of the most famous dishes called “Surströmming” is made from this type of fish. Its peculiarity is that the herring is first fermented, and then left for a while so that the fish ferments. The smell of the dish is very original, but attracts lovers of such exotic things. A large number of dishes - main and additional - are also prepared with oysters, crayfish, shrimp, squid, crabs, and lobsters.

Bread occupies a special and very important place in the Swedish diet. The most common variety is known as "Knackerbrob". These are pieces baked into thin slices. In other countries, this type of bread is called bread. The Swedes spread them with butter and eat them in this form, despite the fact that the baked goods tend to break easily, crumble and crumble.

There are traditions in Sweden regarding etiquette and serving food. All dishes are served to the table without being immediately divided into portions. Each person serves his own food, choosing as much as his heart desires. Pies and cakes are served in the same way, without cutting them into pieces. The main condition of Swedish cuisine is to leave the table completely full. And it is imperative, especially when visiting, that you need to finish all the food on your plate. According to Swedish traditions, leaving food behind is considered a sign of disrespect. No other special rules need to be followed.

There is a certain sequence in how dishes are brought to the table. It is forbidden to violate or deviate from the approved order. The meal begins with fish appetizers. Herring is used in dishes, marinated or in sauce. After this, it’s time to try another fish dish - a smoked product. All this is complemented with shrimp, crabs, mussels, lobsters and other seafood. Then comes the tasting of meat snacks from boiled veal, boiled pork, ham, and various types of smoked and dried sausage. Next, salads are served. Most often it is regular with onions and potatoes, seasoned with vegetable oil. At the end of the meal, they begin to eat all kinds of desserts and cheeses, of which there are a lot in Sweden. Residents of the country pamper themselves with pies, cakes, pies, mousses, whipped cream, and creams. For filling baked goods or other sweets, berries are used - blueberries, lingonberries, gooseberries, wild strawberries and others. In an effort to make the taste of desserts even more rich and pleasant, the Swedes complement sweets with cinnamon, saffron, rhubarb, almonds, vanilla and other spices.

Important! Swedish cuisine has its own peculiarity during meals: between each course the plates are changed and clean ones are served.

Swedes cannot imagine their life without coffee. Not enjoying the wonderful taste of this wonderful drink at least once a day is akin to not living through the coming day. Lemonade is popular, as well as juices, which are often prepared by housewives at home. In summer, thirst in Sweden is quenched with simple mineral water.

Among alcoholic drinks, the Swedes' choice falls on beer, vodka, liqueurs, whiskey, punch, and liqueurs. The basis for this drink is usually herbal or berry.

So, there are enough peculiarities in the recipes for preparing Swedish dishes, and in the cuisine itself as a whole. For original dishes prepared from ordinary ingredients, you need to go to this country.

Main dishes

Sweden will delight you with its main dishes: there are vegetable soups, with meat and fish - excellent first courses, charging you with strength and energy, fish and meat dishes for the main course. Amazing tastes and aromas.

Since Sweden is a northern country with appropriate weather conditions that do not offer sun and warmth for a long time, first courses, which are always served hot to keep warm, are given special attention by professional chefs in restaurants and housewives who cook at home. Swedish national cuisine is what you need for those who like to eat heartily, starting with appetizers or a hearty main course and ending with sweet desserts or aromatic pastries.

After fish appetizers, it is customary to immediately start with the first one or skip the “little things” altogether and move on to a hearty hot lunch. As a first course, in Sweden people enjoy soups, the choice of which is quite large, but the most popular dishes are oyster, mushroom, oatmeal with cereal, pea, beer, noodle and bean soups. Swedish residents hunt and fish, as a result of which the dishes are made either with meat, if there are forests nearby, or with fish, if there are nearby bodies of water - lakes, rivers, seas. The variety of fish is so wide that it is simply impossible to count the recipes for preparing such soups, with all sorts of varieties of these aquatic inhabitants.

Let's talk about some types of first courses in more detail, highlighting their distinctive features from other dishes.

Soup name	Features of cooking recipes
Pea	This dish is not much different from what residents of most European countries are used to. It contains onions and carrots, as well as peas. But the peculiarity of the Swedish dish is that it is supplemented with smoked meat (most often pork), mustard, thyme, cloves, and marjoram. The presentation of the soup at the table is also original, because it comes in combination with a glass of cold beer. We refreshed ourselves with a hot pea first course, washed it down with beer and were satisfied. This is the Swedish tradition.
Dietary	This soup is quite light, however, it satisfies the feeling of hunger, giving the body strength, energy and supplying vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. This dish is an ideal dietary option for those who are trying to lose weight, watch their shape, or have problems with the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Of the ingredients necessary for cooking, the standard set stands out - onions, carrots. The basis of the dish is chicken breast, and rice cereal is used as an addition. Season the dish with butter, and upon completion of cooking - with herbs: parsley, dill, onion feathers.
	This type of first course, like the pea dish, is cooked with this legume. It is prepared from carrots, onions, bacon and regular spices. However, it contains special ingredients that distinguish it from other foods of this type. We are talking about pork here, but it is mandatory to use salted pork, in nutmeg, mustard and cloves. Another feature is that the meat is removed during the cooking process, cut into pieces, and then returned to the dish and reached readiness. The onion is removed from the dish before serving.
	This soup can be classified as light, because it consists only of flour, milk, eggs, lemon zest, sugar and salt, as well as the main ingredient for the broth - light beer. This food is consumed on fasting days. Its name is “Elebrod”.
	This first course is prepared with potatoes, onions (onions and leeks), simple spices and herbs (salt and pepper). The difference from other dishes is that pieces of chopped fish fillet are added. The fish can be of any type at the chef's discretion. Often the choice falls on salmon, sockeye salmon, trout, salmon.
With meatballs	Meatball soup is special because of the presence of these meat balls pre-fried in butter in a frying pan, which are prepared from beaten eggs, cream, bread crumbs, ground beef or turkey combined into a single mass. The broth also contains potatoes, garlic powder, whipped cream, pepper and salt.

These soups are very popular in Sweden.

For main course, Swedes prefer to eat meat, fish or seafood dishes. Their choice is great. If fried or stewed food is served on the table, then they will not use the usual vegetable oil, but exclusively butter or lard, lard. Spices and spices in fish and meat dishes should be added to the main course in moderation so that the taste of the dish remains true and not overly rich.

As we have already said, Sweden is a country where fish is the main product in the diet. It is baked with various sauces, smoked and salted, marinated in mustard, onion mixture, and wine. Such dishes can act as main courses, and they can also start a meal with them, because they are considered appetizers. It all depends on the amount of additional ingredients in the dish. Fish dishes are most often served with vegetable casseroles, potato salads, and other potato side dishes. Fish dishes are also complemented with boiled eggs with mushrooms, which are called “Kantereller”.

Among meat dishes, meatballs occupy a special place. There are a lot of varieties, but various sauces and gravies are used to serve all types. When processing meat products, cooks use special knives that are convenient for scraping meat. Main courses are prepared from lamb, pork, beef, and in rarer cases, for example, for special occasions, from deer meat or game. Sweden boasts delicious steaks, rolls, pates, sausages, game meatballs, cutlets, and baked chicken. Swedes can also enjoy their national dumplings, which are filled with the same types of meat. Their main difference is their large size.

In Sweden, a rather unusual second dish known as a sandwich is popular. However, we are not talking here about thin slices of rye or white bread, toast or croutons, where sausages or cheeses are laid out in a single layer on top. Not at all! It’s not for nothing that a Swedish sandwich is eaten as a main dish. And all because it contains a large number of ingredients, so that the size of this food exceeds even the famous American hamburger. One such dish, prepared according to a traditional Swedish recipe, can fill you up to your heart's content. The sandwich consists of fish, meat (they take boiled, fried, and smoked meat), vegetable, cheese, egg, and mushroom tiers, which combine perfectly and replace each other. Salads with vegetables, as well as all kinds of national snacks are served as side dishes for this dish.

Swedish dishes for first and second will please everyone, because such a wide selection allows you to choose a dish depending on your personal taste preferences.

Side dishes and snacks in Sweden

Side dishes and appetizers in Sweden are available both ordinary, which most residents of European countries are accustomed to, and national, distinguished by their uniqueness and belonging to traditional Swedish cuisine.

Let's start a more detailed story with appetizers, because Swedes begin to eat such dishes. Again, fish is used in the cooking process. Herring takes pride of place in popularity. It is prepared and served salted, smoked, combined with wine or onions. Fermented herring, fermented herring, is also present on the Swedish menu. Being the calling card of the country, but not popular with the majority of residents. This is a very specific dish that brings incredible pleasure to some, while it horrifies others. As snacks on the buffet, in addition to fish, sausages, vegetables, and cold cuts are served, which are always welcome to everyone.

The most popular side dishes are potatoes, which are subjected to various heat treatments. The vegetable is sent to fry in a frying pan in butter, cutting it into small pieces. Potatoes are also boiled whole or crushed until smaller pieces are formed, and when finished they are supplemented with cream and herbs - parsley, dill.

Side dishes for meat and fish dishes are dishes made from pasta or rice, which came to Swedish cuisine from other countries, that is, as a result of the assimilation of cultures. Served with meat, fish and seafood dishes are a variety of salads with eggs, cheese, mushrooms, boiled vegetables and other ingredients. A very popular recipe is a salad made from fresh cucumbers, for which a special mixture of honey, water, white wine vinegar and chopped fennel or dill is prepared as a dressing. This dish is an excellent addition to a salmon fish dish.

Swedes have a positive attitude towards dairy products: residents of the state love yoghurts, whether they are classic without additives or with different fruit and berry flavors, curdled milk, cheese products, cream, and milk. Popular Swedish casseroles are complemented with these ingredients, in particular, potato casseroles are made and whipped cream is added to the dish.

As you can see, Swedish cuisine can surprise you with appetizers and side dishes, and maybe even delight you with ordinary classic dishes.

Traditional desserts and drinks

Traditional desserts and drinks in Sweden amaze with their abundance: sweet pastries (pies, pastries, cakes, pies, muffins), soufflés, puddings, punches, ice cream, sweets, original alcohol - all this will be an excellent decoration for a buffet.

The national cuisine of Sweden will delight those with a sweet tooth with biscuits, pancakes, cookies, pies, which can be filled with apples, blueberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, and clearings. It is impossible not to mention the famous Swedish jam, the variations of its preparation vary depending on the ingredient chosen as the basis. Naturally, most often they use berries that you already know. I also use them to make puddings, soufflés, waffles, cakes, and ice cream.

Sweets are always served with coffee. If the baked goods are without filling, then it must be accompanied by jam made from wild berries, which Sweden is rich in just like its neighbors - Finland, Norway, Denmark. By the way, about our northern brothers. They all also love coffee very much, but it is the Swedes who are the undisputed leaders in drinking this invigorating drink. Among non-alcoholic drinks, Swedes enjoy lemonades, juices, compotes, and jelly.

Without glegg and schnapps, a buffet is not considered a buffet. Of course, some can easily do without alcoholic drinks, while others, on the contrary, cannot imagine their feast without strong drinks. According to the traditional recipe, schnapps is prepared from potatoes and cereals, but there can be countless options for additional ingredients, that is, herbs and spices - everything that the cook’s soul desires will be present in this strong drink. Vodka is supplemented with blackcurrant, caraway seeds, wormwood, St. John's wort, waxweed and other seasonings. Swedes also tend to drink liqueurs, whiskey, herbal berry liqueurs and low-alcohol beer.

Sweet treats and drinks are available in a wide range. Every tourist will find the ideal taste for himself.

Names of popular Swedish dishes

We suggest you study the names of popular Swedish dishes in the table along with their brief descriptions for a general acquaintance with Swedish cuisine. This information will be useful if you decide to visit this country - you will know what to try. Also, the names of the dishes will come in handy if you want to cook traditional Swedish food at home. And the recipes presented on the site with step-by-step photos will reveal the correct technology for creating the chosen dish.

Name	Short description
aFirst courses
	A soup whose peculiarity is that it is brewed using light beer.
Nasselsuppa-lead-egg	Traditional Swedish dish for starters, prepared with oysters.
	This is a national Swedish dish, in which, in addition to the vegetable base, spices and herbs, noodles are added as an additional ingredient.
Ertsoppa	A soup whose highlight is the addition of yellow peas and mustard, and unusual herbs - cloves, marjoram.
Second courses
Zilbular honey corinthous	This is a steak made from herring and served with a variety of sauces - vegetable, fruit or berry (lingonberries, cranberries, strawberries).
	The second course consists of minced deer meat.
Fraskrulader	A roll made from pork.
Chöttbullar	The famous Swedish meatballs, also known as meatballs.
	A dish consisting of boiled lamb, beef or pork meat, which is combined with vegetables (most often cabbage) and beans (peas or beans).
Insterband	Spicy pork sausages.
Putypanna	This is a potato stew in which you can add any meat (lamb, pork, beef) or mix meat products together.
Leverpashtey	A meat pate, often game.
Unstect alg	A fried dish consisting of salmon meat cut into pieces.
Kottbullar	This is the Swedish version of dumplings, which is larger in size.
Spettkaka	A sweet in the form of a pyramid, the composition of which is berries, whipped cream, chocolate and jam.
	Waffles with creamy or chocolate filling.
Pepparkakur	Cookies with spices (allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger).
Lussekat	A bun shaped like the letter S and filled with saffron and raisins.
	Sweet bread with sprinkles.
Punch-rulle	Chocolate roll-shaped cookies filled with a mixture of liqueur, butter and cocoa. They are covered with green marzipan on top.
Shukladbollar	Pastry balls covered with chocolate.

So, now you have much more knowledge about the original Swedish cuisine. Despite the simplicity of preparing dishes and the use of the most common products, Swedes’ dishes are truly unique, which not everyone can replicate exactly. However, you can try to prepare the national Swedish dish at home if you seek help from the step-by-step recipes with photos offered on our website. What if you succeed? Good luck!

There is very little detailed information about the history of the development of modern Swedish cuisine. And the reason for this is not only the rich past of this country, which is a series of endless wars and confrontations for territory and power. But also harsh weather conditions, which significantly narrowed the range of ingredients used in cooking. And, as a result, they forced the people of Sweden to be content with little. However, despite all these obstacles, today this state can boast of an exquisite, satisfying and original cuisine, based on nutritious and incredibly tasty dishes.

It is worth noting that Swedish culinary traditions were formed mainly under the influence of Denmark and Norway. However, later France, Germany and Turkey played a huge role in their development, thanks to which the Swedes began to pay attention not only to the taste and nutritional properties of dishes, but also to their appearance.

Initially, Swedish cuisine was not very diverse. It was based only on products subject to long-term storage. First of all, these are pickles, marinades, dried and smoked products. By the way, turnips were widely used here in the old days. Everyone's favorite potato appeared in Sweden only in the 18th century and subsequently successfully replaced it.

In addition to it, meat and fish are very popular here. Swedes have been preparing dishes from them for centuries, which is not surprising. After all, cattle breeding and fishing were the main types of fishing for them. And only over time, agriculture was added to them. The favorite type of fish in Sweden is herring. Not a single feast is complete without it. Moreover, the Swedes know a huge number of recipes for its preparation. It is salted, pickled in mustard or wine, fermented, stewed, baked in the oven or grilled, made into sandwiches and all kinds of fish dishes. Particularly noteworthy is the Swedish delicacy of fermented herring, which was once included in the list of the most terrible dishes in the world.

The preferred meats in Sweden are pork, venison and game. In addition, the Swedes also hold dairy products in high esteem, in particular milk, cheeses, butter, kefir, curdled milk or yogurt. They love grains, mushrooms, as well as vegetables, fruits and berries. But they practically do not use spices, successfully replacing them with delicious sauces.

By the way, the concept of a “buffet” actually came from Sweden. The fact is that in the old days, guests gathered for a long time for various events. Therefore, they were offered shelf-stable dishes, which were taken to a cool room and left on a long table. Thus, each new arrival could take as much food as he needed on his own, without bothering either the hosts or other guests.

Main cooking methods in Sweden:

True Swedish cuisine differs from the cuisines of other Scandinavian countries by the presence of a bright, sweetish flavor in its dishes. After all, the Swedes love to add sugar everywhere and are sincerely proud of it. Meanwhile, this is far from the only peculiarity of Sweden. After all, only in this kingdom they prepare not just exquisite gourmet dishes, but truly unique or even exotic ones. Like, for example, chicken baked in clay. It is worth noting that before cooking it is not plucked, but simply gutted, washed and coated with clay. And then they bake it on stones so that they can later enjoy the unique taste of the most tender roast. In this case, all unplucked feathers remain on the clay. This recipe has been known since Viking times.

Besides this, Swedish cuisine has other, no less interesting dishes:

Swedish meatballs

Christmas ham

Fried chanterelle mushrooms

Swedish bread

Cinnamon buns

Candy cane

Swedish Princess Cake

Health benefits of Swedish cuisine

Sweden is a country with a high standard of living. That is why only high-quality products are used for food here, which subsequently has a positive effect on the health of the nation. Even the alcoholic drinks here are of very high quality. But Swedish residents drink them in moderation.

In addition, the Swedes' diet is incredibly varied. They love meat and fish very much, but they successfully combine them with vegetables, fruits or berries and complement them with soups. Almost all ingredients for Swedish cuisine are produced in the country itself.

At first glance, it may seem that Swedes eat too much fatty and sweet food. However, this is a necessary measure necessary for normal life in a rather harsh climate. It in no way affects the health of the nation. The best proof of this is statistical data. The average life expectancy of Swedes is almost 81 years, and only 11% of the population is overweight.

Over the past years, Swedish national cuisine has been called one of the healthiest. Simply because it consists mainly of dishes based on seafood and rivers.

Along with ketchup and mustard, lingonberry jam is served with some hot dishes in Sweden: cutlets and pancakes, porridge and blood sausage (blodpudding). At the same time, despite its sweetness, it is rarely spread on bread. True connoisseurs of wild nature, many Swedes have been accustomed since childhood to picking lingonberries and making jam from these tart red berries.

2. Pickled herring is a regular at the buffet

7. Sweet holiday - red date

A Swede will always find a reason to enjoy something sweet – there are even special days for sweets in the calendar. Day cinnamon rolls(Kanelbullens dag) is celebrated on October 4th. Semla buns, filled with cream and almond paste (semlor), are traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday (fettisdagen) - the day before the start of Lent. Freshly baked waffles (våfflor) are eaten on March 25, and a creamy sponge cake decorated with a chocolate or marzipan silhouette of King Gustav Adolfs-bakelse is eaten on November 6 in memory of the Swedish monarch, who was killed on this day in 1632 at the Battle of Lutzen.

8. Cancer is the head of everything

“Cancer parties” (kräftskivor) in Sweden are a symbol of August. Freshwater and saltwater crayfish are eaten on warm summer evenings in gardens and balconies across the country. In the 16th century, when this tradition began to take shape, only the upper class and aristocracy could afford crayfish. Over time, they became a national delicacy for everyone. Crayfish began not only to be caught in Sweden, but also to be imported from other countries - and their price dropped significantly.

9. Pickled herring – it doesn’t smell like roses

Every national cuisine (at least the Swedes think so) has a dish that horrifies both the natives and guests. In Sweden, pickled herring (surströmming) plays this role - it appears on store shelves in the second half of August. The tradition is this: swollen cans of herring are opened in the fresh air because of the unbearable stench. The bouquet of smells combines notes of rotten eggs and sewage. Pickled herring is actually eaten. Nothing human is alien to the Swedes: sometimes you really want fresh fish.

10. Sweets - on Saturdays

The average Swedish family, consisting of two adults and two children, eats 1.2 kg of sweets a week - most of it on Saturday, the official day of sweets. This tradition is associated with a dubious medical experiment. In the 1940s and 50s, in a psychiatric hospital in Lund, patients in a study were fed large amounts of candy to deliberately cause tooth decay. Based on the results of an experiment that established a direct link between eating sweets and tooth decay, the National Medical Council recommended that Swedes limit eating sweets to once a week. Many families adhere to this unwritten rule to this day.

Simply stepping outside your comfort zone and trying a different cuisine is the most exciting part of traveling! If you're still not excited about the idea of ​​trying something new, remember that it will help you learn more about another culture, expand your understanding of food, and maybe even inspire you to try something new.

Despite the fact that the national cuisine of Sweden does not have a wide variety of dishes, the Swedes always zealously serve fresh and healthy food to the table. Many traditional dishes are seasonal or only served on holidays, but in general they are filling, tasty and healthy. In general, simple and elegant flavors are discernible, and the cuisine itself is based on easily digestible dairy products, various types of bread, fruits, meat and seafood.

Because Swedes have always been open to new things, this has led to a huge variety of products on supermarket shelves. In particular, fast food from abroad, pizza and hot dogs have become an integral part of Swedish youth culture. If you're an international student in Sweden, experiment with all the dishes Swedish cuisine has to offer!

Swedish meatballs (Kottbullar)

Yes, those who know little about Sweden have probably heard about Swedish meatballs, especially since IKEA stores are now at every turn in every corner of the world. Pair with mashed potatoes, cranberry jam and gravy to make a delicious and satisfying meal.

Swedish meatballs are easy to make and inexpensive, making them a favorite student food. Although Swedes eat meatballs all year round, it's especially nice to enjoy this dish on a cold winter day.

Swedish crayfish (Kraftor)

As summer draws to a close in Sweden, it's time for crayfish parties. As an international student, I was invited to one such party and had an unforgettable experience - not just because of the food, but because here you have the opportunity to sing, drink schnapps and enjoy warm summer evenings with friends.

Crayfish are the national dish. They were first tasted in Sweden back in the 16th century. And although crayfish are on sale here all year round, few Swedes will give up this tradition.

Sandwich cake (Smorgastarta)

Yes, that's right... A sandwich and a cake at the same time. First of all, the sandwich cake looks just like a regular cake, but upon closer inspection you realize that it is decorated with shrimp, smoked salmon, chopped meat, vegetables and other savory things.

The base is made of a thick layer of bread, and instead of icing, a mixture of cream cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream is used. It may seem strange, but it's a really big sandwich with your favorite ingredients. In Sweden, the sandwich is usually served at christenings, funerals and other family occasions.

Pea soup with pancakes (artsoppa och pannkakor)

You know, you will feel like a true Swede when you associate this dish with a certain day of the week. According to Swedish tradition, pea soup and pancakes are eaten on Thursdays. They say that this tradition appeared even before the revolution as preparation for Friday fasting. The soup is usually served with Swedish mustard, followed by pancakes with cream and jam.

This dish is popular both in restaurants and in everyday life; it is a simple but integral attribute of Swedish life. Pea soup and pancakes are easy to prepare and are a favorite among adults and children throughout Sweden.

Surstromming

I saved the best, or perhaps for some the worst, for last.

Pickled herring is a delicacy in northern Sweden that is definitely aimed at the amateur. Small Baltic herring is caught in the spring, salted and fermented in barrels for one or two months before being canned, where the fermentation process continues. Somewhere between 6 months and a year, gases are formed, so that the cylindrical jars take on an increasingly rounded shape.

The finished product is sour salted fish with a pungent odor. In fact, the smell is so strong that surströmming has rightfully earned the title of “the most foul-smelling food imaginable.” As a result, pickled herring has been banned from many homes in Sweden and is almost always eaten outdoors.

Herring is often served with thin slices of bread, potatoes, chopped onions, dill and sour cream. As with crayfish, herring is eaten at holiday parties in late summer. Of course, we don't expect you to love this dish, but you will definitely get an impression and experience that will not be forgotten.

I would be interested to know what you think about Swedish cuisine. Do you have a favorite Swedish dish? Perhaps you know of dishes that should be included in this list? Don't forget to share your impressions in the comments.

The Swedes are so harsh that they often dye their naturally blonde hair black, children in kindergartens are forced to sleep outside all year round, and cleaners are sent to take advanced training courses. About this and much more in an interview with our 24-year-old compatriot Dina Vasiltsova, who has been living in Sweden for about five years.

- Dina, how did you end up in Sweden?

Since I was 13 years old, I dreamed of going to study abroad. And when I entered the linguistics school in Minsk, I quickly realized that this was not for me after all and that the time had come to realize my ambitions. Sweden at that time was on the list of countries with free education for foreigners (now this is no longer the case), the requirements for admission were very realistic (translate the certificate into English, have it notarized, pass a language exam and write an essay), so I decided right away , with no doubt. This is how my three-year study at Malmö University began, majoring in international relations (BA).

- Did you go to study all alone? Wasn't it scary? And how did your parents let you go during your “green” 20s?

Yes, I was traveling alone, I didn’t know anyone in Sweden. But my mother’s friend had a daughter my age studying in the USA, and they were both very happy, and my mother was taught that “to be afraid of wolves, don’t go into the forest.” However, it turned out that it is not so simple. A separate adventure was to collect from all my friends the fabulous sum that was required to enter Sweden on a student visa. According to their laws, a foreign student must have money on his card when crossing the border at the rate of 700 euros per month - for all three years of study! Of course, after submitting documents to the embassy, ​​when I was given the appropriate certificate confirming my financial solvency, I returned all this money.

I was not paid a stipend, so in order to pay for room (about 200 euros per month) and food (the same amount), I had to look for a part-time job from the first months. First, I cleaned the apartment of my acquaintances, then their acquaintances, then the acquaintances of my acquaintances - and so on in a chain. Then they started asking me to stay with small children... It was an unofficial job, so I didn’t have to pay taxes, and the earnings were quite enough for a living.

-- Will we experience a language barrier in Sweden and is it really possible to get a job knowing only English?

Without knowledge of Swedish, it is only possible to get a job in an IT specialty or in an international company, if you have invaluable experience and talents in this area (I know such examples from life). Otherwise, language is very important. Foreigners (including those with a student visa) are taught Swedish for free; they just need to submit documents and wait their turn (I had to wait three months). If you go through all the levels in a row, then on average it takes about a year. Then you are entered with the appropriate mark into a special database for employers, and you can also enter an institute where training is conducted in Swedish.

- What difficulties does an emigrant have to face in Sweden, especially at first?

My student life was quite easy. The Swedes are fluent in English, so the adaptation went very smoothly. The city of Malmo, where I studied, seemed safe, small, and easy to navigate. I quickly found friends, a part-time job, my life got busy... Of course, I had to save money, move a couple of times - I was looking for cheaper housing. But when you are a young student with a bicycle, the costs are small.

Immigration is a completely different issue. When I switched to this status, real difficulties began: the language barrier, bureaucracy, waiting for documents for months, unemployment...

Those who want to obtain a residence permit should also be aware that years spent as a student do not count. Living in Sweden is the time during which you worked here or were, as they say, “in a relationship” (you don’t have to get married for this, you just need to be registered with a guy at the same address).

- Is it easy for a foreigner to find a job in Sweden? What does this depend on?

Finding a job is difficult even for Swedes. In some ways it is a big village where connections are key. The more contacts in the country, the greater the chances of getting a job. Knowledge of the language is very important for most professions. Experience, of course, is required everywhere, even in the simplest jobs: even for cleaners there are courses and when hired they go through something like a casting to see who can clean better...

In general, after 4.5 years of living here, it increasingly seems to me that career success depends primarily on luck. Here's the truth: some people look for a job for months (like me, for example), while others are offered a vacancy in a pub over a glass of beer... It is also worth saying that positions are not scattered here, foreigners with extensive work experience are often invited to a lower level.

- What still amazes and surprises you in Sweden?

The first thing that caught my eye literally immediately upon arrival was a calm, without fanaticism, attitude towards religion. It comes to the point that I saw a club set up in a former church building, with a huge neon cross on the sign... We wouldn’t understand this and would call it blasphemy.

There are many confessions here, but even more atheists. Most priests are women, which is new for our country. The Swedes themselves say that they go to church only three times in their lives: at baptisms, at weddings and funerals. Rarely do people come to churches just like that. However, most Swedes pay church tax because it guarantees a free cemetery plot.

In contrast to Minsk, it was very surprising that after 7 pm the city seemed to die out: everyone went home, there was peace and tranquility all around. All pubs, clubs and other hot spots are located next to each other, on one of the central streets, and in the rest of the city you can feel completely safe at night.

It’s also amazing that there are no stray cats or dogs here at all. The Swedes somehow manage to control their population. Pets are expensive, and they all have chips implanted under their skin.

There are no orphanages or boarding schools in Sweden either. The practice here is to place orphans or children in difficult life situations in temporary foster families who are paid a salary.

- Do the medical and educational systems have their own characteristics?

Certainly! Medicine here is paid, but very cheap. If a person spends a certain maximum on medical services per year (something around 80 euros), he receives the rest of the care for free, including prescription drugs. That is, for people who are often or seriously ill, this is very beneficial. But there is no service of calling a doctor to your home (like ours: when, for example, you have a high temperature), the ambulance arrives only when you cannot move. In all other cases, you take a taxi yourself, and then sit in the hospital for many, many hours, waiting for an appointment. Because of the cheapness, an incredibly large number of people come here... So sometimes it’s easier to call a toll-free medical helpline, ask for advice and treat yourself.

As for education, kindergartens and schools here are free, including food and even transportation (if the kindergarten or school is far from home). Children are taken to museums, on excursions and to theaters for free... I think in this way the state is trying to stimulate the birth rate.

In most gardens, “quiet hour” is spent outdoors all year round - there are cots on the open verandas, on which clothed children go to bed (maybe that’s why the Swedes are so hardy and dress quite lightly in cold weather). In addition, there are special “eco-friendly kindergartens” where children spend the whole day outside and only come indoors to eat.

At one time I worked part-time in a kindergarten and was also amazed that for some reason here for quite a long time - up to three years, or even later, a child can walk in a diaper. And the children here are so spoiled that even mega-democratic teachers are sometimes forced to raise their voices at them. And there is no question here of having the whole group sit down, for example, to draw at the same time. They just can't organize it. That’s why they draw, sculpt, etc. - groups of five people. The rest of the children do whatever they want during this time.

- Is it expensive to live in Sweden? What are the salaries, are taxes high? What are the prices for food, housing and rent?

Prices here are about the same as throughout Europe, but taxes are among the highest in the world. The minimum stipend is 900 euros (however, you must slowly return 600 of them to the state when you get a job), renting a room is at least 300 euros, buying food for a week is about 70 euros. The usual salary is about 2000 euros. Taxes are at least 15% of the salary, but it happens that it reaches up to 50! The more you earn, the more you “unbuckle” the country... It’s very annoying that even if you earn little, you still have to pay high taxes, and only at the end of the year can you get back what you overpaid. But money is usually needed here and now!..

- How do Swedes usually spend their free time, what are their most common hobbies?

Many Swedes enjoy the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, sports and fitness. Going for a morning jog or going to the gym at least once a week (but usually more often) is considered almost a rule of good manners here. This is probably why you practically never meet overweight people here, and, in my opinion, I have never seen a clearly obese person in Sweden...

But Swedes, of course, also have bad habits. Friday evening is the time when many people gather in pubs and later go to the club. Beer is generally the most popular alcoholic drink here. In general, alcohol here is very expensive and is not sold everywhere, but only in specialized stores, which close quite early and are not open at all on Sundays. Due to its decent price, it is generally customary to drink champagne only a few times in a life: for example, at a wedding. Swedes often carry out so-called “alcohol raids” in neighboring countries (Denmark, Norway, etc.), where alcoholic drinks are more accessible.

Cigarettes are also quite expensive here. But there is a popular alternative to them - snus, which were invented about 200 years ago. These are small “pads” of tobacco, similar to smaller tea bags, that are placed under the upper lip for one to two hours. They cost half the price of cigarettes, and there is no smoke from them (those around you are happy!). But cancer from nicotine can still occur, but it will affect not the lungs, but the gums and stomach...

- What does this country have in the category “this is for the people!” - that is, something that Belarus is still far away from?

Well, for example, the floors of buses here lower when they pull up to a stop, to make it easier for older people and parents with strollers to get on and off. The transport schedule is very accurate and is displayed on monitors installed at stops. For disabled people, all transport has ramps that extend when necessary. Why, even in some thicket of the forest you can easily find a dry closet for the disabled!

Many different types of services can be paid for online. I've lived here for almost five years, but I've only been to the bank twice. Everyone is given a free special device, similar to a calculator, with which you can make various payments and other banking transactions from anywhere: from home or while sitting in the park on a picnic. And now, instead of this device, a phone application has appeared. So the process has been simplified even more. And no queues for you!

Disabled people, the unemployed, mothers on maternity leave, and people in difficult situations are paid good benefits. For disabled and elderly people there are special assistants who come to your home: such a profession is respected and well paid.

- By the way, what kind of life do pensioners lead here and what do they look like?

Pensioners are generally very active. As long as they have the strength, they travel, ride a bike, and lead a social life. But when health problems begin, everyone’s old age is the same. Only in Sweden are pensioners helped by specialized staff, and living in a nursing home for local people is not a whim or getting rid of unnecessary relatives, but a common practice.

How do Swedes build relationships and families? Where is it customary to meet, how long do they meet before marriage, at what age do they usually get married and have children?

They meet through friends, in pubs or clubs, at various events... The Internet is also a very acceptable place for meeting people, but transport or the street are more likely a place for exchanging glances, but not for getting to know each other. However, on Friday evening anything is possible. Family relationships are built on equality and respect for each other; children are most often started deliberately, after the age of 30. It’s simple - before 30, the majority, as a rule, are still studying. They are in no hurry with this. It happens that after school, young people go traveling or go to work, and then go somewhere else. Moreover, they can study first in one place, then in another, then in a third - education here is often free, and they also pay a stipend. In my group, where I came to study, I was the youngest. Most were 25-26 years old or older.

Population growth here is small, but every woman has an average of two children. One child in a family is a rare occurrence. Before marriage, they can date and live together for a long time - decades! Many do not marry at all, although they live together for many years and have children. The stamp in the passport is simply not given the same importance here as it is here. And, as I already mentioned, you are officially considered a couple already when you are registered at the same address.

On maternity leave (which lasts 1.5 years), a woman often sits here, but men also like to take some part of the maternity leave on themselves and stay at home with the child.

- Do Swedes follow fashion, how do they usually dress?

It is difficult to generalize such a question. Many Swedes love expensive and beautiful clothes. Many people have taste and style. But this is when we are talking about townspeople, office workers, visitors to Friday pubs and other establishments where it is customary to dress up. People go to the grocery store for bread or for a walk with the dog in comfortable and nondescript clothes, which I think is very appropriate. You won't see much high-heeled shoes, provocative makeup or extended nails here, but, in my opinion, this just speaks of taste. Women prefer to be natural, but they take very good care of their figure, and for some reason they really like to dye their hair and eyebrows. It was surprising to me that they so carelessly paint over the naturally blond color inherent in the Swedish nation, for example, with black, and then they grow funny white roots... And this at a time when in the rest of the world girls do nothing but do to become blondes!

- What is the local national cuisine?

The Swedes have a lot of potato dishes, just like we do. They love bread, sandwiches, sandwiches, so there are a lot of similar eateries. The strangest dish is the herring "surströmming", which tastes terrible to be honest. It is fermented for a long time in a salty solution until it acquires an unbearable smell: the fermentation process is taking place there...

Swedes also love sauerkraut, usually served with pizza in local eateries, and beet salad. Soups are not popular here, except for spinach and cream soup. I don’t have any special knowledge about meat dishes, since I prefer vegetarian cuisine. I can only say that one of the main national dishes in Sweden is considered to be meat balls with lingonberry jam - köttbullar (by the way, the favorite dish of Carlson, who lives on the roof!).

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- What, according to your observations, are the Swedes proud of?

In general, it doesn't seem like the Swedes are a proud nation. At least, I don’t notice ardent patriotism in people. Although they, of course, are proud of their nature, the football player Zlatan, the music industry (the famous ABBA, Roxette, the recent Eurovision winner Loreen). Again, their national pride is children's writers (Astrid Lindgren, Sven Nordqvist, Tove Jansson, Selma Lagerlöf (they even depict Nils with geese on money!), etc.).

Well, IKEA, where would we be without it? True, the Swedes themselves try to buy only small things in these stores, and they consider recognizable “Ikea” things to be too easy a way to furnish an apartment. For them it is a kind of consumer goods. Therefore, if someone in their home does not have a single item from IKEA, this is a reason to be proud.

They are also proud of their tolerance and loyalty. Sweden has not been involved in wars for two hundred years, maintaining neutrality. Thanks to this, many historical buildings, castles and fortresses have been preserved here, and in the forests there are untouched centuries-old trees of incredible thickness and height...

- Is this a clean country? Are there any requirements for waste sorting, etc.?

Yes, Sweden is very clean. Both in cities and in nature. By the way, there are a lot of animals here that can be found right next to residential buildings: deer, wild geese, hedgehogs, squirrels. There are so many moose in the forest (this, by the way, is one of the symbols of Sweden) that very often the road passing through their habitat is fenced with a metal mesh to prevent these animals from getting hit by cars.

As for waste, it is actually customary here to sort garbage at the nearest recycling stations or directly in the basement of an apartment building. Plastic, paper, metal, newspapers, batteries, light bulbs, glass, food waste - all this is carefully sorted by the majority. For food waste, the city provides free paper bags to all apartment buildings.

Swedes take unnecessary things in good condition (not only clothes and shoes, but also dishes, furniture, toys, household appliances, bicycles, etc.) to second-hand stores. There are quite a lot of them here, and both poor and wealthy people visit them with interest and benefit. This is not considered shameful. After all, sometimes you can find really cool things there, for example, for the interior.

- What transport is most popular in Sweden?

Within the city limits it is more convenient to use public transport. True, travel costs a lot of money. For a student or youth under 25 years old, a monthly pass will cost 40 euros (plus an additional charge if you are traveling to another zone). Therefore, almost every Swedish resident has a bicycle that they ride all year round. In Malmo, where I lived at first, thanks to the flat landscape, this was not a problem at all: there are bicycle paths everywhere, which are regularly cleared of snow in winter. In Gothenburg, where I live now, this is a little more difficult.

- Do you plan to stay and live here in the future?

Now I am taking a programming course and receiving a good scholarship; in the summer I hope to enroll in an IT specialty. So I plan to live here until I finish my studies - and that’s at least another three years. I have a loved one here - a Swede, we have been living together for three years. When I finish my studies, perhaps we will travel and, while we are young and have no children, we will live somewhere else - in the USA, for example. Moreover, if I master an IT specialty, this will open up new opportunities for me to work in any country. But then, of course, I would like to return again to Sweden, which I managed to love with all my soul for its internationality, cheerfulness, tolerance, non-interference in your personal space, standard of living and, of course, the incredible beauty of nature, looking at which my soul sings.