Obscure Swedish food traditions, by Nina Bressler

When people ask me “what do you eat in Sweden?”, I always find myself struggling to find the right words. I could embark on the usual meatball or smelly herring jingle, or I could actually try to explain the historic food traditions that were built on domestic produce, grains, preserved vegetables and very little imported goods. But neither of these explanations would truly unravel what a regular, modern Svensson actually eats on a daily basis, 21st Century style.

A generally healthy population, Swedes eat a lot of organic, locally produced food and greens, but there are a few examples where we’ve decided to subvert those trends. Keep reading for the top food traditions that make every Swede’s heart beat (quite literally) a little faster.

Tacos every Friday
I’m well aware than Mexican cuisine – including tacos - is global, but I doubt that any other nation has decided to embrace this dish so rigorously - every Friday - as the Swedes. And, this is Swedish style tacos. So don’t expect anything too spicy or adventurous. No, this is chopped vegetables, mincemeat with Mexican-inspired seasoning and maybe some guacamole - for anyone feeling adventurous - and hot salsa for the very brave, in a tortilla. Perfectly lagom and an excellent beginning to the fredagsmys. 

Kebab pizza
If you ever ask an emigrated Swede about the comfort food they miss the most, I’m willing to bet that most would say kebab pizza. This soothing, fat-charged go-to grub is perfect the day after a heavy night out, at the end of a big night out, or just as an (extremely) filling meal. It is an unholy Turkish/Italian marriage created by Swedish pizza makers. It’s a pizza base, kebab meat and a big dollop of that oh-so-revered kebab sauce. Should you feel extra peckish, you can add fries or even salad on top. Go big or go home.

Liquorice
We love liquorice. And not the meek, sweet liquorice you find in other countries. No. The saltier the better. Preferably salty liquorice that’s also covered in a layer of salt. I’ve been accused of trying to poison people after offering them a treat (rude!) but hey, each to their own.

Pick & Mix
More commonly known as lösgodis in Sweden. Continuing on the sweet path (yes, salt liquorice IS a sweet), Swedes are mad for pick & mix. And we do it well. We have entire stores dedicated to the goods where endless rows are packed with sweets in every shape and flavour that you could wish for.

Smörgåstårta
Swedes loves sandwiches, so much that some brilliant person decided to turn it into a cake. Layer upon layer of bread stuffed with different fillings: normally a mix of cream, mayonnaise, liver pâté, pickled cucumber, sour cream and ham, but there’s no recipe set in stone, as long as it’s creamy and fat - yum! Beautifully decorated with toppings of your choice - usually rolls of cheese, ham, shrimps and cucumber. Sandwich galore.

Knäckebröd
Another sandwich - knäckebröd is a hard crispbread and surely not unusual to people outside Sweden. But the difference is that we actually love it and happily eat them often and with everything, taking pride in creating extraordinary toppings. The fact that it’s really just superbly stale bread makes no difference.

Kalles Kaviar
Okay, the rumours are true. Swedes do have weird, fishy habits. Not only with pickled herrings but we also have a tube with a smiling blonde chap on the outside, filled with a light pink-coloured goo made of fish eggs - Kalles Kaviar. This is as Swedish as it can get. It is most commonly eaten on sandwiches and eggs. It’s smelly and can divide households the same way Marmite does to the Brits, but rest assured, there will be a tube in the fridge no matter what.

Pizzerias and Thai kiosks
Swedes are experts at travelling to new and exotic destinations, and we love to bring the things we liked back home and start calling it Swedish. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised to find a pizzeria in virtually every corner and literally every village. And ever since the charter tours to Thailand started to pick up in the 90’s, little Thai-kiosks have started to pop up with almost the same regularity. So, if you’re on the Swedish countryside wishing to taste the original Swedish cuisine you’ll simply have to make do with an Italian pizza. Swedish style.