At the end of June, Swedes celebrate the summer solstice with a big Midsummer festival. The only day of the year when the sun doesn't set at all is spent outside with friends and family. Wildflowers adorn the otherwise puristically decorated tables, and the women wear colorful flower wreaths and national costumes. Music is played, sung and danced in circles. In addition to songs, fun games for the children and typical Swedish round dances, the focus is also on food. The menu is varied. Traditionally, a cucumber salad, fish soup, fanned potatoes with spices, a fish cake, grilled meatballs and crispbread are on the table. A cake with wild berries is one of the Swedes' favorite desserts.
The romantic atmosphere of Midsummer has made the celebration popular in other countries as well. Especially in summer there is the opportunity to organize a Midsummer party in your own garden and surprise your guests with delicious Swedish specialties. We have put together several recipes for hearty dishes for you and explain how you can prepare them. We will also give you some tips for decorating in Scandinavian style. With these ideas you are sure to receive compliments.
Swedish recipes for the Midsummer party: cucumber salad
The next recipe for cucumber salad is extremely easy to prepare, but tastes very tasty.
8 servings, total rest time 3 hours, working time 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 red onion
- Kosher salt
- 1/4 sour cream
- 2 THE DILL
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Salt
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
Preparation: Cut the cucumbers into slices and the red onion into rings. Then put the vegetables in a deep bowl and sprinkle with the kosher. Let it sit in the fridge for about 2 hours. In the meantime, add the sour cream (crème fraîche can also be used as a substitute), chopped dill, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt and freshly ground black pepper in a medium bowl. Pour about 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar over it and mix all the ingredients well. If necessary, add additional sugar to the dressing.
Remove the cooled cucumbers from the refrigerator and drain in a colander. Then season with the dressing and let it cool down again in the fridge for another 30 minutes.
Swedish recipes for gluten-free crispbread
In Sweden, the crispbread is traditionally served either as a starter with butter and salmon, orserved with the fish soup.
8 portions, working time 10 -15 minutes, baking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (100 g) rye flour
- 1 cup (100 g) oat flour
- 1/3 cup (50 g) flaxseed
- 1/3 cup (50 g) sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup (50 g) pumpkin seeds
- 2 tsp fennel seeds, ground
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup (50 ml) olive oil
- 2/3 (150 ml) hot water
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line two large baking trays with baking paper. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl, stir, drizzle with olive oil and pour in the hot water. Stir the dough and form a ball with your hands. Place baking paper on the work surface. Divide the dough into two pieces, place each piece on a sheet of baking paper, cover with another sheet of baking paper and roll out thinly. Carefully remove the top sheet of baking paper and place the rolled out mixture on a baking tray. Cut into rectangular pieces and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees without fan for 20-30 minutes until the bread turns golden brown. Store in an airtight bread bin for a maximum of 5-6 days.
Traditional recipe for delicious fish soup with salmon
Fish soup with salmon is one of the Swedes' most popular summer dishes. Delicious and filling, it is suitable as both a starter and a main course.
4 servings, working time: 30 minutes, cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 300 g Lachsfilet
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large leek stalk
- 5 cups fish broth
- 300g potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 cup dill, finely chopped
- 1 cup whipped cream or crème fraîche
- 1/4 tsp spice mix of horseradish, pepper, rosemary, sage and thyme
- Salt to taste
Preparation: Skin the salmon (do not throw away the salmon skin) and cut into large pieces. Cut off the end of the leek root with a sharp knife, remove all leaves, wash the leek pores under running water and pat dry on kitchen paper. Then cut the puree stick into rings.
Melt the butter in a deep saucepan and sauté the leeks over low heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a saucepan with 5 cups of water, add the salmon skin and bring the water to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the skin for another 10 minutes. Add the fish stock, chopped potatoes and carrot to the pot of sautéed leeks, sprinkle with freshly chopped dill and cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Add the salmon to the soup, stir in the whipped cream and season with the spice mix. Cook over low heat for a few minutes, remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
Prepare Swedish recipes for a Midsummer party with fanned potatoes as a side dish or appetizer
Fried potatoes are a popular side dish in Sweden. There you willfor grilled food, served with soups and main courses with sauce. Soft on the inside and very crispy on the outside, they are guaranteed to please your guests.
Servings: 8, Working time: 10 minutes, Baking time 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 24 medium potatoes, peeled
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 16 tsp butter, softened
- 16 tsp olive oil, extra virgin
- 2 TL Rosmarin
- Salt
- Pepper, freshly ground
- Parmesan (if desired)
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Wash the potatoes and pat dry on kitchen paper. Then cut the potatoes several times to about half a centimeter above the bottom edge (do not cut through!), making thin slices. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet, cut side up. Wash the garlic cloves, pat dry and press. Top each potato with garlic, sprinkle with butter flakes and drizzle with olive oil. Season with pepper, salt and rosemary. Bake for 40 minutes until the surface becomes crispy.
Traditional fish cake
The fish cake is very popular in Sweden. In principle, the fish cake, known there as Smörgåstårta, is nothing more than a sandwich. Instead of cake base, bread is baked in a round shape, and instead of cream, various salads are prepared. Perfect for a midsummer party!
8 portions, working time: 40 minutes, bread baking time: 2 hours, remaining time: 1 day (for bread)
Ingredients for the bread:
- 600 g rye flour type 1150
- 600 g wheat flour
- 1/3 cup sugar beet syrup
- 1.2 liters buttermilk
- 2.5 cubes of yeast
- 300 g seed mix of fennel seeds, sesame seeds and linen seeds
- Butter for greasing the cake ring
Ingredients for the salmon salad:
- 300 g smoked salmon, chopped into small pieces
- 1/4 Cup Crème fraîche
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon peel, finely grated
- 3 tbsp chives, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Ingredients for the cucumber and dill salad:
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 large cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
- Dill, fresh, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Ingredients for the egg salad:
- 6-8 hard-boiled eggs
- 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
- Zest of half a lemon, finely grated
- 1 tbsp parsley, fresh, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Ingredients for the cake decoration:
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 3-5 long pieces of smoked salmon
- Beetroot and radish florets (video instructions below)
Preparation of bread: It is better to bake the bread the day before the party. Fill a bowl with the buttermilk and dissolve the yeast in it. Add the seeds and stir in, sift the rye and wheat flour and add them little by little. Stir in the sugar beet syrup and work all the ingredients into a smooth dough. Line a baking tray with baking paper, grease the cake ring and place it on top. Pour in the dough and smooth it out. Cover with baking paper and bake at 160 degrees Celsius without fan for 2 hours. Remove the bread from the oven, carefully remove it from the baking pan and cut into four slices.
Preparing the fish cake: Start preparing the salmon salad the next day. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl, then leave to cool in the refrigerator.
To make the egg salad, first crush the hard-boiled eggs finely with a fork. Mix all the other ingredients well in a bowl, then add the eggs and stir in. Allow to cool in the refrigerator.
Then prepare the cucumber salad. Simply mix salt, pepper and cream cheese well in a bowl.
Then place a slice of bread on a cake plate, spread it with the dill and cream cheese and arrange the cucumber slices on top. Sprinkle with dill and place the second slice of bread on top. Now spread the salmon salad evenly on the bread. Place the third slice of bread on top and spread the egg salad on top. Place the last slice of bread on top and spread with the rest of the cream cheese.
Decorate the cake with the beetroot roses and radishes. Here are video instructions on how you can make roses from beetroot yourself:
Swedish recipes with meat: The popular meatballs
You are looking for oneAlternative to main courses with fish? Meatballs are a popular main dish traditionally prepared for the Midsummer party. You can garnish them with fan potatoes.
8 servings, working time: 40 minutes, baking time 30 minutes
Ingredients for the meatballs:
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 140g minced meat
- 240 ml cream cheese
- 2 Owner,
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 Prise Pfeffer
- 1 pinch of spice mix for minced meat
- 3 THE BUTTER
Ingredients for the sauce:
- 2.5 cups whipped cream or crème fraîche
- 120 ml cream cheese
- Salt and pepper
Ingredients for the garnish:
900g cauliflower
8 tablespoons cranberries or frozen cranberries
1 tsp honey (if desired)
Preparation: Break eggs and put them in a deep bowl. Add the other ingredients for the meatballs and mix well. Wet your hands with cold water and form small meatballs. Put the butter in a pan and fry the meatballs over medium heat. Optionally, you can place the meatballs on a baking tray and bake at 180 degrees with a fan for 30 minutes until they turn golden brown.
For the sauce, mix all the ingredients in a pan with a little olive oil and simmer the sauce over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Season with pepper and season with salt.
Wash the cauliflower and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Fill a pot with water and bring the water to the boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until it becomes soft. Season with salt.
Put the cranberries in a pan, add 3-4 teaspoons of water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Strawberry cake recipe
No Midsummer party is complete without a strawberry cake! We offer you a delicious recipe for a fruity cake, perfect for the summer season.
Servings: 8-10, Working time: 20 minutes, Baking time: 30 minutes, Resting time: 1 hour
Ingredients for the dough:
- 230g unsalted butter, softened
- 180g sugar
- 50g brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 345g flour, sifted
- 1 TL Natron
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 240 ml buttermilk
- Juice and zest of three medium-sized lemons
Ingredients for the first cream:
- 1/2 cup curd
- 1 -2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 cups (300g) strawberries
For the second cream:
- 224 g cream cheese, soft
- 115g unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons crème fraîche or whipped cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
Preparation: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, grease and flour two cake rings 23 cm x 5 cm. Using the dough hook of a hand mixer, beat the butter until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla sugar and mix at medium speed. In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add the buttermilk, lemon zest and lemon juice and stir in with a wooden mixing spoon. Place the cake rings on a baking sheet. Then pour the finished dough into the cake rings, smooth it out and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove and set aside. Allow the cake layers to cool at room temperature and only then carefully remove them from the cake rings.
For the second cream: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until creamy. Then add the other ingredients and stir for another three minutes.
For the first cream: Beat all ingredients until creamy.
Place the first cake layer on a cake plate and spread with the cream. Cut the strawberries into thin slices and arrange the slices on the cream. Spread the strawberries with the second cream. Place the second cake layer on top and spread the cake with the second cream. Decorate with strawberries and keep in the fridge for at least an hour.
