Category: Scandinavian cuisine

Research has shown that following a Scandinavian (or New Nordic) dietary pattern can lead to significant health benefits, including lower cholesterol, reduced body weight, and better cardiovascular health. This diet emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, making it both healthy and environmentally sustainable.

While the practice has largely faded in Sweden itself, it persists among Scandinavian-American communities in the Midwest, where it is often referred to as "church basement coffee". Adding egg to coffee grounds originated as a clever way to clarify the brew, remove bitterness, and achieve a velvety-smooth texture without modern filters.

According to the Smorgasbord brand website, the original Swedish meatballs are made from 60% meat, a mix of pork and beef. This delightful blend, combined with other key ingredients, gives Smorgasbord meatballs their distinct and beloved flavor profile.

While lingonberry jam is a staple in Scandinavian cuisine, with berries prized for their antioxidant content, adverse reactions to the jam are rare. Most health concerns are linked to the high sugar content, the presence of tannins, or very specific health conditions, rather than the berries themselves.

According to a 2023 study published in the National Institutes of Health, only 2% of Norwegians achieve a high level of adherence to the country's national dietary guidelines. This reality shows that while traditional staples remain foundational, the Norwegian diet is a dynamic mix of the old and the new.

In 2004, a group of influential chefs, including Claus Meyer and René Redzepi, released the 'New Nordic Kitchen Manifesto,' igniting a culinary revolution rooted in the region's traditions and catapulting the new Nordic food movement into global acclaim.