Norwegian Food: Top 97 Dishes - TasteAtlas
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What to eat in Norway? Top 97 Norwegian Foods

Last update: Sat May 18 2024
Top 97 Norwegian Foods
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01

Rice Dish

NORWAY and  one more country
4.4
Salmon sushi
Salmon sushi infographic
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MAIN INGREDIENTS

Sake nigiri sushi is a Japanese type of nigiri sushi, with origins in Norway. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of salmon. The dish has a soft texture and a clean finish that makes it good for sushi newcomers, although the flavor can be a bit fishier than maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi.


Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.

02
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Pinnekjøtt is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dish predominantly enjoyed in the northern and western parts of the country. It is usually prepared with racks of lamb or mutton, which are brined and air-dried or smoked before they are sliced into individual ribs and cooked.


Traditionally, the ribs are placed on birch branches and steamed until all the water evaporates and the meat becomes juicy and tender. This flavorful Norwegian classic stems from the traditional methods of meat preservation and is usually complemented with mashed or boiled potatoes, pureed Swedish turnip, and various salads.

MOST ICONIC Pinnekjøtt

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1
Maaemo
2
Olympen
3
Schrøder
4
Pingvinen
03
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Agurksalat is a traditional cucumber salad originating from Norway. This refreshing salad is especially popular in the summer and has many variations. It's usually made with sliced cucumbers, water, sugar, salt, white pepper, parsley, and white wine vinegar.


Thinly sliced cucumbers are simply mixed with the dressing, chilled for about half an hour, sprinkled with chopped parsley, then served, often as an accompaniment to fish such as salmon or mackerel. If properly prepared, the salad should be crunchy and have a nice balance of sour and salt with hints of sweetness from the sugar.

04

Rice Pudding

NORWAY and  one more region
4.1
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Traditionally prepared and enjoyed during Christmastime, the creamy risalamande is an uplifted, lighter version of the classic Danish rice pudding. While the already flavorful plain pudding is enjoyed on Christmas Eve, on the following day it is typically blended with whipped cream and almonds, then well chilled and served topped with a thick cherry sauce.


Ancient tradition suggests that one whole almond is placed inside the pudding, and whoever finds it earns a symbolic prize. Even though risalamande first appeared in the late 19th century, today it represents a valuable part of Danish Christmas tradition. 
05

Sweet Pastry

BERGEN, Norway
4.0
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Skillingsboller is a traditional Norwegian version of a cinnamon roll. This circular pastry is usually associated with Bergen. The rolls are made with a combination of flour, milk, yeast, eggs, sugar, cardamom, lots of butter, and chopped almonds (optional).


After the baking, skillingsbolle are brushed with additional butter on the top and the bottom while they are still hot. The top is also sprinkled with extra sugar and cinnamon. The name skillingsboller means penny bun. They're usually eaten as an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee on the side, but some people like to eat them with brown cheese (Brunost).

MOST ICONIC Skillingsboller

1
Baker Brun
06
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Even though it is popular in many Scandinavian countries, surkål is traditionally associated with Norway. Characterized by the unusual combination of sweet and sour flavors, this simple dish consists of finely sliced green or red cabbage stewed in vinegar, sugar, and various spices, with the occasional addition of sliced apples and caraway seeds.


In many Scandinavian households, it is one of the essential side dishes served during the festive Christmas period.

07
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Skolebrød are traditional Norwegian custard buns. They're made with a combination of butter, milk, yeast, sugar, flour, and cardamom for flavoring. The custard is made with milk, cream, egg yolks, sugar, cornflour, and vanilla. The cardamom buns are stuffed with custard, then topped with desiccated coconut.


These sweet rolls are typical children's treats in Norway, and the name is a reference to the fact that skolebrød was a part of school lunches.

08

Cheese

VESTFOLD COUNTY, Norway
3.9
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Jarlsberg is a Norwegian cheese made with cow's milk. It has a semi-soft texture, while the flavors are mild, buttery, and slightly nutty. The cheese was invented by Anders Larsen Bakke in the village of Vale, not far away from Oslo. Jarlsberg has characteristical irregular holes dispersed throughout its body, which is why it's often marketed as a Swiss cheese.


The cheese melts exceptionally well, and as a result it is used in fondues, quiches, and sandwiches. It is recommended to pair Jarlsberg with a glass of Merlot.

09

Flatbread

NORWAY
3.9
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Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread, visually looking like a huge, round tortilla. It comes in many varieties such as plain, sweet, thin, or thick. There is also a popular version of lefse with potatoes incorporated in the dough, and it is a favorite of the Telemark region.


Originally, potatoes were not included in the flatbread since potatoes were introduced to Norway just about 250 years ago. Today, lefse is usually dipped into a bowl of water to absorb it, and is then consumed with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. For serving, it is recommended to roll the flatbread and cut it at an angle. 

MOST ICONIC Lefse

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1
Steinstø Frukt- og Kakebu
2
Leveld Lefsebakeri
3
Kaffestuggu
4
Thomasgaarden
10
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Kjøttboller or kjøttkaker are traditional Norwegian meatballs. Even though they share many similarities to their Swedish counterpart, they are usually larger in size and more often shaped as meat patties or meat cakes.


Among the numerous varieties, traditional versions mainly employ minced beef that is generously seasoned with nutmeg and ginger, and occasionally combined with eggs, onions, oats, and cornstarch. Norwegians prefer to pan-fry the meatballs and enjoy them as a main course, accompanied by a creamy sauce or a thick gravy. 
11
12
Cake
HINNØYA ISLAND, Norway
3.8
13
14
15
Stew
NORWAY
3.7
16
17
Wafer
NORWAY
3.7
18
19
Stew
NORWAY
3.6
20
21
22
Fish Soup
BERGEN, Norway
3.6
23
24
Dessert
NORWAY
3.6
25
Flatbread
NORWAY
3.5
26
Cake
NORWAY  and  one more region
3.5
27
28
Dessert
NORWAY  and  3 more regions
3.5
29
30
31
32
33
Whale Meat Dish
NORTHERN NORWAY, Norway
3.3
34
35
Meat Soup
TRØNDELAG, Norway
3.2
36
Cheese
NORWAY
3.2
37
38
39
40
41
Cheese
VIK MUNICIPALITY, Norway
1.6
42
43
44
45
Cheese
TORJULVÅGEN, Norway
4.3
46
Dessert
NORWAY  and  2 more regions
4.3
47
Snack
BODØ, Norway
4.2
48
49
50
Dumplings
NORTHERN NORWAY, Norway
n/a
51
52
53
Cheese
OSLO, Norway
3.8
54
55
56
57
Tart
NORWAY
3.6
58
59
60
61
62
Cookie
NORWAY
n/a
63
Rye Bread
SUNNMØRE, Norway
n/a
64
65
66
Soup
TRØNDELAG, Norway
n/a
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
Stew
NORWAY
n/a
77
78
Saltwater Fish Dish
WESTERN NORWAY, Norway
3.1
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
Cheese
NORWAY
2.8
87
Dumplings
AUST-AGDER COUNTY, Norway
n/a
88
Spread
NORWAY
2.5
89
90
91
92
93
Ground Meat Dish
ROGALAND COUNTY, Norway
n/a
94
95
96
97

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 97 Norwegian Foods” list until May 18, 2024, 1,493 ratings were recorded, of which 1,216 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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