These Swedish Fish Dishes You’ll Want to Know
Sweden and fish have been inextricably linked for years. Swedish cuisine is home to dozens of traditional dishes in which fish takes center stage. An unfamiliar area for many of us. That’s why we’re happy to brush up your knowledge with this top three of typical fish dishes.
Rimmad Lax or Gravad Lax
Gravad Lax—you know, the pickled salmon sliced into thin pieces. Often eaten as a starter. Rimmad Lax, on the other hand, is (still) relatively unknown. Unfairly so, because it’s at least as delicious. But what’s the difference? Not much, except for the ratio of sugar to salt used to cure the salmon. Rimmad Lax uses more salt than sugar, resulting in a firm, briny flavor. Gravad Lax has a milder taste because more sugar or even honey is used for it. Because of the difference between salty and sweet, Rimmad Lax is more often eaten in the afternoon, while Gravad Lax is eaten in the morning. Both are delicious with rye bread or Stuvad Potatis: potatoes cooked in milk with dill, parsley and chives.
Toast Skagen
You’ll find this fish dish on almost every menu in Sweden. Toast Skagen is traditionally made with fresh pink shrimp in a sauce of sour cream, dill and lemon. What makes this dish typically Swedish is the fish roe (löjrom) on top. These eggs come from a small species of salmon that swims only in the waters around Sweden. Extra special! Toast Skagen is most often eaten as a starter, but it’s also surprisingly delicious on a drinks platter. You can find a good recipe for making Toast Skagen yourself here.
Inlagd Sill
Wait, what? Inlagd Sill, in other words: pickled herring, goes way back in Swedish food history. Inlagd Sill used to be made to survive the harsh winters without starving. Today, it’s more of a festive fish dish, eaten at Christmas or Easter. There are an incredible number of varieties of Inlagd Sill. Just like Gravad and Rimmad Lax, the herring is pickled in vinegar and salt or in vinegar and sugar. The added herbs and spices give it an extra delicious flavor. The tastiest version may well be Senapssill. This variety is pickled in mustard sauce, giving the fish a sweet and spicy flavor. Whether you buy Inlagd Sill at the supermarket or from the fishmonger, the quality is almost always good.
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