What to Taste in Norway

 

Wondering what is Norwegian food all about? Cuisine in Norway can certainly be described as unusual, unconventional, and surely not something you'd be used to eating on a daily basis. In case this northern region is on your travel agenda, make sure not only to enjoy the beauty of fjords but experience the culture and the national cuisine as well. On this page, we've put together a list of local delicacies you can taste during your Norway travel.

 

What to Eat & Drink in Norway

1. Norwegian Lutefisk
Norwegian Lutefisk

Speaking about Norwegian food traditions, the lion's share of the local diet is fish, and one of the most bright examples of their national fish dish is Norwegian Lutefisk. The preparation of this dried whitefish, mostly cod, is quite a timeconsuming process. Firstly, the fish is soaked in cold water for 5 days, and then in water with lye for an additional two days. Being an inherent part of a Christmas table, Lutefisk can be traditionally served with boiled potatoes and mashed peas or on its own. Already curious to try this specialty?

2. Farikal
Farikal

To continue the list of common Norway dishes, we can't omit farikal. This hearty dish is extremely easy to cook but quite nice to eat, especially during the cold season. To prepare such a stew you need very few ingredients: only cabbage and mutton, spiced by a little bit of pepper and salt. Farikal has been considered a national Norway specialty since the 1970s and is loved by locals throughout the country ever since. Are you one of those who appreciate simple yet tasty things?

3. Game Dishes
Game Dishes

Being real fans of nature's offerings, Norwegians often vary their diet with game dishes. Popping into some Norway restaurants, don't be surprised to find dishes with reindeer, moose, and ptarmigan meat on the menu. One more special feature of Scandinavian cuisine in general is the blend of meat and berry sauces. Thus, sauces of lingonberries or juniper berries are common local treats served with the meat. Be ready for tasty gastronomic experiments as they will definitely add to your Norway experience!

4. Pickled Herring
Pickled Herring

It is likely that pickled herring won't seem so exotic after the dishes mentioned above but, being a real hit eaten by locals all year round, herring proudly stands in the list of Norway's national food. Each Norwegian family uses a different recipe, pickling herring with onion, garlic, mustard, and sometimes even lingonberries. Pickled herring is usually eaten with a slice of dark bread or with potatoes, some Norwegians don't mind mixing pickled herring with sour cream. Whatever variation you try, it will definitely help you get the real taste of Norway!

5. Klippfisk
Klippfisk

Dried salted cod, called klippfisk, is another hallmark of Norway's food culture that you'll see in the majority of food markets across the country. In fact, drying cod by wind and sun on cliffs has been one of the main preservation techniques in Norway from the Viking times. Gradually, klippfisk became popular not only in Scandinavia but across the world, and countries of the Mediterranean and even America started exporting this specialty in great amounts. Before serving, klippfisk is soaked in water to remove the excess salt and boiled.

6. Norwegian Glogg
Norwegian Glogg

Taking into consideration that the majority of the year in Norway is dominated by cold and wet weather, glogg becomes a real lifesaver during chilly winter evenings. Glogg is one of the variations of the famous mulled wine drunk worldwide, but, apart from heated wine and various species like cinnamon and citrus, the secret ingredient of Norwegian Glogg is Aquavit. This strong spirit is also a popular Norway drink which adds particular piquancy to glogg, making it even more warming!

7. Voss Water
Voss Water

Perhaps the most famous export product of this Scandinavian country, Voss is the number one Norway drinking water. Noted for its purity, this still water is rich in minerals which are beneficial for health. Voss has become synonymous to what high-quality bottled water should be like, thus, when in Norway, make sure to have some for yourself.