World Flavors Cookbook

Finland Recipes

Finnish cuisine is characterized by its simplicity, freshness, and deep connection to the land and sea. Built on staples like rye, potatoes, fish, and berries, it reflects a culture of self-sufficiency and the changing of the Arctic seasons.

Recipes from Finland

• Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian Pasties)

  Traditional rye-crust pasties filled with creamy rice porridge, often topped with rich egg butter.

• Poronkäristys (Reindeer Stew)

  Thinly sliced reindeer meat sautéed in butter and simmered in beer or stock, served with creamy mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.

• Lohikeitto (Finnish Salmon Soup)

  A creamy, comforting salmon soup featuring fresh dill, potatoes, and leeks. The ultimate Finnish comfort meal.

• Pannukakku (Finnish Oven Pancake)

  A custardy oven-baked pancake that puffs up in the oven and is traditionally served as a weekend breakfast or dessert.

• Ruisleipä (Finnish Rye Bread)

  Dense, sour, and dark rye bread. A staple of the Finnish diet and a symbol of national identity.

• Kalakukko (Fish and Pork Bread)

  A traditional dish from the Savo region, featuring a rye crust filled with small fish (vendace) and fatty pork, slow-baked for several hours.

• Mustikkapiirakka (Finnish Blueberry Pie)

  A classic Finnish summer dessert with a shortbread crust, juicy wild blueberries, and often a creamy sour cream filling.

• Hernekeitto (Finnish Pea Soup)

  A thick, green split-pea soup slow-cooked with smoked ham hock, traditionally served on Thursdays with mustard and followed by pannukakku.

• Lihapiirakka (Finnish Meat Pie)

  A deep-fried doughnut-like pastry filled with a savory mixture of ground meat and rice. A legendary Finnish street food.

• Kaalikääryleet (Cabbage Rolls)

  Boiled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of ground meat and rice, baked with syrup and butter until caramelized.

• Maksalaatikko (Liver Casserole)

  A traditional casserole made from ground liver, rice, and raisins. A polarizing but iconic staple often eaten with lingonberry jam.

• Siskonmakkarakeitto (Sister Sausage Soup)

  A nostalgic Finnish soup made with "sister sausages" (raw, mild sausages squeezed from their casings) and root vegetables.

• Imelletty Perunalaatikko (Sweetened Potato Casserole)

  A traditional Christmas dish where mashed potatoes are naturally sweetened through a slow-heating process with flour.

• Lanttulaatikko (Swede/Rutabaga Casserole)

  A spiced rutabaga casserole, a mandatory component of the Finnish Christmas "Joulupöytä".

• Porkkanalaatikko (Carrot Casserole)

  A sweet and savory carrot and rice casserole, another Christmas classic.

• Rosolli (Finnish Beetroot Salad)

  A colorful layered or mixed salad of boiled beetroot, potatoes, carrots, pickles, and onion, served with a pink whipped cream dressing.

• Leipäjuusto (Finnish Bread Cheese)

  A squeaky, baked cheese traditionally made from reindeer or cow colostrum milk, served warm with cloudberry jam.

• Graavilohi (Salt-Cured Salmon)

  Fresh salmon cured with a mixture of salt, sugar, and plenty of fresh dill. A must-have for all Finnish celebrations.

• Muikut (Fried Vendace)

  Small, whole freshwater fish coated in rye flour and fried in copious amounts of butter. A staple of Finnish market squares.

• Silakat (Fried Baltic Herring)

  Baltic herring fillets sandwiched with dill, coated in rye flour, and fried until crispy.

• Poronfilee (Reindeer Fillet)

  Exquisite reindeer tenderloin pan-seared and served with a reduction sauce of Lapland berries.

• Hirvipaisti (Moose Roast)

  Slow-roasted moose meat, rich and gamey, traditionally served at the end of the hunting season.

• Korvapuusti (Finnish Cinnamon Rolls)

  Sweet, cardamom-spiced dough rolls with a cinnamon-sugar filling, shaped like "slapped ears".

• Laskiaispulla (Shrove Tuesday Bun)

  Cardamom buns filled with either almond paste or strawberry jam and a massive cloud of whipped cream.

• Mämmi (Easter Rye Pudding)

  A unique Easter pudding made from malted rye flour and orange zest, slow-baked until dark and thick.

• Runebergintorttu (Runeberg Torte)

  A rum-soaked almond and ginger cake topped with a ring of white icing and a dollop of raspberry jam.

• Tippaleipä (May Day Funnel Cake)

  Crispy, bird's nest-like fried dough, heavily dusted with powdered sugar and served on May Day (Vappu).

• Sima (Finnish May Day Mead)

  A sparkling, citrusy fermented drink made with lemons, brown sugar, and raisins.

• Lihapullat (Finnish Meatballs)

  Soft and savory meatballs made with a mix of ground meat and breadcrumbs soaked in cream, served with brown gravy.

• Kaalikeitto (Finnish Cabbage Soup)

  A simple, healthy soup of cabbage and meat, slow-simmered until the cabbage is sweet and tender.