Finland Feasts (Common Cuisine, Desserts, and More)

The people of Finland rely heavily on foods like potatoes, cabbage, and turnips. More common than that is smoked cold fish, lox, and gravlax (salmon marinated in sugar). Finnish meatballs are also increasing internationally, gaining popularity. They are made from either beef or reindeer and mixed with breadcrumbs and chopped onions. Made of powdered rye flour and malt rye, Mammi is a traditional sweet Finnish Easter dish stemming from the 13th century. Reindeer is also a hot commodity, especially during the coldest times of the year. It is eaten either sautéed, served cold, or smoked for tenderness.

Common Simple Recipes

Pannu Kakku (Finnish Oven Pancake)

Ingredients: powdered sugar, 4 cups milk, 4 tablespoons melted butter, 4 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup sugar

Directions: -Beat eggs.Add milk, sugar, salt, vanilla and flour.

-Mix well.

-Add melted butter and mix until blended.

-This will be a thin batter.

-Pour into a greased 9×13 pan.

-Bake at 400 degrees for approx.

-40 minutes- until custard is set and top is nicely browned.

-Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

-Serve with warmed syrup or jam.

Karelian Hot Pot — Finnish Three-Meat Stew

Ingredients: 1 lb beef stew meat, 1-inch dice, 1 lb pork stew meat, 1-inch dice, 1 lb lamb stew meat, 1-inch dice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 large onions, peeled and sliced, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons peppercorns, 8 allspice berries, 2 bay leaves

Directions: -Brown all the meat cubes in the oil.

-Place half of the sliced onions in the bottom of the crockpot, cover with half of the meat, and sprinkle with half of the salt, peppercorns, allspice, and a bay leaf.

-Repeat the layers

-Pour in 1 cup water, cover crockpot, and allow to cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender.

-If desired, serve over cooked potatoes, mashed potatoes or cooked rice

Pannukakku

Ingredients: 400 ml flour, 150 ml sugar,1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar, 800 ml milk, 2 eggs, 100 g butter

Directions: -Heat the oven 225*C / 425*F.

-Melt the butter and let it cool down awhile.

-Mix all dry ingredients together.

-Add milk, eggs and melted butter. Whisk.

-Pour it on sheet pan (mine is 37cm x 39 cm x 4 cm = 15″ x 15″ x 1,5″).

-Let it bake about 30 minutes.

-Serve with strawberry, apple or rasberry jam.

Simple Desserts

Finnish Butter Cookies

Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter, softened, 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar, 1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 egg white, 1/3 cup ground almonds

Directions: -Cream butter and 1/4 cups sugar.

-Stir in almond extract.

-Add 1 1/4 cups flour and mix well.

-Knead in remaining 3/4 cups flour

-Cover and chill at least 2 hours

-Roll out onto a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness

-Cut with a 1 1/2-2 inch cookie cutter.

-Place on ungreased baking sheets.

-Beat egg white until foamy and brush over cookies

-Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and almonds.

-Bake at 350 F until lightly browned, about 7-8 minutes.

Strawberry Snow

Ingredients: 500 g strawberries, hulled, 2 large egg whites, at room temperature, 1/2 cup caster sugar, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1/4-1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or to taste), 6 -8 strawberries, sliced, for garnish, mint leaf (to garnish)

Directions: -Puree strawberries in a food processor or blender.

-Combine strawberry puree, egg whites and sugar in a bowl and beat until stiff and glossy.

-Add vanilla to cream, and whip mixture until peaks form.

-Gently fold cream mixture into strawberry mixture.

-Spoon into a serving bowl and garnish with strawberry slices and mint (if desired).

-Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

-This can be made a day ahead. Good luck keeping everyone else in the house out     of it.

Finnish Cranberry Whip (Vatkattu Marjapuuro)

Ingredients: 2 cups fresh cranberries, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water,

1 dash salt, 1/3 cup farina

Directions: -Heat cranberries in 1 1/2 cups water to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered    until berries pop, about 8 minutes.

-Press cranberries through sieve to remove skins. return juice to saucepan. Add sugar, 1 cup water and the salt; heat to boiling.

-Add farina gradually, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.

-Pour into small mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until pudding becomes fluffy and light pink, 3 to 5 minutes.