These Danish recipes bring the taste of Denmark directly to your own kitchen!
From dumplings to herring salad, these authentic meals are a welcome addition to your routine.
Like other Scandinavian countries, many Danish dishes are made with a few ingredients
.
They are made with simple meats and vegetables, and the desserts are not too sweet.
You won’t find too many processed ingredients, and just like the Swedes and Norwegians, Danes have a deep love for herring and pickles!
I hope trying any of these 20 delicious recipes inspires you to look for new dishes to take to your regular weekly rotation. Enjoy!
1. Danish Brunede Kartofler (caramelized golden potatoes)
Ok, then caramel-covered potatoes may seem a bit strange
.
But I promise it works, especially when paired with pork chops!
The salty and sweet combination is the same as you’ll get using sweet potatoes or adding apple sauce
.
If you can’t find new canned potatoes, you can use whatever you have on hand
. Be sure to
boil them until tender before adding them to the sugar mixture
.
2. Danish meatballs
We are used to meatballs and marinara. The tender meat with tomato sauce works wonders with pasta or in a submarine, and it’s a favorite for a reason.
In Europe, you will find mainly meatballs served with a creamy sauce and potatoes.
Instead of using egg, this recipe calls for half and half or milk to help bring it all together.
For something extra special, maybe try this cranberry sauce that is favored in Sweden.
3. Danish chicken and asparagus pies
If you’re
looking for snack food that goes beyond potato chips and chicken wings, the Danes have you covered
.
Who doesn’t love a mini cake or pie full of salty chicken and creamy sauce?
One of my favorite shortcuts in the world has to be frozen cake crusts. And the fact that you can buy minis is just a lifesaver!
Between those and the six ingredients you’ll need for the filling, you can have them ready to serve in less than an hour.
4. Smørrebrød (open sandwiches)
The first time I ordered a sandwich in Sweden, I was surprised when it came without a lid
.
But I quickly fell in love with the concept, and to this day, I will eat my sandwiches this way
.
More like artwork, I love being able to see all the colorful ingredients. And not having a top piece of bread means they’re not that heavy.
Using a good dark rye bread means it will taste wonderfully rich and an excellent sturdy base for all those ingredients.
Be sure to start with fish before moving on to meats and cheeses.
5. Agurkesalat (Cucumber Salad)
Vinegar and pickled foods are very popular in Denmark, and you’ll often find something like this served as a side dish
.
Thinly sliced and mixed with onions, vinegar and salt and pepper, they will be pickled quickly but will maintain their crunch. These are wonderful served with
roasted pork or when added to a salad to increase flavor
.
6. Rugbrød (
Danish rye bread)
Bread can be quite a controversial topic when talking to Europeans
.
What we consider black bread – pumpernickel or rye bread – is often too sweetened and not dark enough compared to traditional European rye bread
.
This recipe is as traditional as it gets. The crumb is moist but not fluffy and light.
It’s full of seeds and nuts for texture and includes dark beer for deep flavor.
For maximum flavor, let the dough sit for two days (yes, you read that right). This will allow you to ferment and improve the flavors perfectly.
7. Flæskesteg (Danish roast pork rind)
There was always a fight over crunching in my house!
It can be achieved by cutting deep into the pork skin, though not down to the meat
.
Pat dry and cover well with coarse sea salt, inserting it into the grooves
.
The joint will need to be roasted at high temperature to achieve the crackling bark
.
8. Danish Kringle
This wonderful cake originates from the pretzel family
.
It can be super lightweight, full of layers and have a variety of fruity fillings
.
This is a bit simpler, using a yeast-based sweet dough to create the classic oval shape
.
The dough will be soft, so be careful when handling it.
When filled with brown sugar and nuts, it’s almost like a cinnamon roll, especially when you add the frosting!
9. Danish Potato
Salad Potato
salad
is a big deal across the pond, and each country has its own version of the barbecue favorite
.
Some will add hard-boiled eggs and sausages and others will go for chopped pickles
.
Whatever you choose, it will be delicious.
It turns out that I am in love with mustard dressing in this dish, and it is one of my favorites.
Mix it with capers, parsley and green onions, and you’ll have a fresh shot that’s not as heavy as other recipes.
10. Koldskål (Danish
whey dessert)
As mentioned above, Danes do not like desserts that are too sweet
.
That is clear in this simple little dish
.
Made by mixing buttermilk with yogurt and sugar, it can be served with fruit for breakfast or after dinner
.
11. Karbonader (Danish
pork pies) The
Danish version of a schnitzel (which is a thin piece of pork), these are made with ground pork. The
pork burger is kept simple with breadcrumbs, an egg and salt and pepper
.
Once covered in the breadcrumbs, the burgers should be fried in oil for about 8 minutes in total.
These make an excellent, crunchy alternative to pork chops or meatballs.
12. Red berry
pudding with cream
One of the most popular Danish desserts, this pudding combines sour rhubarb with sweet strawberries and tart red currants
. Once
the fruit has softened, it thickens like a jam with a little cornstarch. Once cooled
in the fridge, the fruit mixture will be fixed and served with plenty of cold cream
.
13. Pølse (Classic Danish Hot Dog)
Although you can use any sausage you prefer, it must be completely pork, smoked and extra long to be authentically Danish.
Where Americans prefer chili dogs or just lots of mustard and onions, Danes like to put everything from sweet pickles to apples on their hot dogs.
If you want to do everything possible, try preparing a batch of Danish remoulade.
14. Danish Meatloaf When it comes to
meatloaf
,
I often find that it can be dry and a bit of a note
.
This meatloaf, however, is anything but!
Use ground beef and sausage meat for all that great meaty flavor and incorporate sweet chili and blue cheese.
This might not be the prettiest thing when you take it off the plate, but the onion and pepper toppings with being tender and full of flavor.
15. Æbleflæsk (Danish apple pig)
This may sound like apple and pork chops, but it couldn’t be further from that
.
This open sandwich is a layer of cooked apples and onions, served on a slice of rye bread
.
It can be as smooth or crunchy as you prefer
.
Everything is topped with thick, fried slices of marbled pork belly.
It’s not as thin as bacon, but you could use that as a substitute if it’s all you have.
16. Rødkål (Danish red cabbage)
Cabbage is a basic garnish in most European households. Some
like it
finely shredded and mixed with pork, and others like to pickle it
.
What I love about this variation has to be the color
.
Even after cooking for an hour, it keeps some of its bite and will add so much vitality to your dish
.
17. Remoulade
This classic seasoning can be used in sandwiches, with chips, as mentioned above on that fantastic hot dog!
There are a few different variations of this sauce. Most will include diced pickles, and some will include curry powder.
I’m a big fan of this New Orleans-specific remoulade
.
But the Danish variation is super delicious and works great on everything from pork to fish
.
Feel free to check out other recipes to find one that works best for you
.
18. Sillsallet (herring salad)
Every aspect of this dish screams Scandinavia!
From pickled
beets and herring pieces to boiled potatoes and dill pickles, it’s everything you’d expect from Danes and more
.
You will always find this dish served during the holidays, and it is such a traditional part of a heterogeneous Danish blend
.
19. Danish hashish
This dish is a great way to use some leftovers
.
You will need boiled potatoes that you will fry in a pan until they are crispy and golden
.
For onions, using shallots will add such lovely sweetness, but you can use any you have
.
Just add your cooked cold meat towards the end, so that it has time to warm up but not dry out
.
20. Danish Pancakes
Like crepes, these are super-thin pancakes served with everything from jam and sugar to ice cream
.
Slimming them down can be challenging and will require a bit of practice
. The trick is to make the dough as
smooth as possible and lift the pan off the heat while rotating the dough to get a thin layer.
When cooked, They should have a slightly sharp edge and a pale golden color.
