Norwegian Christmas Food: Traditional Dishes for the Holidays

Pinnekjøtt

One of the most traditional and beloved Christmas dishes in Norway is pinnekjøtt, a savory and unique delicacy made of lamb ribs.

There are countless surveys out there, because us Norwegians are obsessed with knowing what everyone is eating on Christmas Eve, and one of the most recent shows that 34% of Norway’s population eat pinnekjøtt for Christmas.

Side note: in western Norway alone, that statistic rises to 69%!

The literal translation of pinnekjøtt is “stick meat,” and that name is fittingly named this because the meat is soaked in water, and later steamed together with actual wooden sticks to remove the salt. Birch sticks are preferrable, and some people do get these from nature themselves (all though you can also buy them).

This is a traditional dish that my family eats every Christmas, and one we look forward to all year!

Pinnekjøtt is a dish that is steeped in Norwegian culture and tradition, and is something that any traveler to Norway should experience at least once. It is a unique flavor that is difficult to replicate, and the process of preparing it is a rewarding experience.

If you want to try pinnekjøtt yourself, most restaurants in cities around Norway serve Christmas food starting from late November to the end of December. My favourite restaurant in Bergen, Bryggeloftet, is great at it!

To make it yourself, you need a large pan and the sticks. Here’s a recipe from VisitNorway!

Pinnekjøtt is traditionally served with potatoes, a broth-based gravy and nepastappa (they call it kålrabi-stappe in Eastern Norway). The latter is basically a mash made out of root vegetables, with kohlrabi as the main ingredient.

Ribbe

Ribbe is a crispy pork belly with lots of “crackling” on top – and it’s delicious! In fact, an astonishing 44% of the Norwegian population eats ribbe on Christmas Eve. It’s no wonder why ribbe has been a favorite of Norwegians for centuries!

Personally, I prefer ribbe over pinnekjøtt. But don’t tell my family – pinnekjøtt is a traditional favorite by the fjords and I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings..

It’s actually quite easy to make ribbe at home – just be sure to prepare it with good-quality ingredients. The key is to make sure the skin is especially crispy, whilst keeping the meat moist and chewy!

Ribbe is traditionally served with red cabbage, potatoes, thick sausages (called julepølse, Christmas sausage) and medisterkaker (yummy meatballs). There are several cookbooks available with recipes for making the perfect ribbe (here’s one on Amazon).

Lutefisk

Lutefisk is a very interesting dish, favored by a small percentage of the population for Christmas (around 2-3% if my research is correct).

However, lots of people (my parents included) make sure to have lutefisk at least once during the month of December.

Lutefisk is a dried cod that is cured in lye, making it an acquired taste. But for those who really enjoy it, lutefisk is one of the oldest and most traditional Christmas dinner dishes in Norway.

Lutefisk may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But for those brave enough to try this famous dish, it can be an incredibly flavorful and satisfying meal. The key is to prepare it correctly – the lutefisk must be cooked slowly and carefully to ensure that the delicate flavor of the fish comes out.

The lutefisk is often served with boiled potatoes, melted butter, and other traditional accompaniments such as aquavit or beer. It can also be combined with various sauces and spices to give it an extra kick. Those who really love lutefisk will often make special batches for Christmas dinners with their families and friends.

No matter how you feel about lutefisk, it’s hard to deny that it is an important part of Norwegian culture. So why not give it a try this Christmas and see if it’s something for you? Who knows – you might just find that you can’t get enough of this unique and flavorful dish!

If you want to make any of the famous Norwegian Christmas dinners for yourself, this Scandinavian holiday recipe book contains lots of recipes!

Julegrøt

Norwegian rice porridge, or ‘julegrøt’ as we like to call it, is a traditional Christmas meal that is served in Norway. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, many families like to share a hearty meal of this delicious porridge for lunch.

The dish is made of rice boiled in milk and seasoned with cinnamon, sugar, and sometimes cardamom. To add a bit of mystery and fun to the meal, most families hide a single almond in the porridge. Whoever finds it is the winner, and usually the prize is a pig made of marzipan (a very important tradition, and something you understand if you grew up in Norway).

This unique dish is a must-try if you are exploring Norway. Its rich flavors and unique tradition make it a unique and enjoyable experience that you won’t soon forget.

So why not break out of your tradition of eggnog and give Norwegian rice porridge a try this holiday season? You won’t regret it!

Grandiosa Frozen Pizza

It feels kind of ridiculous to include this, but a common joke amongst Norwegians is that our national dish is Grandiosa, a frozen pizza that has been popular for decades.

In a 2011 Christmas food survey 200.000 Norwegians answered that they eat Grandiosa on Christmas Eve! I’m not sure I believe it, but at the same time I have no proof that it isn’t true.

So, if you want to try something truly Norwegian, grab this pizza next time you’re in the supermarket.

Sheep’s Head & Other Norwegian Christmas Dinners

While ribbe and pinnekjøtt are the traditional dishes for Norwegians on Christmas day, there are some other meals that are equally as delicious and delicious and no less traditional.

Cod, turkey and roasted ham are slightly less popular choices for Christmas dinner in Norway. Of course, we also have to keep in mind that around 11% of Norwegians are vegan or vegetarian, so there are also many who eat meat-free on Christmas.

One dish that is not common all around the country, but famous everywhere for it’s … distinctiveness … is smalahove. Smalahove is literally half a sheep’s head, and considered a delicacy in Norway. The head is steamed, salt-cured (like everything else that is traditional in Norway) and smoked.

Personally, I don’t like it very much, but then again, I don’t love the taste of sheep/mutton. However, I have friends who love it! The name actually derives from the norse word Hǫfuð, which was the name of Heimdall’s sword (and a famous Norse symbol).

Below is a photo I took the last time I went out for a Christmas dinner with friends, Ida ordered the smalahove. You have been warned, it is literally what it sounds like.

Norwegian Christmas Cookies and Desserts

Now that we have covered the most popular amongst Norwegian Christmas food (dinner wise), it’s time to move on to our traditional desserts and cookies!

Riskrem

Riskrem is my all time favourite meal for Christmas in Norway. Yes, it’s a dessert, but I am honestly more excited for it than any of the dishes I have mentioned above.

Riskrem is made with the leftovers from the rice porridge eaten earlier in the day, and the name translates to “rice cream”.

This is a pretty accurate name, because the recipe includes both rice porridge and whipped cream. The simple dessert is served with raspberry sauce and sugar on top, and is so, so yummy.

Even just writing this I’m excited for Christmas now!

Karamellpudding

The other traditional dessert served for Christmas here in Norway is karamellpudding – caramel pudding.

Before you say anything, no, it is not “like flan”. I hear that every time I explain what it is, and every time I have to correct people. I have tried flan, and it is not the same. Karamellpudding is much better (in my humble opinion).

Karamellpudding is quite difficult to make, and in my family at the moment my mum is the only one who knows how to do it. Grandma taught her, and now she delivers karamellpudding to my aunt’s and sister’s house every Christmas.

It is also served for other events and holidays in Norway, such as baptisms and confirmations, so it is not purely a Christmas dish.

The Norwegian American has published a recipe using American ingredients – and I highly recommend you try making this at home!

De 7 slag (and other Christmas Cookies)

Now onto the most traditional Norwegian Christmas food: our cookies. We take our Christmas cookies very seriously here in Norway, and you’ll find that loads of people bake every December in preparation. Even people you wouldn’t expect, such as yours truly.

In Norway, it is a common tradition to make “7 Slag” – 7 traditional Christmas Cookies. These are all set, so when someone tells you they are making 7 cookies, you already know which ones they are.

The 7 Norwegian Christmas Cookies are:

• Goro
• Fattigmann (Poor Man’s cookies, because the ingredients were expensive back in the day so you’d be poor after)
• Smultring
• Berlinerkranser
• Sandkaker
• Krumkaker
• Sirupsnipper

My friend Silvia has several of these recipes on her Scandinavian food blog: Scandinavian Cookbook!

Kakemenn – My favourite

My absolute favourite of the Norwegian Christmas cookies is the kakemann (cookie man). This is also the only cookie I make every year.

Kakemann is a traditional Christmas cookie from Norway that looks like a white gingerbread cookie (but tastes better). It is made with a unique ingredient called hornsalt or ammonium bicarbonate, which is very popular in Norwegian traditional cooking.

The cookie is usually decorated with colourful patterns, adding to its festive look. In my opinion, kakemann is a must-have in any Norwegian Christmas celebration and is sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces!

Pepperkaker – including a fun recipe song!