Tag: Special occasion

Close-up view of swede casserole in a glass dish. I portion has been taken out

Swede Casserole

Finnish Christmas casseroles vol.2: Swede Casserole. Swede Casserole (Lanttulaatikko) is one of the oldest and most beloved Finnish Christmas dishes. Swede Casserole has a very distinct flavour, it’s slightly sweet with a hint of spices, usually from ginger and nutmeg. Just like its cousin Carrot Casserole, Swede Casserole is traditionally served as a side dish to baked ham and/or fish. Heads-up though, boiling and cooking swedes may not be the most pleasant of smells, but please don’t judge this humble dish based on the whiff — let the flavour do the talking!

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Close-up view of carrot casserole in a glass dish with a serving spoon. Red and green candles are lit on the background

Carrot Casserole

Finnish Christmas casseroles vol.1: Carrot Casserole. Oh my, this dish is so delicious! Carrot Casserole (Porkkanalaatikko) is a staple at the Finnish Christmas table alongside swede, potato, and sometimes liver, casseroles. However, when it comes to most people’s favourite Christmas casserole, carrot one is usually the winner. It is sweet and creamy, comfort food at its best! Carrot Casserole is traditionally served as a side dish to baked ham and/or fish, but it is actually very filling and foody as it has some rice in it as well. Just to warn you, you will be going back for seconds…

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Close-up of ring doughnuts on wooden board

Finnish Doughnuts

Our Finnish Doughnuts with cardamom (Munkki in Finnish) are amazing, for me they are hands-down the best sugar doughnuts I’ve tasted! Seriously, you have to try them! Although be warned, it takes a lot of self-discipline not to devour them all in one sitting… These doughnuts are typically served as a part of Finnish May Day (Vappu) celebrations, with a glass of sima of course!

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Two glasses and a jug of sima on a blue place mat. The picture is taken outside, tree and house are on the background

Sima ‑ Finnish May Day Drink

Sima is a refreshing soft drink that’s traditionally enjoyed during May Day celebrations in Finland. It tastes slightly lemony, but is also quite sweet and fruity with a hint of fizziness. Sima is made by fermentation and since the process of making it is similar to mead, sometimes it’s translated as ‘Finnish mead’. This recipe is super easy to make but allow up to a week for the fermentation process!

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Bird's eye view of pasha decorated with orange Smarties mini eggs and mint

Easter Pasha

Looking for something different to make over Easter? Try Pasha, a traditional Easter time’s dessert in Finland. It’s rich and creamy, but umm, I don’t really know how else to describe it. It’s a bit like a no-bake cheesecake, but cheesecake without the biscuit base and some bits inside. Fromage frais, cream and butter are the key ingredients – sounds delish, right?

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Finnish Runeberg cakes in yellow muffin cases on a wooden board

Runeberg Tortes

Runeberg Tortes (Runebergin tortut) are lush little cakes that celebrate Finland’s national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg’s (1804-1877) birthday on 5th February. The story has it that Runeberg’s wife Fredrika invented the recipe using the ingredients she had left in the pantry to satisfy her husband’s sweet cravings. Also according to the legend, Runeberg loved eating them for breakfast… I don’t know about the breakfast part, but they are damn delicious and instead of eating them only around his birthday, they should be baked all year round!

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