Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

DRINKING

How Norway can change your eating and drinking habits

People's habits change in subtle ways when they move abroad, but how does Norway affect eating and drinking? We asked The Local Norway readers.

Published: 23 October 2019 18:07 CEST
Updated: 12 December 2021 09:19 CET

How Norway can change your eating and drinking habits

Are you a fan of brunost? Photo: Geshas/Depositphotos

When you first move abroad it’s likely you’ll still be craving baked beans and pouring milk into your tea (well, maybe not everyone – but I still do both of these after many years).

Here are some of the ways Norway has changed your eating and drinking habits. Thank you for your responses!

“I eat less Greek yoghurt because dairy products are so expensive. Compared to the UK, it’s more than four times the cost for one litre making an everyday item into a luxury food,” Peter, who lives in Oslo, wrote.

“I freeze more food so that it can be used later. I buy food from different retailers. I guess I see what’s in season and go for that. As a vegetarian, I tend to go for variety and that isn’t something I see in your average Rema 1000,” he added.

Peter wasn’t the only person to suggest that less variety is available in Norwegian stores and that this affects the way they eat.

“We need to improvise with available things. Many products, fruits and spices are not available,” wrote Boban Vesin, who lives in Tønsberg.

“We miss sausages, and a bigger variety of meat,” Vesin said.

But overall the effect of Norway on eating habits – in particular healthy eating habits – was described positively in the responses we received.

Grønlands Torg in Oslo. Photo: Depositphotos

“I eat a LOT more fish,” one reader, Katalin Banyai of Frederikssund, wrote, although she also mentioned that fruit and vegetables were of worse quality in Norway than in previous places of residence.

“I eat way less sugary and salty snacks since they are so expensive in Norway. I have also quit eating fast food since there isn’t one on every corner like home,” wrote Ólöf Magnúsdóttir, who lives in Østfold.

“Unfortunately I also eat less organic food since moving here because the selection in normal grocery stores is very little, to nothing. Something I wish will improve in the future,” she added.

Other readers echoed those sentiments.

“(I have) managed to eat less fast food and more healthier food (since moving to Norway),” wrote Aini Hanafiah from Indonesia.

What of traditional Norwegian food or eating traditions? We also asked readers whether any specific culinary habits had rubbed off on them.

“Having ‘turkaffe’ [Norwegian hiking coffee, ed.] is nice, accompanied with skillingsboller [cinnamon rolls], vafler and kvikklunsj,” Hanafiah wrote.

Two readers named traditional Christmas dish svineribbe (pork belly) as their favourite Norwegian eating habit.

“Ribbe… are so delicious and crispy,” one reader, Penny, wrote in her response.

Mysost or brunost, Norway’s famous brown cheese, got a couple of mentions – if indirect ones.

Brown cheese on waffles and cardamon in boller [rolls] were named by Peter as his favourite tastes of Norway.

“We like candies, crackers and Norwegian cheese,” Vesin wrote.

Meanwhile, Magnúsdóttir proclaimed Sørlanda chips as “probably the best snack ever made”.

READ ALSO: What are the best ways to save money in Norway?

Five dishes that every newcomer to Norway should try at least once

Norway’s culinary heritage offers a treasure trove of traditional delicacies waiting to be discovered.

Just as its landscape inspires a sense of wonder, so too do Norway’s time-honoured dishes, each telling a unique story of the country’s history, culture, and connection to the land and sea.

READ MORE: The Norwegian foods considered to be the best in the world

The cuisine reflects the country’s deep-rooted ties to its natural surroundings, from hearty stews made with locally sourced lamb and cabbage to exciting fish soups brimming with freshly caught seafood.

For newcomers eager to explore Norway’s culinary landscape, there are several must-try delicacies that The Local deems bucket-list worthy (we’re keeping it mainstream and steering clear of more extreme dishes such as smalahove, a sheep’s head dish, or rakfisk, a fermented fish dish).

Plukkfisk

A family enjoys plukkfisk at the Pingvinen bistro in Bergen, western Norway. Photo by: Robin-Ivan Capar / The Local Norway

Plukkfisk

A comforting, delicious, and filling dish, plukkfisk features cod or other white fish mashed into potatoes. In western Norway, it’s usually served with bacon, pickled vegetables, flatbread, and butter.

This dish holds a special place in Norwegian culinary tradition, as it pays homage to the resourcefulness of past generations.

In times past waste was not an option, plukkfisk emerged as a clever solution to utilise every bit of food available.

Leftover fish scraps from the previous day’s catch or meal were combined with mashed potatoes, ensuring that nothing went to waste.

This frugal approach to cooking reflected the practicality of Norwegian culture and underscored the importance of making the most of what nature provided.

Furthermore, potatoes and root vegetables – key elements of the dish – are fundamental staples in Norwegian cuisine, serving as essential sources of sustenance in a land where agricultural conditions above ground can be inhospitable.

You can try this dish in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, in several establishments that offer traditional cuisine, such as Pingvinen, close to the city centre. As of the time of writing, they offer the dish for 249 kroner.

Farikal pot

Fårikål is usually cooked in a large and deep pot and served with boiled potatoes. Photo by Frank Zhang on Unsplash

Fårikål

Considered one of Norway’s national dishes (voted as such on two occasions, the last time being in 2014), fårikål, a slow-cooked stew made with lamb or sheep meat, cabbage, and peppercorns, is a winter favourite in many Norwegian households.

The dish is usually cooked for hours and served with potatoes (boiled in their skins).

Autumn holds a special significance for fårikål enthusiasts, as it marks the traditional season for enjoying this dish. The last Thursday in September in particular is related to fårikål, as it aligns with the peak time for lamb slaughter.

This seasonal connection is rooted in Norway’s sheep farming traditions, where lambs born in the spring are ready for slaughter by autumn, making fresh lamb meat abundant.

The dish’s origins are somewhat uncertain, but it is believed to have been influenced by Danish culinary traditions.

Historically, fårikål likely gained popularity during the 20th century, coinciding with the availability of head cabbage and the tradition of using fresh meat.

Reindeer

A grilled reindeer fillet with brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and lingonberries served at Byrggeloftet og Stuene in Bergen. Photo by: Robin-Ivan Capar / The Local Norway

Reindeer steak

For a taste of Norwegian wilderness, many people opt to indulge in reindeer steak, a tender and flavorful meat usually served with lingonberry sauce, potatoes or parsnip puree, and perhaps a side of roasted vegetables or mushrooms.

This pricey delicacy embodies the rugged spirit of Norway’s northern regions, and it’s often found on restaurant menus during the Christmas season.

READ MORE: The traditional Norwegian Christmas foods you should know about

The dish is likely to cost anywhere from 400 to 650 kroner, and you’ll usually be offered red wine to accompany your meal.

In late November 2023, a grilled reindeer fillet with Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and lingonberries cost 525 kroner at the higher-end traditional restaurant Byrggeloftet og Stuene, located along Bergen’s harbour.

Looking beyond the price tag, if you’re big on steaks and meat in general, it’s well worth splurging and trying reindeer at least once, especially if it’s for a festive occasion (such as julebord gatherings and parties that take place throughout Norway in December).

READ MORE: ‘Julebord’: Norway’s Christmas party culture explained

Fiskesuppe

A plate of Bergen fish soup at the Enhjørningen seafood restauran in Bergen. Photo by: Robin-Ivan Capar / The Local Norway

Bergensk fiskesuppe

Hailing from the coastal city of Bergen, this creamy fish soup is made with a variety of locally caught seafood, including cod or pollock, salmon, and shellfish, and simmered in a rich fish broth with vegetables (carrots, leeks, and others) and herbs.

Its signature taste comes from the crème fraîche or sour cream, white wine vinegar, and white vine.

Both Byrggeloftet og Stuene and Enhjørningen are renowned for their Bergen fish soup, so visiting any of the two to try this dish is a safe bet.

Speaking from personal experience, this is the first Norwegian dish that really rocked my tastebuds after I moved to the country. The unique blend of fish, cream, and vinegar pairs incredibly well, creating a taste combo that was completely new and original to my Mediterranean diet-conditioned palate.

Another upside to preparing this soup yourself is that you can have it done really fast – it usually takes me around 45 minutes to prepare a pot of Bergen fish soup that can feed 4 to 5 people.

Pop a few baguettes in the oven to warm up while you put the finishing touches on the dish. Once they’re ready, slather them with salted butter and serve them alongside the soup.

Gravlaks

Gravlaks on offer at the Bergen Fish Market in the city centre. Photo by: Robin-Ivan Capar / The Local Norway

Gravlaks

Last but not least, we recommend gravlaks, a Scandinavian speciality of cured salmon marinated in a mixture of sugar, salt, and dill.

The term gravlaks originates from grav (dig) and laks (salmon), referencing the practice of burying salmon in the ground, as in the medieval era, gravlaks was prepared by fishermen who preserved salmon by salting and fermenting it, burying the fish in the sand above the high water line.

EXPLAINED: Why Norway is so obsessed with salmon

Today, fermentation is rarely used in gravlaks production. Instead, the salmon is typically marinated for a few days.

During this process, the moisture from the salmon transforms the dry marinade into a concentrated brine.

While this method can be applied to other fish, salmon remains the most popular choice.

Usually, it is sliced thinly and served on rye bread or with potatoes.

You’ll be able to easily find gravlaks in most Norwegian cities and towns – on fish markets, in most fishmonger isles at the higher end grocery stores such as Meny, and even as a meal staple in hospital cafeterias that prepare food for women who have just given birth.

Url copied to clipboard!