Northern Europe
Food of Norway
The 6 most iconic national dishes of Norway — real photos, key ingredients and tasty facts behind every plate.
Europe
Fårikål
Norway’s best-known traditional stew, made by slowly cooking mutton or lamb with cabbage and peppercorns. It is simple, hearty and deeply savory, especially suited to autumn.
Did you know?
Fårikål is widely regarded as Norway’s national dish and even has its own annual Fårikål Feast Day in late September.
Rakfisk
A traditional fish dish made from trout or char that is salted and fermented for months, then eaten without further cooking. It has a pungent aroma and a rich, tangy flavor often balanced with flatbread and sour cream.
Did you know?
Rakfisk has been preserved and eaten in Norway since at least the Middle Ages.
Lutefisk
This classic Nordic dish is made from dried whitefish rehydrated and treated with lye before cooking. The result is a soft, delicate fish with a distinctive gelatinous texture and mild flavor.
Did you know?
Because of the lye treatment, lutefisk must be soaked repeatedly before cooking so it becomes safe to eat.
Kjøttkaker
Norwegian meat cakes are larger and softer than many meatballs, usually served with brown gravy, potatoes and peas. They are a staple of home-style comfort food across the country.
Did you know?
Kjøttkaker are a classic example of husmannskost, the traditional everyday fare associated with Norwegian home cooking.
Svele
A soft, pan-fried Norwegian pancake, thicker than a crêpe and often eaten with butter, sugar or brunost. It is mildly sweet and especially associated with western Norway.
Did you know?
Svele became famously linked with fjord ferries, where they were long sold as a beloved onboard treat.
Smalahove
A traditional western Norwegian delicacy consisting of a sheep’s head that is singed, salted and steamed or boiled. The meat is rich and gelatinous, and the dish is strongly tied to old rural foodways.
Did you know?
Smalahove is especially associated with Voss, where it was historically eaten before Christmas and helped use every part of the animal.