1. Lohikeitto (Creamy Salmon Soup)
Lohikeitto is a creamy salmon chowder consisting of tender chunks of salmon, leeks, carrots, potatoes, and cream, and seasoned with fresh dill, salt and black pepper. The dish is served hot, and tastes creamy, hearty, and comforting – a perfect soup for a cold day. It is a popular dish found in Finland and other Nordic countries. Personally, Lohikeitto was one of my favorite dishes we tried in Finland!
2. Poronkäristys (Sautéed Reindeer)
Poronkäristys is a traditional Finnish dish of thinly cut sautéed reindeer, commonly served with mashed potatoes, pickles and lingonberry preserves. Each of these items complement each other very well. The refreshing pickles and lingonberry cuts through the rich taste of the reindeer and mashed potatoes, making it a perfect meal. If you’re curious what sautéed reindeer tastes like, it is similar to lean beef but with a hint of gameyness. I am typically not a fan of gamey meats, but the combined flavors of the dish altogether made the meal very tasty.
3. Korvapuusti (Cinnamon Rolls)
Korvapuusti is a sweet cinnamon roll made of cardamom-spiced dough and cinnamon swirls. It is a lot less sweet than your regular gooey cinnamon buns in the United States, and instead is a lot more dense. It is commonly topped with pearl sugar to add a delightful crunch in each bite. The shape is also distinctive, with the rolls shaped to look like ‘slapped ears,’ which is where the name originates from. They are found nearly everywhere in Finland – we bought ours from the grocery store!
4. Lasimestarin Silli (Pickled Herring)
Lasimestarin silli is a traditional pickled herring dish, often accompanied with rye bread, potatoes, or eggs. The herring is brined in a vinegar mixture, sometimes with ingredients such as raw onion, peppercorn, or dill. It can also be layered in a jar of marinade, such as a mustard marinade with vegetables. We were lucky enough to try both a traditional pickled herring and a mustard based herring homemade from our Finnish hosts in the Arctic Circle; both were delicious! If you like pickled foods, I highly recommend giving it a try.
5. Salmiakki (Salty Licorice)
Salmiakki is a black licorice candy with a unique twist: it’s flavored with salmiak salt. Salmiak salt creates a salty, slightly bitter taste, and sometimes the candy is even coated in more salmiak salt for extra intensity. It’s a strong flavored candy that is often said to be an acquired taste. I will be honest, when I first tried salmiakki, I was shocked at the intense salty flavor and am still not convinced it is actually a candy; however, it is a very popular candy originating from Finland so I had to give it a try. It is quite the experience, and I personally think you should try it out for yourself and see what you think.
6. Lihapyöryköitä (Finnish Meatballs)
Lihapyöryköitä is meatballs made of ground beef, bread crumbs, cheese, and spices. It is often blanketed in a gravy sauce and served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. I enjoyed this meal from the dining car on the train and loved it so much I came back twice.
7. Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian Pies)
Karjalanpiirakka is a small savory pastry consisting of a thin rye crust stuffed with creamy rice porridge. This delicious savory snack has a very simple salty taste with contrasting textures; the thin crispy crust provides a delightful contrast to the creamy filling. It is a very popular Finnish snack, and is found at nearly every grocery store. Karelian pies was the first food we tried in Finland after seeing it on a window display at a cafe. We had no idea what it was, but we were glad to have tried it.
8. Lakka (Cloudberry, Cloudberry Jam or Candies)
Lakka, also known as cloudberry, is a small berry fruit which is commonly found in colder northern regions. It looks similar to raspberries, but is an amber orange color, and tastes sweet, tart, and sour. When harvested, it is often turned into a jam, liquor, or candy. When we were in Finland, our Finnish hosts served us cloudberry jam and we enjoyed it enough that we brought some back for our family. We also bought cloudberry candies that tasted similar to the jam.
9. Kuivaliha (Reindeer Jerky)
Kuivaliha is finnish dried meat, and one of the common dried meats is reindeer jerky. Reindeer jerky tastes similar to beef jerky, but it has a gamey taste. Personally, I thought it tasted just like beef jerky except it had a strong gamey aftertaste. Not my favorite, but it was still interesting to try in a region where reindeers outnumber the human population. Reindeer jerky can be found at nearly all the grocery stores.
10. Leipäjuusto (Finnish Squeaky Cheese)
Leipäjuusto, also known as bread cheese, is a dense cheese with a squeaky texture and a caramelized crust. It has a mild creamy taste with a slight sweetness from the caramelized crust. It reminded me of a denser and slightly sweeter version of cheese curds.
11. Karhu Pâté (Bear Pâté)
Yes, you read that right – bear! I personally did not get to try this, but Finland is one of the unique places that sells bear meat pâté to eat. If you are unfamiliar with pâté, it is a spreadable meat mixture that people eat on crackers, bread, and vegetables. If you’re up for a unique food experience and want to try bear, you can find them at the grocery stores.
12. Mustikkapiirakka (Finnish Blueberry Pie)
Mustikkapiirakka is a custard filled blueberry pie with a shortbread crust, almost like a blueberry cheesecake. I personally did not get to try this when I was in Finland, but I included it in this list because it was highly recommended by the Finnish people on the internet.
