Authentic Norwegian Cooking

- Traditional scandinavian cooking made easy -

Astrid Karlsen Scott

Cover design by Brian Peterson, Cover photo from Shutterstock

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Book Details

Price	4.00
Pages	320 p
File Size	6,862 KB
File Type	PDF format
ISBN	978-1-63220-775-3 (ebook)
Copyright©	2011, 2015 by Astrid Karlsen Scott

Acknowledgments

There are many people who contribute, often unaware over a period of time, to the writing

of a book. For instance, from childhood I grew up around women who were good cooks,

who served nutritious and lovingly prepared food. They did not know then, nor did I, that

they created memories for future generations.

Likewise, on my visits to Norway, opportunities to sample the best in traditional

Norwegian food created a curiosity in me that also contributed to this book. I wish to

thank all the excellent Norwegian cooks who, surely unwittingly, inspired me to keep

Norwegian food traditions alive in America.

I deeply appreciate the assistance and liberal help of the following experts in Norway

and America: Anna-Karin Lindstad, Division Manager Nutrition Department at Tine; Liv

Gregersen Kongsten, Home Economic Consultant at Forma A/S; Britt Kåsen, Home

Economic Consultant, Office of Information for Fruit and Vegetables; Oda Christensen,

Press/Food Consultant Information Office for Eggs and Meat; Guri Tveit, Home

Economics Consultant, Information for Eggs and Poultry; Gunvor Holst, Adviser

Norwegian Seafood Export Council; Norwegian Dairy Industry, mediebank.tine.no; Evan

Nordahl, Office for Information for Meat; Ingrid Espelid Hovig, Culinary Expert, TV

CHEF, and Senior TV Producer Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation; Bodil Bergan,

Chief Guide, A/S Freia; Norwegian Seafood Export Council, King Oscar, USA, INC.;

Norwegian Potato Industries; Eva Melsæter, Food Editor Hjemmet; Ellen C. Daatland,

Food Editor, Familien; Chr. Schibsteds Forlag; J. W. Cappelens Forlag A/S; Torunn

Linneberg, Olympia Utvikling, Troll Park A/S.

I acknowledge the favorite recipes shared by Dr. Thor Heyerdahl, Eva Johannessen,

Edith Jaques, Else Rønnevig, Sigrid Juul Røset, Marianne Lindboe, and Helga Jonassen.

I am grateful to Marleigh (Martha) Harrison and Steinar Bjarne Karlsen for

illustrations.

To Julie Matysik, my editor at Skyhorse Publishing, I am grateful for her professional

confidence, her skill, and upbeat attitude.

And always to my husband Scotty, our children, their spouses, and my grandchildren, I

am thankful and secure in their eternal love and reassurance.

Astrid Karlsen Scott

Introduction

Norway is a winterland where snow covers most of the country for more than half of the

year. It also is a land of mountains where only 3 percent of the land can be cultivated.

Norway has a long rugged coast with many fjords, and half of the country lies north of

the Arctic Circle. However the weather is milder than one would expect because of the

Gulf Stream that crosses the Atlantic from America. People in the past subsisted on

minuscule land because the sea provided an abundance of fish.

Nature and climatic conditions caused the Norwegians to adapt to the circumstances

where they lived. Diverse food traditions developed through the centuries in north and

south Norway, as well as in the east and the west.

Notwithstanding, mingled with these food traditions, a deep friendliness and sincere

hospitality unfolded toward strangers. In the ancient Edda poems, Håvamål, it is written:

“… the man who has traveled in the mountains needs food and drink.”

It is self-evident that people took advantage of the summers because of the long difficult

winters. They needed time to till the ground, to plant, and to harvest crops, yet in many

places the climate was such that the grain did not ripen. The people received their main

nourishment from grain, meat, fish, and milk. The fish farmers along the coast always kept

a cow and a few sheep. Inland they sowed barley and oats on the minuscule land available.

They would say, “Grain is borrowed from God” or often, “Grain is life.”

The life-sustaining potato was not grown in Norway until the late 1700s. The so-called

potato-priests from their pulpits encouraged people to cultivate potatoes. Today many

Norwegians clearly remember the war years, 1940–1945. In many homes hunger would

have been unbearable had we not been able to grow potatoes.

The Norwegian people learned early from experience to preserve food. They learned

various conservation methods. Cattle and goats gave little milk during the winter months,

but the summer milk was churned to butter and made into cheese. Many Norwegian

cheeses have a long history, and even today we think that gammalosten—a pungent sour

milk cheese—and goat cheese are among the best. Many new cheeses have a milder taste

like the gudbrandsdalosten, something many enjoy.

The old farmers attempted to be self-sufficient. However, no matter how remote some

farms were, salt was necessary for all. Most meat was salted down. Fresh meat was

provided only for certain days, like church holidays and other important celebrations.

From the middle ages the grain was ground in water gristmills. Up to the 1800s grains

were mostly used for flatbread and porridge. Porridge, a food for all, was often eaten with

sour milk, a piece of cured meat, or a few pieces of flatbread. Porridge was vassgraut (gruel

usually made with barley) and rømmegraut, sour cream porridge. Vassgraut has saved

many a life. Sour cream porridge (served with sugar, cinnamon, and currant juice) is

enjoyed as a celebration food even today wherever people cherish Norwegian food traditions.

Fresh meat was available in the fall when the animals were slaughtered. Many claim that

fårikål—lamb with cabbage—a typical dish served at that time is our national dish. One

could discuss how many spices to use. It was not a problem for Norwegians who managed

with whatever nature provided.

Lutefish and rakørret (cured trout) had a bad reputation in the old topographical

writings but are today a much enjoyed (and expensive) food served in restaurants and homes.

Notwithstanding, there was a marked difference between hverdagsmat, everyday food,

and foods served on feast days. Heavy physical labor required nourishment first. However,

at weddings and funerals, and other important social events, neighbors helped each other

with what was called sendings, a beautiful expression of unity by people who out of

necessity toiled heavily. They cherished the security and enjoyment of these gatherings.

Since World War II many foreign food traditions have been introduced to Norway, but

simultaneously, there is a deeper appreciation for the old food traditions. We cling to the

simple food of two open-face pieces of bread, in place of lunch. On the 17th of May

(Norway’s Constitution Day), we are only too pleased to be invited for sour cream

porridge and cured meat.1*

With her thorough knowledge of cooking, and of Norwegian recipes and a background

in tradition and popular food usage in Norway, Astrid Karlsen Scott has produced a book

that rightly deserves the title of Authentic Norwegian Cooking.

The translated poems and her own youth and childhood memories from Norway add

much to the charm and genuineness of her work, and also make it enjoyable reading apart

from the recipes.

Dr. Olav Bø

Professor of Philosophy

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Norwegian Table Prayer

Appetizers

Open-Face Sandwiches

Soups

Salads

Sauces

Dessert Sauces

Fish

Shellfish

Meat, Poultry, and Game

Sandwich Meats

Vegetables

Norwegian Cheeses and Dairy Recipes

Desserts

Candies

Breads, Flatbread, Lefse, and More

Cakes and Pastries

Creams, Frosting, and Glazes

Cookies and Waffles

Parties

Spice Chart

Special Help

Sources

Credits

English Index

Norwegian Index

Screenbook

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