Uncover 25 Danish meals that you just’ll love whether or not you devour them in Denmark or at house.
Denmark’s conventional meals has a right away correlation to the rustic’s geography and local weather. However those aren’t the only parts that helped shape Danish delicacies…
We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the Danish other people themselves. Notable for each their sturdy paintings ethic in addition to their dedication to hygge, a idea that encourages a comfy and relaxed way of life, Danes have immediately influenced their nation’s delicacies.
A laugh Reality
The Danish vitamin is not anything new. Its roots date again centuries to Denmark’s Viking days.
Positioned north of Germany and south of each Norway and Sweden, Denmark is Scandinavia’s maximum southern nation. It’s flanked by way of each the Baltic and North Seas and has greater than 400 islands.
Danish winters have a tendency to be lengthy and chilly. Accordingly, Danes historically devour a preponderance of meat and boiled potatoes all through the wintry weather and numerous fish and contemporary berries all through hotter months. Irrespective of the season, in the community sourced meals, each farmed and foraged, can also be simply present in Denmark.
Don’t really feel unhealthy for the Danes…
Regardless of Denmark’s lengthy, chilly winters, Danes persistently rank as probably the most happiest other people on this planet. We select to imagine that this happiness is in part because of the rustic’s plethora of truffles and pastries. Danish candy treats indubitably make us glad!
Should-Consume Meals in Denmark
One week in Copenhagen reworked us from Danish meals learners to Danish meals lovers. We have now greater than two dozen Danish dishes and beverages that we’d luckily fly again to Copenhagen to revel in once more. And that’s now not even counting town’s wonderful eating place scene!
At some point, perhaps we’ll go back to devour Danish Christmas food and drinks Gloegg all through a December talk over with. However, for now, we’ve positioned our favourite Danish food and drinks into this to hand Denmark meals information which we’ve separated into the next classes for ease of use:
Conventional Danish Meals
We in particular flew to Copenhagen to revel in superfluous New Nordic Delicacies at Noma. Then again, we additionally sought after to revel in as a lot conventional Danish delicacies as imaginable all through our week-long talk over with. Some new-to-us Danish dishes, just like the display preventing Stjerneskud we ate at Schønnemann, stand out as highlights of our Denmark meals go back and forth.
Learn on to find our alternatives for the ten very best conventional Danish meals plus two conventional Danish dishes at the height of our listing to check out after we go back:
1. Smørrebrød (Sandwiches)
The speculation of topping a slice of bread with a protein, some vegetables and cheese or sauce might sound easy. However Denmarks’s humble Smørrebrød has grown from a elementary, nourishing, utilitarian, bread-based nineteenth century meal to a platform for modern-day chef-driven creativity.
Whilst one may hypothetically assemble a easy Smørrebrødet with a bit ham, cheese and lettuce, the Danes have taken their sandwich idea in new, thrilling instructions. Accordingly, Danish eating places In larger towns like Copenhagen and Aarhus be offering never-ending Smørrebrød topping combos along with conventional Smørrebrød choices.
Uncover nice Copenhagen eating places.
We began our private Smørrebrød adventure by way of consuming a sandwich crowned with grilled rooster and cooked potatoes and temporarily attempted some other crowned with egg salad after which some other crowned with conventional herring. Then again, we cherished Copenhagen Chef Adam Aaman’s ingenious Smørrebrøds – one crowned with dry elderly red meat tartare and some other crowned with chanterelle and oyster mushroom gravy – maximum of all.
Most often, the Danish like consuming Smørrebrød on thinly sliced Rugbrød, a gloomy complete grain rye that gives a healthy base for contemporary, native substances. Additionally they don’t like to combine proteins. Every component has its personal position within the building of the sandwich. There’s no muddling of flavors. There’s additionally a right kind technique to devour a Smørrebrød – with utensils and now not palms. This part sandwich is a regal Danish establishment however, maximum necessary, it’s a delectable meal.
The place We Ate Smørrebrød
Aamanns 1921, Schønnemann and Sonny
2. Stjerneskud (Taking pictures Stars)
Whilst the Stjerneskud is technically a Smørrebrød, this over-the-top dish is so particular that it merits its personal class and a reputation as epic as its element listing. Since stjerneskud interprets to taking pictures megastar, the Danes obviously consider us on this regard.
Legend has it that the Stjerneskud debuted within the Nineteen Sixties when a Russian cosmonaut visited Denmark which impressed the Stjerneskud’s identify. Whilst this legend might or is probably not true, there’s no debate that the Stjerneskud is a celebration on a plate with an element listing that comes with fried plaice (a flaky flat fish very similar to flounder), contemporary shrimp, remoulade sauce and a beneficiant dollop of Danish caviar.
The place We Ate Stjerneskud
Schønnemann
3. Tarteletter (Tartlets)
Not like French Tartalettes which can also be both candy or savory, Danish Tarteletter are historically full of savory pieces like shrimp and meatballs. Denmark’s most standard Tartelette has a mixture of each rooster and white asparagus.
Satirically, Tarteletter are particularly widespread all through the Christmas vacation when white asparagus isn’t in season. Since maximum Danish supermarkets promote canned white asparagus in addition to Tarteletter shells, house chefs can create the Danish meals favourite any time of 12 months together with December. Phew!
The place We Ate Tarteletter
Schønnemann
4. Fiskefrikadeller (Fish Meatballs)
Denmark isn’t the one nation to become fish into meatballs and truffles. After consuming fried fish patties as a ways away as Asia and as shut as Norway, we’re happy to file that Danish Fiskefrikadeller are as just right as any fish truffles we’ve eaten around the globe and higher than maximum.
Cod is the commonest fish utilized in Fiskefrikadeller which is sensible because the chilly water fish swims in Denmark’s frigid waters. Different conventional fish in Denmark’s Fiskefrikadeller recipe come with haddock and hake.
In different phrases, there’s multiple fish within the sea for chefs who wish to make Fiskefrikadeller in addition to for pescetarians or normal fish-o-files who wish to devour them.
The place We Ate Fiskefrikadeller
Aamanns 1921
5. Rød Pølser (Pink Sausages) – Danish Scorching Canines
Scorching Canines aren’t distinctive to Denmark.
We’ve eaten Scorching Canines in American towns like Buffalo, Chicago and New York in addition to in Nordic towns like Oslo and Stockholm. We will be able to now upload Copenhagen to this auspicious listing now that we’ve eaten the fantastic Danish meals favourite known as Rød Pølse at each a connoisseur pølsevogn (i.e. sausage wagon) and a 7-11 positioned proper by way of our Copenhagen resort.
Uncover extra nice sizzling canines around the globe.
Even though Danes were stuffing ‘crimson’ sausages within buns for a century, toppings stay Rød Pølser from being dull. Standard toppings come with onion (each fried and uncooked), mustard, ketchup, remoulade and sliced pickles. We piled all of those substances on height of our first Rød Pølser after which did it once more with our 2d. We’re not anything if now not adventurous creatures of addiction with a shared interest for boulevard meals.
The place We Ate Rød Pølse
Den Økologiske Pølsemand (DØP) and 7-11
6. Syltede Sild (Pickled Herring)
Herring has been a Danish meals staple for hundreds of years and was once instrumental within the expansion of Denmark’s capital town – the abundance of the bony fish in Copenhagen’s harbor even performed a very powerful function within the town’s construction as a Eu buying and selling middle. It was once just a subject of time sooner than citizens would imagine Pickled Herring to be a neighborhood delicacy.
Being descendants of Japanese Eu immigrants, we have now historical past with Pickled Herring too. That being stated, we approached sickly candy creamed herrings, served at circle of relatives gatherings after we have been youngsters, with dread. Then again, the Danes serve Herring in such quite a lot of arrangements that it was once not possible for us to not in finding Herring sorts that shall we revel in.
After consuming a pleasing Pickled Herring Smørrebrød at Aamanns 1921, we later found out that Schønnemann serves the native fish no less than 12 other ways together with pickled, spiced in curry or mustard and fried. On the finish of the day, our favourite means is unassuming – pickled and served on a Smørrebrød.
The place We Ate Syltede Sild
Aamanns 1921
7. Østers (Oysters)
Making an allowance for that Denmark has coasts alongside each the North and Baltic Seas, oysters must be ubiquitous and widespread. And certainly they’re each.
Actually, the Danes were consuming oysters for millenia. Now, with oysters going international, Danes can devour quite a lot of in the community raised French, North American and Danish bivalves.
Savvy oyster eaters know to prevent by way of town’s Torvehallerne central marketplace and grasp a couple of native oysters and a pint of beer. The duo is a superb aperitivo aggregate very best loved sooner than a standard Danish dinner.
The place We Ate Østers
Den Grønne Kutter at Torvehallerne
8. Rugbrød (Darkish Rye Bread)
Rugbrød in all probability won recognition in Denmark to because of the truth that rye grains develop significantly better in less warm climates. Nevertheless it’s greater than a Danish bread staple. The darkish, dense, multi-grain Danish rye bread is the everyday base for Smørrebrød.
In The usa, specifically in east coast towns like New York, rye bread is extra of a comfortable sandwich loaf with handiest about 30% rye flour. Denmark’s Rugbrød incorporates all darkish rye flour in conjunction with different complete grains like oats, linseed and pumpkin seed. In different phrases, it’s one hearty bread.
Rugbrød can keep contemporary for as much as every week at room temperature and, along with its function in Smørrebrød, makes a very good base for different toppings like cheese and smoked salmon. If, like us, you’ll’t discover a respectable bagel to your the city, Rugbrød makes a very good change when you wish to have a ‘platform’ to carry some cream cheese and smoked fish.
The place We Ate Rugbrød
Maximum Copenhagen Eating places and Hart Bageri
9. Kartofler (Potatoes)
Potatoes are a bit of of an anomaly in Denmark.
Danes were consuming the starchy vegetable for hundreds of years, firmly classifying Kartoffel as a standard Danish meals. The rustic even has a devoted potato museum. Then again, because it’s a hyper-local product grown on farms all through Denmark, potatoes even have a position within the New Nordic meals motion.
As soon as a meals staple maximum notable for being each affordable and filling, potatoes have cast a spot on trendy Danish menus and at native hamburger joints. Accordingly, Danes devour so much potatoes in all shapes and bureaucracy – greater than 150 kilos according to individual every 12 months. Danes even drink potatoes after they imbibe Aquavit.
The place We Ate Kartofler
Eating place Barr
10. Grød (Porridge)
Go away your impressions at the back of while you devour Grød in Denmark. That’s what we did after we ordered a bowl of the preferred Danish breakfast staple. Only one chunk blew our porridge impressions to smithereens.
Not anything like speedy oatmeal eaten in The usa or the Gruel that Dickens’ Oliver Twist famously asked “extra” of with out good fortune, porridge in Denmark is each wealthy and enjoyable. Fact be informed, it doesn’t harm when bowls of metal minimize oats come crowned with pieces like sliced apples, protein-filled nuts and caramel sauce.
The place We Ate Grød
Grød
11. Frikadeller (Meatballs)
Frikadeller are Denmark’s solution to Köttbullar (Swedish meatballs) and Fleischklößchen (German meatballs) either one of which we’ve eaten of their homelands. In Denmark, chefs make meatballs with both red meat or beef and every now and then each.
Make no mistake – those are multi-purpose meatballs. Danish other people devour Frikadeller with Kartofler and on height of Smørrebrød. Since we selected to devour fishy Fiskefrikadeller as a substitute of meaty Frikadeller, this Danish meals favourite is top on our consuming listing after we go back to Copenhagen
12. Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs (Roast Beef With Parsley Sauce)
Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs turned into an speedy Danish meals vintage when the beef dish won essentially the most votes in a 2014 contest to search out Denmark’s nationwide dish. While you consider it, the selection was once a no-brainer because it’s nearly not possible to not love the dish’s two major substances – crispy beef abdominal and potatoes.
The identify Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs actually interprets to roast beef with garlic sauce. No flash within the frying pan, it’s been a loved Danish dish for greater than a century. We will be able to’t wait to check out Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs after we go back to Copenhagen as a result of, to no one’s marvel, we adore crispy beef abdominal and potatoes too.
Truffles and Pastries
Denmark isn’t simply one of the vital global’s happiest nations. It’s additionally one of the vital sweetest because of the rustic’s plethora of truffles and pastries to be had at bakeries and eating places all through the land.
Within the nineteenth century, Danish bakers were given their unique inspiration for layered pastry known as wienerbrød from Austrian bakers. If you happen to’re now not aware of wienerbrød, they’re the pastries known as danishes out of doors of Denmark. Then again, lately’s Danish bakers aren’t simply copying Austrian bakers – they’ve taken the Viennese pastry idea to new and thrilling ranges. And don’t even get us stared about Danish morning buns.
Uncover nice Copenhagen bakeries.
After consuming A LOT of Danish pastries and truffles in Copenhagen, those are our favorites and those you shouldn’t omit:
13. Kanelsnegle (Cinnamon Snails)
Kanelsneglelmare are simply the most well liked pastry in Denmark. And why now not? We additionally love beginning our day with flaky, buttery, candy ‘cinnamon snails’ each in Copenhagen and at house in Portugal. In a fortuitous accident, we are living across the nook from a Copenhagen Espresso Lab in Lisbon.
Uncover extra cinnamon buns around the globe.
To bake Kanelsnegle, Danish bakers use a unique procedure during which they roll buttery, layered, yeasted pastry dough sooner than reducing the dough into thick discs. They sometimes upload bonus bits like chocolate and cardamom along with the Kanelsnegle’s extra conventional sugary glaze.
Danes historically ate Kanelsnegle on Wednesdays and known as them Onsdagssnegle, i.e. Wednesday snails. Possibly trendy Kanelsnegle must be known as Hverdagsnegle (on a daily basis snails) since Danish bakeries now promote the tasty pastries on a daily basis of the week.
The place We Ate Kanelsnegle
Meyers Bageri
14. Spandauers
Even though the Kanelsnegle is arguably the most well liked Danish pastry in Denmark, it’s now not the pastry that the general public recall to mind after they image Danish ‘danishes’ of their minds. That pastry is the Spandauer.
A laugh Reality
Denmark’s Spandauer pastry was once named after the Spandau Jail in Berlin. This jail additionally impressed the 80s one-hit surprise Spandau Ballet‘s identify.
The reputedly easy Spandauer is a vintage wienerbrød with its flaky, laminated crust and candy marzipan filling. Toppings like jam, fruit and cream raise the Spandauer and make it best for a day espresso destroy.
The place We Ate Spandauer
Hart Bageri and Juno the Bakery
15. Flødeboller (Cream Buns)
Ordering a Flødebolle in Denmark can also be complicated.
Even though Flødebolle actually interprets to cream bun, trendy Flødeboller are full of marshmallow as a substitute of the candy deal with’s unique cream filling. If you get previous the Flødebolle’s complicated identify, further confusion can ensue because of quite a lot of flavors like coconut, berry, interest fruit and licorice that go beyond conventional milk chocolate.
After we were given previous the confusion, we stored issues easy by way of opting for a chocolate-coated Flødebolle with a marzipan base and a vanilla marshmallow middle. Then again, gold flecks sprinkled on height made our Flødebolle particular.
The place We Ate Flødeboller
Candy Valentine
16. Drømmekage (Dream Cake)
Created in tiny Hjallerup greater than a century in the past, Drømmekage (i.e. dream cake) first stuck the rustic’s eye when the author’s granddaughter, Jytte Andersen, entered the homey cake in a baking contest. No longer handiest did her granny’s cake win the competition, but it surely additionally gained the love of a whole nation which now eats Drømmekage all through the 12 months however particularly all through the Christmas season.
Lately, bakeries in all places Denmark bake Marie Nielsen Højgaard’s sponge cake and height it with caramelized coconut. The result’s…. watch for it… dreamy.
The place We Ate Drømmekage
Andersen & Maillard
17. Sportskage (Sports activities Cake)
Some Danish dishes have doubtful histories and not using a definitive backstory. The Sportskage isn’t a type of dishes. As we discovered after we took a candy destroy at Conditori Los angeles Glace, the vintage cake was once created by way of the historical bakery in 1891 as a prop for a display known as Sportsmænd, i.e. Sportsmen.
To be transparent there’s not anything sporty in regards to the Sportskage aside from for its identify. As a substitute, it’s a decadent Danish dessert that tops a macaron base with whipped cream, beaten nougat and caramelized choux pastry.
Chances are you’ll love this cake while you take a look at it at Conditori Los angeles Glace. You may additionally wish to talk over with a gymnasium sooner than or after you devour it.
The place We Ate Sportskage
Conditori Los angeles Glace
18. Æblekage (Apple Cake)
If you happen to have been to invite ten other Danes about their favourite Æblekage, you’d most likely get different types of apple cake of their solutions. Satirically, maximum will most likely describe a dessert that’s extra like an apple trifle than an apple cake.
That creamy Danish dessert layers apple sauce, bread crumbs, cookie crumbles, nuts and whipped cream in a transparent glass vessel. It’s scrumptious but it surely’s now not the one Æblekage in Denmark. Different choices come with selfmade apple truffles crowned with sliced apples and small apple tarts offered in native pastry stores.
The place We Ate Æblekage
Bageriet Benji
19. Pølsehorn (Sausage Horns)
We smiled each and every time we noticed Pølsehorn at Copenhagen bakeries.
Even though Pølsehorn actually interprets to sausage horn, the savory, sesame seed-topped pastry seems like a complicated pig in a blanket. And who doesn’t love the preferred wedding ceremony cocktail hour appetizer?
We don’t have a solution to that rhetorical query since we like miniature sizzling canines surrounded by way of puff pastry. After attempting a Pølsehorn on our very final morning in Copenhagen, we will be able to now say that we additionally love Denmark’s larger, and dare we are saying higher, sausage model.
The place We Ate Pølsehorn
Hart Bageri
Sweet
Standard Danish sweets come with salty licorice, candy-coated licorice and licorice gummies. Then again, chocolate fanatics can revel in tasty choices produced in Denmark, Sweden and past too.
Since we adore each licorice (Mindi) and chocolate (Daryl), we have been intrigued each and every time we walked right into a Danish 7-11. Tempted to shop for each and every sweet at the shelf, we restrained ourselves because of well being ramifications and inflated Danish costs.
Then again, in spite of those causes, we couldn’t face up to attempting a couple of Danish sweets made by way of Toms, a Danish sweet conglomerate that dates again to 1924. Those are our favorites and those you wish to have to check out all through your talk over with:
20. Lakrids (Licorice)
Danes are mad for licorice sweet known as Lakrids in Denmark.
They devour each salty licorice drops and candy licorice gummies by way of the handful. They even devour licorice flavored ice cream and drink licorice infused Snaps. Whilst many American citizens can’t relate to this licorice obsession, we empathize since we’re passionate for merchandise made with licorice root too.
Purchase Lakrids from Amazon should you percentage our licorice interest or should you’re curious to provide Danish licorice a take a look at.
We’re particularly keen on Pingvins, comfortable licorice rods lined with chocolate, caramel and different candy flavors. No longer handiest did we pattern colourful Pingvins in Copenhagen, however we additionally purchased a bag to revel in later as an safe to eat memento.
The place We Purchased Lakrids
7-11
21. Chokolade (Chocolate)
Formed like turtles and full of caramel and rum cream, Skilpaddes were a Danish sweet favourite since Toms began generating the milk chocolate sweet in 1948. Rapid ahead to the current and Toms reportedly sells 41 million turtle-shaped candies every 12 months.
Lured by way of its glossy brown and gold wrapper, we purchased a pair Skilpaddes and taken them house with us to Lisbon. After unwrapping and consuming each, we briefly forgot about American sweet and turned into Skilpadde lovers too.
The place We Purchased Chokolade
7-11
Beverages
Our deep dive into Danish delicacies wasn’t restricted to standard meals in Denmark. We imbibed conventional Danish beverages too!
Even though Denmark has superb faucet water, the rustic produces quite a lot of sip-worthy drinks price ordering at eating places and bars. After consuming nearly up to we ate, those are the Danish beverages that made us say Skål (Danish for Cheers) over and over:
22. Snaps (Distilled Fruit Brandy)
To not be at a loss for words along with your granny’s peppermint Schnapps, Snaps is a potent potable that gives a significant kick. Produced in dozens, if now not loads, of herbal flavors, the normal Danish drink harmonizes with conventional Danish meals like butter on toast.
Aquavit, Denmark’s most famed Snaps, is flavored with both dill seed or carroway. Our favourite Snaps taste grew to become out to be rye bread, a desire that shocked our server. Very similar to licorice, rye is it seems that an received style that many American citizens haven’t but received.
The place We Drank Snaps
Aamanns 1921 and Schønnemann
23. Øl (Danish Beer)
It sort of feels like beer is in all places Copenhagen for just right explanation why – Danes produce, promote and drink a prodigious quantity of lager. No longer handiest do beer behemoths Carlsberg and Tuborg hail from Denmark as does the global craft brewer Mikkeller, however the town additionally has a large number of bars and microbreweries that serve beer all day and into the night time.
Even though we have been tickled by way of indicators proclaiming Carlsberg to “most likely be the most productive beer on this planet,” we most commonly drank craft beer at Copenhagen pubs and eating places. A spotlight was once consuming Mikkeller at its unique location. We’d prior to now visited a Mikkeller pub in Bucharest however there’s not anything higher than consuming Mikkeller’s superb beer on the supply.
The place We Drank Øl
Aamanns 1921, Amass Fried Rooster, Mikkeller Bar, Eating place Barr and Schønnemann
24. Faxxe Kondi (Lemon Lime Soda)
Faxe Kondi is the most well liked Danish soda but it surely’s now not the most well liked soda in Denmark. That doubtful honor is going to The usa’s Coca Cola. Then again, Faxe Kondi is Denmark’s hottest lemon lime soda duration. Sorry Sprite and 7-Up!
This recognition is not anything new. Faxe Bryggeri, a Danish brewery now owned by way of Royal Unibrew, introduced Faxe Kondi as a sports activities drink in 1971. Flavored with grape sugar along with glucose and sugar, the lemon lime soda doesn’t if truth be told include any lemons or limes.
The place We Noticed Faxxe Kondi
Copenhagen Markets and 7-11
25. Kaffe (Espresso)
We’re now not announcing that espresso makes other people glad BUT Danes drink numerous espresso and so they persistently rank as one of the vital happiest nations on this planet. Whilst it is usually a twist of fate, Copenhagen’s espresso scene made us glad too.
Possibly we have been so glad as a result of the spirit of hygge that permeates cafes all through Copenhagen. Or perhaps it was once because of the standard of town’s artisan espresso roasters. We adore to assume that it was once each.
The place We Drank Kaffe
We visited greater than a dozen forte espresso stores and incorporated our favorites in a complete Copenhagen espresso store information.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Denmark is legendary for its open-faced Smørrebrød sandwiches.
Most standard Danish meals comes to fish, meat and potatoes. Stegt flæsk, the Nordic nation’s nationwide dish, is made with crispy beef, parsley sauce and potatoes.
No. Tipping is non-compulsory in Denmark.
Snaps, beer and occasional are 3 widespread beverages in Denmark. Actually, the Danes rank fourth in international espresso intake.
