Introduction
Cuisine inspired by Scandinavia is known for being straightforward, fresh, and healthy. It uses naturally sourced components, preparing them minimally but nutritionally well, which is a fabulous idea for everyday meals. If you have busy days and not enough time to prepare elaborate meals, these Scandinavian-inspired recipes will work in your favour which are quick and easy.
1. Open-Faced Sandwiches: A Classic Scandinavian-Inspired Lunch
Smørrebrød/ Smörgås also known as open-faced sandwiches are a staple in Scandinavian cuisine. These open-faced sandwiches typically consist of a slice of pumpernickel bread and several different fresh and delicious toppings.
Topping Suggestions:
Smoked Salmon and Avocado: Slices of smoked salmon are topped with creamy avocado and sprinkled with dill and lemon juice.
Pickled Vegetables and Cream Cheese: Spread generously with your favorite cheese spread and topped with pickled vegetables made from beets, cucumbers and onions ( get these all at Elf & Shelf!).
Eggs and Shrimp: KAVLI shrimp cheese spread, topped with boiled egg slices and a sprig of dill.
2. Quick and Easy Nordic Salad Bowls
Nordic Salad Bowls are nutritious and quick to assemble. All the included ingredients are a mixture of fresh grains, protein and leafy greens vegetables.
Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients: Toss leafy greens with pickled beets, crumbled goat cheese, and rye croutons. Dress with a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, mustard, and honey.
Smoked salmon and kale bowl: toss kale with smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Dress lightly with lemon-dill sauce.
3. Scandinavian-Inspired Lunch Wraps for Busy Days
Whole grain wraps filled with Scandinavian produce quickly and efficiently serve as a packed lunch.
Recipe Ideas:
Herring and mustard: smear mustard onto a whole grain wrap, layer on pickled herring inside, sprinkle fresh dill, and add sliced cucumbers.
Roasted Vegetables and Soft Cheese: Spread with soft cheese and stuff with roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnip. Top with arugula and your favourite pickles for a tangy and fresh mouthful.
4. Simple Scandinavian Soups for Lunch
Scandinavian soups are hearty, nutritious, and often easily prepared in advance.
The Famous Soups
Pea soup: Made with onions, dried split peas and ham, it’s a classic. It cooks quickly and stores well for several days. Creamy soup with chunks of fresh cod, potatoes, and leek. Flavored with dill, it’s served with a slice of rye bread.
Presto Seafood Soup: Elf & Shelf’s secret cheat seafood soup- and you’ll score full marks for it. It will only take 15 minutes of preparation time and 15 minutes of cooking time. The heartwarming soup is flavourful yet light. If you like seafood, this soup is the one you should try out. You can also find the other Scandinavian dish recipes at Elf & Shelf Recipes section.
5. Hearty Scandinavian Grain Bowls
Barley and rye are among the most common grains used in Scandinavian cooking.
Grain Bowl Recipes
Barley and Roasted Root Vegetables: Cook up some barley and top it with roasted carrots, parsnips, and beets. Finish the dish with a handful of nuts and a drizzle of tahini sauce. Rye and Nut Salad: Cooked rye grains, roasted butternut, cranberries, and toasted almonds with a honey-mustard dressing.
6. Scandinavian-Inspired Pickled Vegetable
Pickling is vital to Scandinavian produce, preserving vegetables at their peak during seasonal harvests. They add a layer of complexity to recipes and are the preferred way of cutting through a rich and heavy dish.
Quick Pickling 101:
Pickled vegetable: Soak various freshly cut vegetables, like carrots, cucumbers, and radishes, in a brine of vinegar, water, sugar, and salt for at least 24 hours. For an easier, you can buy ready-made pickled vegetables from Elf & Shelf.
7. Scandinavian Eggs for Busy Days
With numerous preparation methods and great ease in making them, egg dishes make an excellent option for a lunch in the rush.
Simple Recipes:
Dill Egg Salad: Mix chopped hard-boiled eggs with KAVLI crayfish or KAVLI shrimp cheese spread, sour cream, chopped dill, and mustard. Serve it on rye bread or use it as a wrap filling.
Eggs Scrambled with Smoked Fish: Cook up some scrambled eggs and serve with flaked smoked fish such as salmon or trout. Serve with Elf & Shelf pickles as a side.
8. Quick and Delicious Scandinavian Smoothies
Smoothies are a quick, nutritious way to handle lunch on the go mainly when you use Nordic ingredients.
Basic Smoothie Recipes:
Berry and Yogurt Smoothie: Blend Nordic berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, with yogurt, a banana, and a splash of milk.
Green Nordic Smoothie: a combination of spinach, cucumber, and apple, made into a velvety texture with a dollop of yogurt.
9. Easy Scandinavian-Inspired Grain-Free Options
For the grain intolerant, there are several alternatives among the grain-free foods of the Scandinavian palate.
Grain Free Recipes
Cauliflower rice bowl: Grated cauliflower with toppings of smoked salmon, avocado, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Pesto Zoodles: Dill and almond pesto-coated zucchini noodles, tossed. Add in some cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced radishes for colour and crunch.
10. Nordic-Style Snack Platters for a Light Lunch
Snack platters work well as a light, flexible meal and are extremely easy to assemble.
Cheese and Nut Platter: An assortment of KAVLI cheeses with crackers, nuts, dried fruits, and Elf & Shelf pickled beets and pearl onions.
Fruits and Seed Platter: Serve a colourful arrangement of fresh fruits, such as apples and pears, with seeds, and set out a small dish of honey or yogurt for dipping.
Conclusion
Even the busiest person can find inspiration in Scandinavia’s fresh and healthy lunch ideas. Try out these recipes, as well as many more Scandinavian inspired recipes, on the Elf & Shelf website.
