Top 10 Finnish Seafood Dishes
When you think of Finland, what comes to your mind? Perhaps, it’s the Northern Lights, snowy landscapes, or Finland’s saunas. But did you know that Finland is also known for its delicious seafood dishes? As a country surrounded by the sea, Finland offers an array of seafood delicacies that are definitely worth trying. In this blog post, I’ve compiled the top 10 Finnish seafood dishes that just might make your mouth water!
1. Loimulohi
Have you heard of Loimulohi? Well, it really isn’t a dish but a unique Finnish cooking technique that’s definitely worth putting on your bucket list to try one day!
It’s a fantastic way to prepare salmon or rainbow trout in the traditional Finnish style. The process involves seasoning the fish with sea salt, lemon juice, honey, and juniper berries and then smoking it on a wooden plank placed over an open fire. The cooking time varies with the distance from the coals, but once it’s done, the smoky fish can be eaten right off the plank.
Loimulohi is popular in Finland, especially in the summertime, when people enjoy cooking and eating outdoors. If you ever have the chance to try Loimulohi, don’t miss out! It’s a true delicacy that will leave you craving for more.
2. Kalakeitto
Have you ever tasted a traditional Finnish soup called Kalakeitto? This delicious soup is popular in Finland, especially during the colder months.
Its main ingredient is fresh fish (selected from a wide range of amazing options — salmon, rainbow trout, vendace, pike, perch, zander, or burbot) that is combined with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions, and leeks and seasoned with dill, allspice, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. The addition of butter and ruokakerma (Finnish cooking cream) creates a creamy broth with a rich and satisfying taste. This delicious soup is best served with traditional Finnish rye bread and a side of lemon wedges.
This dish has been a staple of Finnish cuisine for centuries — in fact, Finland loves its fish soup so much that it started celebrating National Fish Soup Day (Kalakeittopäivä) in 2018! This event happens on the second Tuesday in February and aims to encourage people to boost their consumption of fish. So, join the celebration and indulge in a steaming hot bowl of fish soup today!
3. Fried Silakat
If you want to experience Finland’s traditional fish dish, you must try Silakat. To create this delicious meal, small Baltic herrings — known as silakka in Finnish — are used as the main ingredient. The process involves dredging herring filets (with their skin attached!) through a blend of flour, pepper, salt, and lime zest before lightly frying them in hot oil or butter.
Just before serving, the herring filets are seasoned with crushed sea salt and served up with your choice of mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, or zesty lime wedges. And if you’re in the mood for something tangy, fry them up and then pickle them with vinegar, carrots, bay leaves, and onions—just delicious!
4. Lohikeitto
Have you ever tried Lohikeitto? This creamy salmon soup is a traditional Finnish dish that has been enjoyed for many years. Lohikeitto became popular during the 19th century when salmon fishing was at its peak in Finland.
The ingredients of Lohikeitto are simple yet delicious, consisting of potatoes, onions, carrots, salt, pepper, dill, and of course, fresh salmon. The preparation is just as easy — the ingredients are boiled together in water until the potatoes are tender and the salmon is cooked through. Then cream is added to create a thick and rich consistency. Lohikeitto is often served with rye bread, and it’s the perfect comfort food on a cold day.
Whether you have Finnish roots or simply love a hearty soup, Lohikeitto is a must-try dish that’s sure to warm your soul!
5. Kalakukko
Looking for a tasty Finnish dish with a convenient twist? Look no further than Kalakukko! With its fish and bacon filling baked inside a thick rye bread crust, this traditional meal has been a favorite since the Middle Ages.
This unique idea was originally invented by very hardworking folk who needed a way to take a full meal with them while they were gone all day working. Kalakukko is the perfect way to enjoy a hearty and delicious lunch, no matter where your day takes you.
This nutritious and satisfying dish is prepared with various types of fish like vendace, perch, or salmon, and is sometimes mixed with other types of meat and/or vegetables. Although its origin is associated with Savonia, Kalakukko has become the nation’s favorite seafood dish and one of the most authentic Finnish dishes. So don’t miss out on this culinary masterpiece steeped in Finnish cultural history!
6. Sillikaviaari
Are you asking what is Sillikaviaari? It’s a traditional spread from Finland made with marinated herring, boiled eggs, onions, dill, sour cream, mustard, and capers. The herring is chopped into small cubes and blended with all the other ingredients to create a delicious tasty spread. I suggest using a mild, slightly sweet mustard in this recipe for the best tasting results. Sillikaviaari is usually served on rye bread or crackers, but can also top boiled new potatoes for a delicious flavor twist.
Sillikaviaari has been popular in Finland for generations, and its history can be traced back to the country’s early days of fishing. The dish has evolved over time, with each family adding their own special touch to the recipe, resulting in a wide variety of unique flavor combinations.
Sillikaviaari is a must-try dish for anyone visiting Finland, as it represents the very essence of Finnish culinary tradition. And this dish is so simple, why not try your hand at making your own batch of Sillikaviaari, and experience a piece of Finnish history right in your own kitchen?
7. Smoked Vendace
Did you notice I have mentioned this fish named “vendace” twice already? Did you wonder what exactly it is? Well, vendace is a small freshwater fish native to Finland’s lakes. Despite their diminutive size, vendaces have played a big role in Finnish cuisine for centuries, particularly in the northern regions where they’re most commonly caught. Whether served grilled or smoked, these little fish are a staple of Finnish cuisine and a testament to the country’s proud culinary traditions.
So… Smoked Vendace is prepared by first gutting and salting the small freshwater fish before hot-smoking them over a fire. The resulting flavor — a marriage of salty, smoky, and fishy — is undoubtedly unique and has made this dish extremely popular in Finnish cuisine.
While Smoked Vendace is often served with scrambled eggs or mashed potatoes, it’s sometimes enjoyed just by itself as a quick and satisfying snack. Some people even take it with them on long hikes as a source of protein. If you’re a fan of smoked fish, then Smoked Vendace is definitely worth a try. With its tender yet satisfying texture and unique flavor, it’s sure to delight even the most discerning of palates.
8. Graavilohi
Let’s talk about Graavilohi! It is a traditional Finnish dish that never fails to impress. Its history dates back centuries, with the dish being used as a preservation method for fresh salmon caught from the chilly Nordic waters.
Today, this preservation technique is still used and combines fresh raw salmon with sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, along with herbs like dill, fennel, and/or juniper berries. After a few days of curing in the fridge, the result is a succulent, flavorful, tender salmon.
The dish is usually served as an appetizer, thinly sliced and paired with rye bread and a creamy dill sauce. Its fresh, light flavor and simple preparation make it an easy favorite among locals and tourists alike!
9. Rapujuhla
The Finnish Crayfish Boil Party, also known as Rapujuhla, is a celebrated tradition in Finland. It occurs every year in late July when the crayfish are in season, and this lively event usually takes place outside, near a lake or river.
The method for preparing crayfish for the Rapujuhla is serious business for the Finnish, and it is usually done 24 hours before the feast. The crayfish are boiled in big kettles with a mix of seasonings and herbs. After they are cooked, the kettles are placed in the lake or river to cool down so that the crayfish can be eaten cold with side dishes such as garlic bread, potatoes, and dill sauce.
Have you eaten crayfish before? If your answer is no, just know this — eating crayfish is not for the fainthearted! The Finnish use a special knife to open up these little beasts, and you can expect to see crayfish parts flying all over the table and hear plenty of slurping and sucking noises while everyone is extracting the meat and juices from the claws, tails, and bodies. And don’t forget the tomalley — the greasy, yellow crayfish “butter” that gets scooped from inside the shell and spread on toast!
10. Paistetut Muikut
And to round out my list of Finnish Seafood dishes, we have another appearance from vendace! Often sold as a street food and sometimes called “Finnish fish and chips” — let me introduce you to Paistetut Muikut!
These delectable morsels are made using whole vendaces which are gutted, cleaned, dried, and rolled in rye flour before being fried in butter until they turn a beautiful golden brown. The crispy skin paired with the juicy, flaky flesh inside is a result of this unique frying process.
Often served with mashed potatoes, this dish is particularly popular during the summer months when fresh fish is abundant and enjoyed alongside a cold beer or a glass of chilled wine.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it — the top 10 Finnish seafood dishes that will make you want to book a flight to Finland ASAP. From Loimulohi (smoked salmon) to Lohikeitto (creamy salmon soup)and everything in between, Finnish seafood dishes offer a unique and tasty experience. So, the next time you find yourself in Finland, don’t forget to try some of these mouth-watering delicacies!
Looking of a dessert to compliment your Finnish seafood dish? Take a look at my Top 10 Finnish Desserts & Sweets!
Hyvää ruokahalua!
