This stunning, Danish, kind of addicting food goes out to all the people who love to make ingredients taste cozy. Without fail, I always get asked to bring something interesting to potlucks. And interesting dishes… well, you know how it is.
You really need to make it count, otherwise might as well forget it. It’s hard to compete with tacos and all the other yummy regulars. But these dishes are not forgettable. They have all the elements of a winner.
1. Danish Kringle
This incredible pastry actually has its origins in the pretzel family. It can be made super light with lots of layers and a variety of fruity fillings. This version is a bit simpler, creating the classic oval shape with a sweet, yeast-based dough.
A little heads up, the dough will be soft, so you’ll want to be careful when you’re handling it. After it’s filled with the brown sugar and nuts, it becomes almost like a cinnamon roll, especially once you add the glaze!
2. Sillsallet (Herring Salad)
Every single part of this dish just screams Scandinavia! It has everything you would expect from the Danes and even more, from the pickled beets and herring pieces to the boiled potato and dill pickles.
You are sure to find this dish served during the holidays, as it’s a very traditional part of a Danish smorgasbord.
3. Danish Meatloaf
When I think about meatloaf, I sometimes find it can be dry or a little one-note. This meatloaf recipe, however, is anything but that! It gets all that great meaty flavor by using both ground beef and sausage meat. And then it incorporates sweet chili and blue cheese.
It might not be the prettiest thing when you turn it out of the dish, but that topping of onion and pepper will be so tender and packed with flavor.
4. Smørrebrød (Open-Faced Sandwiches)
I fell hard for these on a trip once. The first time I ordered a sandwich and it came without a top, I was surprised! But I quickly came to love the concept and I still eat my sandwiches this way.
They are more like little works of art, and I love that you can see all the colorful ingredients. Not having that top piece of bread also means they aren’t as heavy.
Using a good dark rye bread gives you a wonderfully rich flavor and a great sturdy base for your toppings. Make sure you start with the fish before you move on to the meats and cheeses.
5. Rugbrød (Danish Rye Bread)
I’ve learned that bread can be a pretty controversial topic when you talk to Europeans. What we think of as dark bread, like pumpernickel or rye, is often way too sweet and not dark enough when you compare it with traditional European rye.
This recipe is as traditional as you can get. The crumb is moist, not fluffy and light. It’s also filled with seeds and nuts for texture and uses dark beer for a really deep flavor.
For the best possible flavor, you need to let the dough rise for two whole days. I know, you read that correctly! This allows it to ferment, which enhances the flavors perfectly.
6. Danish Chicken and Asparagus Tartlets
If you’re ever looking for some finger food that goes beyond the usual chips and chicken wings, the Danes have you covered. I mean, who doesn’t love a mini-pie or tart that’s full of savory chicken and a creamy sauce?
One of my favorite kitchen shortcuts has to be frozen pie crusts. The fact that you can get them in mini size is a total lifesaver! Between those and the six ingredients for the filling, you can get these ready to serve in less than an hour.
7. Danish Hash
This dish is such a fantastic way to make use of leftovers. You will need cooked potatoes, which you will pan fry until they are crisp and golden.
For the onions, using shallots will give it a lovely sweetness, but feel free to use any you have on hand. Just be sure to add your cooked, cold meat near the end so it has time to warm through without becoming dry.
8. Red Berry Pudding with Cream
This is one of the most popular Danish desserts you can find. The pudding is a combination of sour rhubarb with sweet strawberries and tart red currants.
After the fruit has softened, it’s thickened with some cornstarch, almost like a jam. Once it has chilled in the fridge, the fruit mixture will set. You serve it with lots of cold cream.
9. Pølse (Classic Danish Hot Dog)
While you could use any sausage you like, for it to be an authentic Danish hot dog, it needs to be all-pork, smoked, and extra-long.
Where Americans might prefer chili dogs or a ton of mustard and onions, the Danes enjoy putting everything from sweet pickles to apple on their hot dogs.
If you really want to go all out, try making a batch of Danish remoulade.
10. Danish Potato Salad
Potato salad is a really big deal across the pond, and every country has its own version of the BBQ favorite. Some will include boiled eggs and sausage, while others go for chopped pickles. No matter what you choose, it is going to be delicious.
I am personally in love with the mustard dressing on this particular dish; it’s one of my favorites. When you mix it with capers, parsley, and green onions, you get a fresh take that isn’t quite as heavy as some other recipes can be.
11. Æbleflæsk (Danish Apple Pork)
This might sound like it’s just apple and pork chops, but it is so much more than that. This open-faced sandwich starts with a layer of cooked apples and onions that are served on a slice of rye bread.
You can make it as soft or as crisp as you like. The entire thing gets topped with fried, thick slices of streaky pork belly. It’s not as thin as bacon, but you could definitely use that as a substitute if that’s what you have.
12. Agurkesalat (Cucumber Salad)
Vinegar and different pickled foods are extremely popular in Denmark. You’ll frequently find something just like this served as a side dish.
They are thinly sliced and mixed with onions, vinegar, and salt and pepper. This makes them quickly pickle while still keeping their crunch. I think these are wonderful when served with roasted pork or added to a salad for a little boost of flavor.
13. Danish Meatballs
We are definitely used to meatballs with marinara sauce. The tender meat and tomato sauce combination works wonders on pasta or in a sub, and it is a favorite for a good reason.
Over in Europe, though, you will usually find meatballs served with a creamy gravy alongside potatoes.
This recipe calls for half-and-half or milk instead of egg to help bind everything together. For a little something extra special, you could even try it with the lingonberry sauce that is so popular in Sweden.
14. Flæskesteg (Danish Roast Pork with Crackling)
In my house growing up, there was always a fight over the crackling! You can achieve it by cutting deep into the pork skin, but not going all the way through to the meat.
After you pat it dry, you thoroughly coat the whole thing with coarse sea salt, making sure to get it down into the grooves. To get that crackling crust, the joint needs to be roasted at a high temperature.
15. Koldskål (Danish Buttermilk Dessert)
As I mentioned before, the Danes are not fans of overly sweet desserts. That is very clear when you look at this simple little dish. It’s made by mixing buttermilk with some yogurt and sugar. It can be served with fruit either for breakfast or after your dinner.
16. Karbonader (Danish Breaded Pork Patties)
This is the Danish version of a schnitzel, which is just a thin piece of pork. These particular ones are made using ground pork. The pork burger patty itself is kept simple with just breadcrumbs, an egg, and some salt and pepper.
Once you’ve coated them in the breadcrumbs, the patties need to be fried in oil for about 8 minutes total. These make an excellent and crunchy alternative to your usual pork chops or meatballs.
17. Rødkål (Danish Red Cabbage)
In most European households, cabbage is a staple side dish. Some people like it finely shredded and then mixed with pork, while others prefer to pickle it.
What I truly love about this variation is the color. Even after it has been cooking for an hour, it still keeps some of its bite and will add such amazing vibrancy to your plate.
18. Danish Pancakes
These are super thin pancakes, much like crepes, that get served with everything from jam and sugar to ice cream. I’ll admit, getting them thin can be a challenge and it will definitely take a bit of practice.
The trick is to get the batter as smooth as you possibly can. You’ll also want to lift the pan from the heat while you swirl the batter around to get a nice, thin coating. When they are cooked, they should have an edge that is slightly crisp and a pale golden color.
19. Remoulade
This classic condiment can be used on sandwiches, with french fries, or as mentioned before, on that fantastic hot dog! There are a few different variations of this particular sauce. Most of them will include diced pickles, and some even include curry powder.
While I’m a huge fan of a New Orleans remoulade, the Danish variation is super delicious. It works so well on everything from pork to fish. You should feel free to check out other recipes to find the one that works the best for you.
20. Danish Brunede Kartofler (Caramelized Browned Potatoes)
Okay, I know that caramel-coated potatoes might seem a little odd. But I can promise you that it works, especially when you pair them with pork chops! The salty and sweet combination is the same thing you get from using sweet potatoes or adding some apple sauce.
If you aren’t able to find canned new potatoes, you can just use whatever kind you have on hand. Just make sure to boil them until they are fork-tender before you add them to the sugar mixture.