Scandinavian Summer Cooking – 5 Easy Recipes for Long Evenings
Summer is hygge season – and what suits it better than a spot of Scandinavian summer cooking? Here are five simple, fresh recipes from Nordic kitchens that bring a taste of northern life to your table – ideal for balmy evenings, picnics or a garden get-together.
1. Midsummer Potatoes with Fresh Dill
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 500 g small waxy potatoes
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2–3 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- Salt, to taste
Method: Cook the potatoes in their skins in salted water, drain, leave to steam off for a minute, then toss while still warm with the butter and dill. Lightly crush if you like.
Tip: Add the dill just before serving so it keeps its fresh flavour.
2. Salmon Tartare with Cucumber
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 200 g very fresh salmon fillet, sushi-grade (safe to eat raw)
- 1/2 cucumber
- 2 tbsp mustard-dill sauce
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp fresh dill, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method: Dice the salmon into small cubes (take a look at our knives for the job). Deseed the cucumber, dice it, and mix with the salmon, sauce, lemon juice and dill. Season and leave to chill for 10 minutes. It goes particularly well with rye bread.
Tip: Plate up the tartare just before serving so it stays fresh.
3. Fried Halloumi with Lingonberries
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 200 g halloumi
- 2 tbsp lingonberry jam
- 1 handful rocket
- A little olive oil, for frying
Method: Slice the halloumi into pieces about 1 cm thick and fry in olive oil until golden. Arrange on a bed of rocket and finish with the lingonberry jam.
Tip: Pat the halloumi dry before frying for an extra-crisp finish.
4. Chilled Cucumber Soup with Yoghurt and Mint
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 1 large cucumber
- 200 g Greek yoghurt (10% fat)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 5–6 fresh mint leaves
- Salt and pepper
Method: Peel the cucumber and grate finely or blitz to a purée. Stir in the yoghurt, lemon juice and chopped mint, season with salt and pepper, and chill well.
Tip: For an extra-fresh finish, try our wooden salt and pepper mills for freshly ground pepper.
5. Strawberries with Skyr and Honey
Ingredients (serves 2):
- 250 g strawberries
- 200 g skyr
- 1 tbsp honey
- Optional: fresh mint or chopped hazelnuts
Method: Stir the skyr with the honey until smooth. Wash the strawberries, halve them and arrange on top of the skyr. Garnish with mint or nuts.
Tip: For a vegan version, use plant-based skyr and maple syrup instead.
The Takeaway: Scandinavian Cooking Can Be This Simple
These five recipes show just how easy it is to get started with Scandinavian summer cooking – fresh ingredients, minimal effort and plenty of hygge on the plate.
