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MIDSUMMER

ALL ABOUT THE FOOD

Midsummer is a celebration about food, games, flowers, flower wreaths, children, maypoles, singing, dancing, drinking and enjoying good times with family and friends. There are certain components that need to be included in order for Midsummer to occur, such as the 30 minutes of heavy rain that just appears out of nowhere every single year. Some things are more important than others though and let's be honest what is a Scandinavian holiday without food? Food is at the very centre of Midsummer celebrations and we dare to say that without the Midsummer food there'd be no Midsummer. Here are 10 things in no particular order that make up a very traditional Midsummer table.

1. FÄRSKPOTATIS

NEW POTATOES

New potatoes have thin, wispy skin and a crisp, waxy texture. They are young potatoes and unlike their fully grown counterparts, they keep their shape once cooked and cut and they are also sweeter than regular potatoes. A midsummer without new potatoes would be practically as boring as a summer without sun and they go extremely well with almost everything else on the Midsummer table.

2. MATJESSILL

PICKLED HERRING

Herring has a long history in Sweden and is considered something of a national dish. Matjessill originally comes from Holland and means virgin herring. Despite the name it really is the King of Herring and an absolute must on the Midsummer table. Matjessill is a prepared form of herring that is stored in barrels before it is cleaned and packed in preserves with a special seasoning, consisting of sugar, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Sandalwood is often also included in the seasoning.

3. JORDGUBBSTÅRTA

STRAWBERRY CAKE

What is a midsummer without strawberries and strawberry cake? Jordgubbstårtan (Strawberry Cake or quite simply Swedish Cake) is a a classic strawberry cake that never goes out of style and a summer classic that is suitable for all festive occasions and a perfect Midsummer dessert.

4. VÄSTERBOTTENPAJ

CHEESE PIE

Västerbottenpaj is named after Västerbotten cheese which dates back to 1872 when the milkmaid Ulrika Eleonora Lindström accidentally created this extraordinary cheese in Gammelbyn's dairy in Burträsk in Västerbotten county, hence the name. Västerbotten pie can be served hot or cold and just like new potates it goes really well with almost everything else on the Midsummer table.

5. LOTS AND LOTS

OF CHEESE

No midsummer without herring, this we know - and in that company, a well aged Prästost (Priest's cheese) is a perfect addition.
The Priest cheese's saltiness balances nicely against the sweetness of the herring.

Other cheeses that are common on the Midsummer table are Brännvinsost, and of course Västerbottenost but anything goes. No Midsummer without cheese.

6. KNÄCKEBRÖD

CRISP BREAD

As genuinely Swedish as the Nobel Prize, Abba, Dala horses and IKEA.

Crisp bread is almost as important as the new potatoes on the Midsummer table.

We especially recommend crisp bread sandwiches with herring (of your choice) and Priest cheese topped with a bit of sour cream. Delicious!

7. GRÄDDFIL & GRÄSLÖK
SOUR CREAM & CHIVES

A must-have addition to the herring. Swedish sour cream and fresh chives are a match made in heaven. So simple but so delicious and a perfect topping for almost anything on the Midsummer table (maybe not the Strawberry cake but we've never tried so we don't rule it out)
Sales of sour cream in Sweden increase by over 300 percent for Midsummer which says a lot...

8. ALL SORTS OF

HERRING

Herring for Midsummer is a must. We've already mentioned Matjessill but nowadays there are almost as many different types of herring as Pick&Mix candy. You pick and choose your favourite and some people even make their own. Some of our favourites include: mustard herring, schnapps herring, french onion herring, archipelago herring, ginger and lime herring, ramsom and lemon herring and dill and garlic herring.
So many herrings, so little time...

9. SALMON, SALMON

AND MORE SALMON

Cold cured salmon or gravlax is a Nordic dish consisting of pickled salmon that is left to cool in a mixture of salt and sugar for a few days.
A classic since the 1600's and many people's favourite on the Midsummer table. Don't forget the sauce, gravlaxsås, a sauce made of mustard and dill that goes perfectly with gravlax. Other types of salmon such as smoked salmon, hot or cold is also popular and just as delicious.

10. NUBBE

SCHNAPPS

Nubbe (schnapps, especially Aquavit) is optional but remember, if you partake in this part of the Midsummer tradition it is a must to engage in some good old fashioned drinking songs known as "nubbevisor" and as the night goes on, they tend to get louder and make less and less sense...One of the more popular ones that Swedish people even sing in their sleep is "Helan går..."