Food in Sweden
The foods in Sweden are not just meatballs and fish shaped candies (which are not Swedish at all, they are actually Canadian). While meatballs are common in Sweden, they are not the only food eaten in the Swedish diet. A food that is extremely common is Lingonberries, a condiment of sorts that are used in many different dishes somewhat like cranberries on Thanksgiving, but they are used in day to day meals to put on pancakes (not American pancakes), oatmeal, and meatballs. On the Swedish smorgasbord (yes! That is a Swedish word meaning tray of food or sandwiches) you can always find pickled herring, the Swedish have been pickling since the Middle Ages and fish has been a part of their diets for years before that which makes this item very prominent in Sweden. Crispbread would be another item that is used very often in meal preparation, it is a cracker-like bread that is often served on the side of meals, many people top crispbread with just butter or they get a little creative by topping it with an egg, or ham, or caviar; this like the herring has been around in Sweden for centuries. Another dish that is not new to anyone living in Sweden is pea soup and pancakes; this traditional dish is often eaten on Thursdays which comes from a WWII tradition. Finally, dessert, the Swedish people are known for their sweet tooth, they have their own holiday dedicated to cinnamon buns, so they do not kid around with sweets. "The average Swedish family, with two adults and two children, eats 1.2 kilos of sweets per week – most of it on Saturday, sweets day," sweets day was created to protect people's teeth from the amount of sweets they consume. This was established in the 1950s and is an unwritten rule that sweets are only consumed on Saturday and many families follow this rule.
source: http://sweden.se/culture/10-things-to-know-about-swedish-food/
Recipes:
Two easy to make Swedish dishes that are very common in Sweden are meatballs and cinnamon buns:
Meatballs:
Ingredients:
(4–6 servings)
500 g (18 oz) ground (minced) beef/pork mixture
250 ml (1¼ cup) milk
75 g (¾ cup) white breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 onion
salt, white pepper
ground allspice
Preparation:
Finely dice the onion and saute gently in a little butter without browning. Soak the breadcrumbs in milk. Blend the ground meat, preferably in a food processor, with the onion, egg, milk/breadcrumb mixture and the spices to the proper consistency and taste. Add a little water if the mixture feels too firm. Check the taste by test-frying one meatball. Then shape small meatballs with the aid of two spoons and place on water-rinsed plates. Brown a generous pat of butter in a frying pan, and when it ‘goes quiet’ place the meatballs in the pan and let them brown on all sides. Shake the frying pan often. Serve with potato purée or boiled potatoes and raw stirred lingonberries.
There are different variations that can be added to the recipe, but this is the basic recipe. Also, the meatballs can be served with many different sides and toppings, I like lingonberry jam and a creamy gravy that my mom makes for them and we serve them with red potatoes and asparagus.
Cinnamon Buns:
Ingredients:
(25 buns)
35 g (1¼ oz) yeast
100 g (3½ oz) sugar
300 ml (1½ cup) milk
1 egg
120 g (4 oz) butter
1 tsp salt
1 tbs ground cardamom
750 g (26 oz) flour
Filling:
100 g (4 oz) butter
50 g (2 oz) sugar
2 tbs cinnamon
Glaze:
1 egg
2 tbs water
pearl sugar
Preparation:
Crumble the yeast in a bowl and stir in a few tablespoons of milk. Melt the butter and pour the milk on it. Add the rest of the ingredients and knead the dough in a dough mixer for 10–15 minutes. Let the dough rise while covered at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough so it is about 3 mm (1/8 in) thick and 30 cm (12 in) wide. Spread the room-temperature butter on top. Make a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the dough. Roll the dough the long way and cut the roll into about 25 slices. Place them with the cut edge upward in paper molds. Place on a baking sheet and let rise under a towel for about 60 minutes or until the buns have doubled in size.
Beat together the egg and water, brush the mixture carefully on the buns and sprinkle pearl sugar on top. Bake in the oven (220°C/425°F) for 5–6 minutes. Allow to cool on a rack.
You can tell from the ingredients that these are not the cinnamon buns us Americans are used to, but they still are a delicious treat in Sweden that is consumed at a great rate with coffee in the morning.
Sources and other recipes:
http://sweden.se/culture/collection/classic-swedish-food/
So, where does this food come from?
Agriculture does not make up a large portion of the Swedish economy, but a good portion of the food eaten in Sweden does come from Sweden. In Sweden as a part of becoming more environmentally sound they are also creating more organic farms that are growing at a great rate in Sweden. Fish, which is a staple in the Swedish diet comes from fisheries in Sweden. Many people are concerned about the level of sustainability that fisheries have, but the government has worked to make fisheries as well as all farming sustainable in Sweden.
source:
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Sweden-AGRICULTURE.html
http://www.government.se/sb/d/2160
source: http://sweden.se/culture/10-things-to-know-about-swedish-food/
Recipes:
Two easy to make Swedish dishes that are very common in Sweden are meatballs and cinnamon buns:
Meatballs:
Ingredients:
(4–6 servings)
500 g (18 oz) ground (minced) beef/pork mixture
250 ml (1¼ cup) milk
75 g (¾ cup) white breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 onion
salt, white pepper
ground allspice
Preparation:
Finely dice the onion and saute gently in a little butter without browning. Soak the breadcrumbs in milk. Blend the ground meat, preferably in a food processor, with the onion, egg, milk/breadcrumb mixture and the spices to the proper consistency and taste. Add a little water if the mixture feels too firm. Check the taste by test-frying one meatball. Then shape small meatballs with the aid of two spoons and place on water-rinsed plates. Brown a generous pat of butter in a frying pan, and when it ‘goes quiet’ place the meatballs in the pan and let them brown on all sides. Shake the frying pan often. Serve with potato purée or boiled potatoes and raw stirred lingonberries.
There are different variations that can be added to the recipe, but this is the basic recipe. Also, the meatballs can be served with many different sides and toppings, I like lingonberry jam and a creamy gravy that my mom makes for them and we serve them with red potatoes and asparagus.
Cinnamon Buns:
Ingredients:
(25 buns)
35 g (1¼ oz) yeast
100 g (3½ oz) sugar
300 ml (1½ cup) milk
1 egg
120 g (4 oz) butter
1 tsp salt
1 tbs ground cardamom
750 g (26 oz) flour
Filling:
100 g (4 oz) butter
50 g (2 oz) sugar
2 tbs cinnamon
Glaze:
1 egg
2 tbs water
pearl sugar
Preparation:
Crumble the yeast in a bowl and stir in a few tablespoons of milk. Melt the butter and pour the milk on it. Add the rest of the ingredients and knead the dough in a dough mixer for 10–15 minutes. Let the dough rise while covered at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough so it is about 3 mm (1/8 in) thick and 30 cm (12 in) wide. Spread the room-temperature butter on top. Make a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the dough. Roll the dough the long way and cut the roll into about 25 slices. Place them with the cut edge upward in paper molds. Place on a baking sheet and let rise under a towel for about 60 minutes or until the buns have doubled in size.
Beat together the egg and water, brush the mixture carefully on the buns and sprinkle pearl sugar on top. Bake in the oven (220°C/425°F) for 5–6 minutes. Allow to cool on a rack.
You can tell from the ingredients that these are not the cinnamon buns us Americans are used to, but they still are a delicious treat in Sweden that is consumed at a great rate with coffee in the morning.
Sources and other recipes:
http://sweden.se/culture/collection/classic-swedish-food/
So, where does this food come from?
Agriculture does not make up a large portion of the Swedish economy, but a good portion of the food eaten in Sweden does come from Sweden. In Sweden as a part of becoming more environmentally sound they are also creating more organic farms that are growing at a great rate in Sweden. Fish, which is a staple in the Swedish diet comes from fisheries in Sweden. Many people are concerned about the level of sustainability that fisheries have, but the government has worked to make fisheries as well as all farming sustainable in Sweden.
source:
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Sweden-AGRICULTURE.html
http://www.government.se/sb/d/2160
Sweden Charts
This chart shows how the amount of sugar consumed per person in Sweden.
This chart is the math achievement of eight graders.
This chart is the working hours per week in Sweden.
All of these charts tell us something about Sweden. The first chart, describing the sugar intake is more than just an indicator that Swedish citizens enjoy their desserts. This chart shows that along with other first world nations Sweden's sugar intake is increasing and that unlike second and third world nations they can afford the luxury of desserts. The second chart shows that Sweden is an educated country and they are still growing in their knowledge, the chart is continuously increasing at a steady rate. The third chart is basic and shows how much the Swedish population works. Sweden does not work as much as other countries, but they are still not a lazy country who do not work. Over all these charts give a glimpse as to how smart, nutritious, and hardworking the Swedish population is.
Great sites to check out:
http://sweden.se/culture/ This is the Swedish tourism site, but it is a very useful tool when wanting to know more about Sweden and its culture
http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Things-to-do/Culture-heritage--arts/Swedish-culture/ Another government site, but still very useful.
http://sweden.se/culture/ This is the Swedish tourism site, but it is a very useful tool when wanting to know more about Sweden and its culture
http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Things-to-do/Culture-heritage--arts/Swedish-culture/ Another government site, but still very useful.
Religion in Sweden
Origin:
The first religion to reach Sweden was Christianity. Ansgar, who was a Christian missionary, tried to convert the Swedish in the 9th century. Many The Swedish, who at the time were pagan, did not take to Ansgar and he was unsuccessful in his endeavor. Around this same time the kingdom of Sweden was developing and eventually the king of Sweden Olof Stokonung became a Christian in 1008 and Christianity became the religion of Sweden. Religions like Judaism and Islam did not reach Sweden until the 20th century.
Religion and Culture:
Swedish culture is very influenced by religion. Many major holidays and festivals held in Sweden have a religious background. A holiday very prominent in Swedish culture is Midsummer which is also known as St. John’s Day, it is a holiday celebrating the summer solstice and the birthday of St. John the Baptist. Other holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also widely celebrated in Sweden. All of these holidays play a huge role in shaping Swedish culture since they are celebrated by much of the Swedish population. Many people in Sweden do not attend church as much, about 5% regularly, attendance is much higher on holidays. 75% of children are baptized under the Church of Sweden and 60% of marriages are preformed by the Church of Sweden.
Sacred Places:
Like many Christians the church is a sacred place of worship, there are many churches around Sweden. Other religions in Sweden also have their own sacred places. Jewish Swedes worship in synagogues, many synagogues can be found in Stockholm which has the largest Jewish population of all the Swedish cities. There are orthodox and conservative synagogues. Muslims in Sweden worship in traditional mosques.
Government and Religion:
Lutheranism is the official religion of Sweden; however they do recognize other religions and offer freedom of religion. Along with offering freedom of religion, recently in 2000, the Swedish government decided there should be a separation between church and state. The Swedish government now does not impose its religion on the Swedish citizens despite Lutheranism being the official religion of Sweden.
Conclusion:
Religion does play a big role in Sweden. Religion has been a prominent factor in developing Sweden and making it the country it is today. It did take a while for Sweden to separate church and state, but from my research I can see that Sweden is very open to other cultures and religions and walks of life despite their strong religious background. Religion is a very important part of Sweden and the world as a whole. Although Sweden is very Christian it is still great to see other religions in Sweden being welcomed.
sources: http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_215_3.asp, http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sweden.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Sweden#Church_of_Sweden, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer
The first religion to reach Sweden was Christianity. Ansgar, who was a Christian missionary, tried to convert the Swedish in the 9th century. Many The Swedish, who at the time were pagan, did not take to Ansgar and he was unsuccessful in his endeavor. Around this same time the kingdom of Sweden was developing and eventually the king of Sweden Olof Stokonung became a Christian in 1008 and Christianity became the religion of Sweden. Religions like Judaism and Islam did not reach Sweden until the 20th century.
Religion and Culture:
Swedish culture is very influenced by religion. Many major holidays and festivals held in Sweden have a religious background. A holiday very prominent in Swedish culture is Midsummer which is also known as St. John’s Day, it is a holiday celebrating the summer solstice and the birthday of St. John the Baptist. Other holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also widely celebrated in Sweden. All of these holidays play a huge role in shaping Swedish culture since they are celebrated by much of the Swedish population. Many people in Sweden do not attend church as much, about 5% regularly, attendance is much higher on holidays. 75% of children are baptized under the Church of Sweden and 60% of marriages are preformed by the Church of Sweden.
Sacred Places:
Like many Christians the church is a sacred place of worship, there are many churches around Sweden. Other religions in Sweden also have their own sacred places. Jewish Swedes worship in synagogues, many synagogues can be found in Stockholm which has the largest Jewish population of all the Swedish cities. There are orthodox and conservative synagogues. Muslims in Sweden worship in traditional mosques.
Government and Religion:
Lutheranism is the official religion of Sweden; however they do recognize other religions and offer freedom of religion. Along with offering freedom of religion, recently in 2000, the Swedish government decided there should be a separation between church and state. The Swedish government now does not impose its religion on the Swedish citizens despite Lutheranism being the official religion of Sweden.
Conclusion:
Religion does play a big role in Sweden. Religion has been a prominent factor in developing Sweden and making it the country it is today. It did take a while for Sweden to separate church and state, but from my research I can see that Sweden is very open to other cultures and religions and walks of life despite their strong religious background. Religion is a very important part of Sweden and the world as a whole. Although Sweden is very Christian it is still great to see other religions in Sweden being welcomed.
sources: http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_215_3.asp, http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sweden.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Sweden#Church_of_Sweden, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer
This chart is the percentages of religions in Sweden. http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_215_1.asp
This image depicts the different industrial centers in Sweden which represents the economic aspect of culture
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