Swedish Finger Foods

Bring Swedish finger foods to your next party.

Whether you are hosting a Midsommer party in June or a St. Lucia party in December, Swedish culinary culture offers a smorgasbord of finger foods to serve at your get-together. These foods can be easily passed around and enjoyed in a bite or two, bringing a taste of Sweden to your guests.

Sandwiches

Swedes enjoy sandwiches as a snack or small meal throughout the day. Serve a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, cut into bite-sized pieces for your guests. Make smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, or spread cream cheese or butter with marmalades or jams on bread. For a warmer option, make a grilled cheese sandwich with dill. For more adventurous eaters, try pickled herring sandwiches. Once you have filled all your sandwiches, cut them into small squares. You can even use a cookie cutter to cut the sandwiches into small shapes, such as hearts or trees. For something a little smaller, use crackers or small pieces of toast and top them with salmon, herring or cheese.

Potatoes

Potatoes can be served in small, individual servings. Purchase small potatoes. Wash them, roast them lightly, cut them in half and scoop out the middle. Fill the little potato cups with sour cream, dill and cheese. For another potato dish, make either potato pancakes or the thinner version, lefse. Lefse is a traditional Sweden and Norwegian snack. Spread butter on each round of lefse and sprinkle it with white or brown sugar. Roll the lefse into a tube. Stack the tubes and serve warm.

Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are a classic dish. Although they are sometimes served over egg noodles, dripping with a brown gravy, Swedish meatballs of beef or ground poultry can also be served as finger foods. When you are forming your meatballs, before cooking, make them rather small, one inch or so across. Cook them in a pan until they are browned and cooked throughout. Serve them warm, with toothpicks on the side, so guests can pick up each one individually. You may also serve a warm gravy on the side, for guests to dip their meatballs or spoon onto small plates.

Pastries

Cookies and tarts make excellent finger foods at parties and get-togethers. Use almond extract and raisins, as well as cardamom or saffron, in your pastries. Use a lingonberry or other berry jam in your tarts. Fill or top pastries with a sweet almond paste.

References

• Oenoforos: Swedish Food Habits
• Sweden.se: Swedish culinary classics --- recipes with history and originality by Lena Katarina Swanberg and Carl Jan Granqvist
• Sweden.se: Create your own Swedish Midsummer party by Ben Kersley
• North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication: Prairie Fare by Julie Garden Robinson