Danish cuisine is a successful mix of Scandinavian and German dishes. Really tasty, very filling, sometimes unusual. Gourmets sometimes criticize the Danes for their love of tradition and refusal of complex dishes. However, even the best restaurants in Copenhagen stand firm, offering visitors “understandable” dishes made from simple ingredients. Even the so-called “new Danish cuisine” is based on unconventionally combined local products. The Danes love sandwiches, fish and potatoes, golden brown cinnamon rolls, and sweets from childhood. Can you really blame them for anything? We’ll tell you what you should try in Denmark from food, pastries and desserts – a description with a photo will help you remember the most important things.
Smørrebrød
Denmark is often called the “land of sandwiches”. They say there are so many of them here that you could eat them every day and never have them happen again in a whole year. Smørrebred is the name given to any Danish sandwich; it is a generic name. A slice of bread, sauce, meat or fish base, vegetables, herbs, cheese, ham – there are hundreds of combinations. A sandwich in Denmark is not just an addition to the main meal. Even the best restaurants in Copenhagen can order smørrebrød. In this case, the snack is usually eaten with a fork and knife. The exception is street food. Smørrebrød is a popular street food in Copenhagen and throughout Denmark.
Flæskesteg
Denmark is famous for its pork dishes, so this is the first meat you should try. The king of national cuisine is a piece of baked or fried pork breast “with a crunch.” Coarse salt, a little pepper, rosemary – nothing extra. This is the Danish favorite dish at Christmas. Pork with a crispy crust is served with caramelized potatoes, red cabbage, and crispy cucumber. Definitely with sauce: lingonberry or white, sour cream and dill. If you order not flæskesteg, but stegt flæsk, they will bring you the same thing, but already cut into thin slices. Wash it down with Danish beer, it tastes even better.
Kødboller
Appetizing small meat balls. Sometimes with a little spice, rice or breadcrumbs. Deep-fried kødboller is a popular street food in Copenhagen. They can be ordered with fries or on their own. This is a great snack to go with beer. But the most delicious meatballs are prepared in taverns – they are not fried, but stewed or steamed. Order the Danish national dish with a delicious creamy or tomato sauce. Take new potatoes or spaghetti with it.
Kokt torsk
Among the fish dishes in Denmark, it is worth trying boiled cod. Europeans, of course, prefer fried fish. However, don’t be too quick to give up this popular dish of traditional Danish cuisine. It is prepared with a delicious mustard sauce, which gives the fish an extraordinary taste. Boiled vegetables are used as a side dish: potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, zucchini or something else. A little rosemary and allspice makes the cod even tastier. This dish is usually prepared on Christmas Eve in Denmark.
Øllebrød
A traditional Danish dish that you can try for breakfast in almost every national restaurant in Copenhagen. The composition seems dubious, it looks very unusual, but the taste is still very interesting. You either love him or hate him. Elebrød is made with Danish rye bread rugbrød, traditional white beer hvidtøl, sugar, lemon zest and whipped cream. Treat yourself to a Danish breakfast – it’s unusual to say the least.
You can bring øllebrød from Copenhagen in the form of a ready-made mixture in factory packaging. They are diluted with water or milk. The taste is not quite the same as real beer porridge, but still very similar.
Siltede sild
A traditional Danish snack that is definitely worth trying in Copenhagen. Typically, herring is marinated in white or red wine, sometimes a spicy vinegar or sour cream marinade is used. The fish can be served on a piece of rye bread with onions or fried with boiled potatoes, capers, and apple. In Denmark, there are many variations of pickled herring dishes (here the Danes are as creative as they are when it comes to making sandwiches).
Buy a jar of pickled herring for home, it’s a great gastronomic souvenir from Denmark.
Æbleflæsk
If you love bacon and unusually prepared meats, be sure to try this dish in Denmark. It is especially popular at Christmas. Æbleflæsk – bacon slices fried until golden brown in apple sauce with sugar and thyme. The result is incredibly spicy, sweetish meat, the taste of which is especially well emphasized by potato salad, scrambled eggs, rye bread and a light berry-fruit sauce.
Rød pølse
When you arrive in Copenhagen or any other major city in Denmark, be sure to look for a food truck called pølsevogn. They sell hot dogs there. The most popular street food in Denmark (after sandwiches, of course) is buns with traditional red sausages, rød pølse. This fast food should be tried with three sauces:
- mustard;
- ketchup;
- remoulade (Danish mayonnaise sauce).
Unlike classic hot dogs, the snack is eaten separately: bread and sausages are dipped in the sauce alternately.
Bring a bottle of remoulade from Denmark – not very healthy, but very tasty sauce.
Buttermilk koldskål
A sweet cold soup that is worth trying in Denmark in the summer. It is prepared using buttermilk and eggs. During the warmer months it is easily found in almost every restaurant and eatery in Copenhagen. Koldskål usually has a neutral taste (not sweet, with a slight sourness from added lemon), but it is always served with Danish cookies, homemade granola or berries. Airy, complemented by the pleasant crunch of kammerjunker sponge cakes and the most delicate texture, it’s not without reason that Denmark wins the hearts of those with a sweet tooth.
In Copenhagen supermarkets you can easily buy buttermilk koldskål in tetra packs. Pair it with traditional kammerjunker cookies. The freshly prepared version is, of course, tastier, but as a gift for loved ones, this will be the best.
Desserts and baked goods
Denmark is a country of sweet tooths, delicious pastries and aromatic coffee. Forget about your diet and go enjoy the national sweets of this country. We have compiled a list of the 10 most delicious desserts.
- RodgrødMedFløde. The most popular sweet dish in Denmark. Something between jelly and berry mousse. It is served with whipped cream.
- Gammeldags æblekage. Old-fashioned apple pie with macaroons and whipped cream is a true Danish classic.
- Æbleskiver. Denmark’s main Christmas sweet, which is sold at every holiday market in Copenhagen in winter. Small round donuts with cherry jam or chocolate.
- Pandekager. Thin Danish pancakes, usually served as rolls with a thick berry or chocolate sauce.
- Kransekage. Marzipan cake in the form of a pyramid of rings, it is prepared in Denmark for Christmas.
- Kanelsnegle. The famous cinnamon snail buns, which are available in almost every confectionery shop in Denmark. The filling can be anything: the main thing is that the dough is airy, like a bun.
- Wienerbrød(on the picture). Those same buns that the whole world calls Danish, and the Danes call Viennese. The puff pastry tastes like the freshest croissant, and the filling is made from cottage cheese, jam, chocolate, cinnamon, pecans with maple syrup, or something else.
- Kammerjunker. A very popular Danish biscuit that literally melts in your mouth.
- Pepparkakor. Christmas gingerbread cookies or gingerbread.
- Drømmekage. A fluffy sponge cake topped with brown sugar and coconut flakes that is a must try for all home baking lovers (tastes just like Grandma’s!).