1. Smoke
Smørrebrød is a dark bread covered with delicate toppings (Image source: Collected)
When it comes to summer food in Denmark, it is hard to ignore Smørrebrød – a dark bread covered with delicate toppings, like a culinary painting on a plate. This is not only a dish but also a symbol of the culinary culture of the Nordic country, especially on mild summer days.
Smørrebrød starts with a thick, dense slice of dark brown rye bread, lightly scented with roasted grains. On that rustic bread, Danish chefs create countless toppings – from cool pickled herring, pink-boiled Nordic shrimp, split-boiled eggs with silky yolks, to crispy pickled cucumbers, bright red radishes and a layer of butter as golden as the morning sun.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy Smørrebrød outdoors, where the sun brings out the vibrant colours of the dish. Each Smørrebrød not only cools you down in the mild Scandinavian heat, but also offers a poetic experience: the perfect balance between richness and tartness, the freshness of vegetables and the richness of seafood.
Enjoying this Danish summer dish is enjoying the meticulousness, sophistication and love of nature of the Danes. It is the art of turning the simple into delicious, turning an everyday lunch into a small party on a piece of black bread.
2. Pickled herring
Pickled herring – one of the typical and traditional summer dishes in Denmark (Photo source: Collected)
During the long sunny days in the North, when dusk falls near midnight, Danes often sit together and enjoy pickled herring – one of the typical and traditional summer dishes in Denmark.
The herring is meticulously prepared, soaked in a solution of vinegar, sugar, spices, shallots, bay leaves and black pepper. The pickling process not only helps preserve but also creates a complex flavor, balancing sour, salty, sweet and the gentle aroma of spices. When served on a plate, each piece of herring has a pearly shine, soft and cool, dotted with purple-pink shallots like flower petals.
In the summer, this Danish summer dish is often served with freshly picked boiled potatoes, a refreshing cream sauce, fresh green dill, and slices of rye bread. The meal is not only an opportunity to enjoy the taste of the sea, but also a ritual of sharing and bonding.
As the herring melts on the tip of the tongue, carrying a subtle sweet and sour taste and a salty aftertaste like the North Sea breeze, one can hear the whispers of the waves lapping at the shore, smell the salty sea air and feel the slow pace of life of a country that always appreciates nature and the past.
3. Potato salad sommer kartoffelsalat
Sommer Kartoffelsalat occupies a special place because of its simplicity and elegance (Image source: Collected)
In the list of Danish summer dishes, summer potato salad – Sommer Kartoffelsalat – occupies a special place because of its simple yet elegant character. Without fussy ingredients or complicated techniques, this salad is a celebration of the natural flavors of Nordic crops.
Summer in Denmark means harvesting baby potatoes – small, pale yellow tubers with thin skins, creamy flesh and a naturally sweet taste. The potatoes are boiled until just cooked, retaining their firm but not mushy texture. They are then cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with a refreshing sour cream sauce, fresh dill, thinly sliced spring onions and sometimes a little pickled cucumber for a crunchy texture.
Sommer Kartoffelsalat is often served at summer picnics, amidst the cheerful laughter, colorful picnic blankets on the green grass and the golden sunlight pouring into a cold glass of beer. This Danish summer dish brings a feeling of closeness, rusticity but no less sophisticated, like the character of the people of this country. A spoonful of summer potato salad is a cool, light, fatty spoonful, fragrant with dill and green onions, reminding us of long days that do not want to end, of happiness in simple and sincere things.
4. Fresh strawberries with whipped cream Jordbær me flode
Jordbær med flode is an indispensable dessert on every dining table (Photo source: Collected)
When the Nordic sunshine becomes warm and endless, it is also the time when the Danish strawberry gardens ripen bright red, sweet like the warm and vibrant summer. Among the summer dishes in Denmark, fresh strawberries with whipped cream – Jordbær med fløde is an indispensable dessert on every table.
This dish is surprisingly simple but irresistibly attractive. The strawberries are picked from the garden, bright red and juicy, exuding a fresh, earthy aroma. They are washed, left whole or cut in half, and gently topped with a layer of smooth, creamy whipped cream, sometimes with just a sprinkle of sugar to bring out the natural sweetness.
Jordbær med fløde requires little technique, no fussy seasonings, but requires the best quality ingredients – something that the Danish summer generously offers. When enjoying, each piece of strawberry bursts in the mouth, releasing a cool sweetness mixed with a smooth, rich cream layer, like a whisper of summer caressing the taste buds, inviting us to slow down to fully experience the joy.
Strawberries with cream are not only a summer treat in Denmark, but also a symbol of family reunion, of family parties where children laugh and adults chat endlessly, of picnics by the lake or in the garden as the sun slowly sets.
5. Pølser Danish Hotdog
Pølser – a special Nordic hotdog (Image source: Collected)
In the top 5 summer dishes in Denmark, it would be remiss not to mention Pølser – a unique, colorful and generous version of a Nordic hotdog. Throughout the streets of Copenhagen and small towns, you will easily come across colorful hotdog carts, exuding the fragrant aroma of golden grilled sausages.
The Danish hotdog is more than just a hot dog. It is a feast of flavors with grilled or boiled pork sausages, often red in color from traditional food dyes, juicy and smoky. On top is a topping “work of art”: crispy pickled cucumbers, golden fried onions, chopped fresh onions, sweet and sour pickles, rich bright yellow remoulade sauce, mustard sauce and sweet and sour tomato sauce.
In the summer, when street festivals are in full swing, Danes often gather around hotdog carts, laughing and chatting happily, holding a hot and colorful bun, sipping cold beer. This Danish summer dish is not only delicious but also represents the generosity, friendliness and love of life of the people here.
Pølser is the Danish way of saying that food doesn't have to be serious, that joy can sometimes be found in a quick hotdog eaten on the sidewalk, but leaving behind smiles and warm memories all summer long.
Summer cuisine in Denmark is a colorful and flavorful picture, drawn from fresh ingredients of the land and sky, skillful hands of people and a soul that enjoys the beauty of simplicity. Discovering summer cuisine in Denmark is not only a culinary journey but also a way to understand more about the people and this country: simple but not monotonous, slow but full of excitement, loving nature and appreciating each other.
Source : https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-mua-he-o-dan-mach-v17488.aspx
Comment (0)