16 Swedish dishes that we have offered our foreign guests

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | What Swedish dishes have we offered our foreign guests? Our South African friends Henri and Michelle discovered Sweden together with us in our camper, and there were a whole bunch of dinners. So, what have we offered, and what did they think of the Swedish food?

What did our friends think of Swedish food and Swedish dishes?

Peter loves to cook and especially wanted to treat our South African friends to Swedish dishes, although we have also mixed in some more international food. The rating was overwhelming. Henri and Michelle said time and time again that this is the best food they have ever eaten on a trip, and they are very well-traveled, so of course it is absolutely fantastic to hear!

They also found that the selection in Swedish grocery stores is very good, and that there is a wide variety of fish and shellfish (while they feel that the selection of good meat is greater in South Africa). They appreciated, among other things, the Swedish yogurt, the Swedish cinnamon rolls and the large selection of salmon.

1. Smoked salmon with dill stewed potatoes

On the first evening Peter cooked salmon with dill stewed potatoes. This was very good and much appreciated by our guests. Maybe even one of the favourite dishes of the trip!

2. Turkey breast with two sauces

The next day, Peter cooked a dish that has become a favorite in our house: turkey breast with mashed potatoes and two sauces, in the form of orange sauce and plum compote. He also served pickled red onions with this. This also became a favorite, and not least Peter's creamy mashed potatoes with egg yolks and Västerbotten cheese!

3. Meatballs with raw lingonberries

Then it was time for a true Swedish classic: homemade meatballs on mixed meat with cream sauce, mashed potatoes, raw lingonberries and pickled cucumber. This was so appreciated that we had to make a desired repeat later during the trip!

4. Salmon gratin with boiled potatoes

One evening Peter made salmon gratin, which he served with boiled potatoes and haricot verts. The gratin included crayfish tails, creme fraiche, cream cheese, cream and grated Västerbotten cheese. Appreciated by all! You can buy salmon in South Africa too, but it is expensive and not available everywhere.

5. Cod loin with chanterelles

Another evening featured cod loin cooked sous vide. Peter served this with cauliflower mash, butter-fried chanterelles, bacon-wrapped asparagus and soybeans. Our South African friends had never eaten chanterelles before, but really enjoyed these.

6. Beef fillet with baked root vegetables

Sometimes it's good to have a big piece of meat! Peter cooked the fillet of beef in sous vide and served it with baked root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions and whole garlic). It was all served with a homemade red wine sauce, which Peter had made earlier and which we had in the freezer.

This dish was enjoyed by all! However, our South African friends, who are used to eating meat almost every day, may find that meat is generally better back home in South Africa. Meat and barbecue is a big thing there!

7. Biff Rydberg

The piece of fillet of beef we bought was enough for dinner for two days. Day number two was Beef Rydberg, that is, beef fillet, raw fried potatoes and onions in pieces together with raw egg yolk and mustard whisk. A little parsley on top! This was liked by everyone, although the raw egg yolk caused some surprise.

8. Fish stew with paprika aioli

One evening we had a fish stew, which was based on a homemade shrimp shell broth. It included halibut, salmon, prawns, crushed tomatoes and white wine. This was served with a homemade aioli flavoured with roasted peppers. Some bread and cheese was good too!

9. Reindeer shavings with chanterelles and lingonberries

A real Swedish dish that we wanted to offer was reindeer loin with lingonberries. The stew contained, among other things, reindeer kidneys, chanterelles, onions and cream. This was served with boiled potatoes, raw red lingonberries and vegetables. This went down well, although the reindeer meat may not have topped the list of favourite dishes.

10. Seafood Craving

When we visited Smögen we took the opportunity to buy seafood: crab, Norway lobster, prawns, oysters and Skagen roe. This was served with bread, cheese and a chef's sauce. Henri (who is very fond of oysters) loved the oysters, but our foreign guests were not as fond of Swedish prawns as we are. The Hovmästar sauce, on the other hand, got a thumbs up!

11. Chicken gratin with rice

As a break from the classic Swedish flavours, one evening Peter made a chicken gratin with mini corn, peppers, garlic, curry, mango chutney, sambal oelek and cream. This was served with rice and a green salad. I (Helena) will ask him to cook this dish again!

12. Salmon steaks with mashed potatoes

A dish that we like very much, and which was also much appreciated by our guests, is salmon patties. Peter makes these by mixing fresh salmon, onion, thyme, dill, egg yolk and grated lemon peel. He then fries the steaks, and the leftovers are perfect to eat cold the next day on a sandwich.

The steaks were served with crushed potatoes (Peter boils potatoes, crushes them in half, sprinkles them with Västerbotten cheese and puts them in the oven for a while) and bacon-wrapped asparagus. A very popular dinner!

13. Lamb fillet with baked potatoes

One evening it was lamb fillet, which Peter cooked in sous vide. This was served with baked potatoes, fried mushrooms and homemade game sauce. Delicious and appreciated by all!

14. Falukorv and cheese strips with mashed potatoes

Falukorv and isterband are classic Swedish sausages. We served both at the same meal, together with peas and mashed potatoes. This was hardly the favourite (apart from the mashed potato which was a super favourite!), but both sausages were approved.

15. Perch with boiled potatoes

Perch is Peter's favourite fish and we swung by lake village where we bought frozen trouser fillets. Peter removed the bones and gratinated the fish together with cream, dill and white wine. We served this with boiled potatoes. A dish that everyone enjoyed very much!

16. Swedish tacos

We told you about the concept of "Swedish tacos". Tacos are of course not originally Swedish, but a kind of Swedish version has developed, which has also become traditional on Fridays. After we told them about this, our South African friends asked for "taco Friday". Said and done! We arranged this and it was much appreciated!

Starters and side dishes

In addition to the main courses, we also offered our friends some starters, side dishes and smaller tasting portions of things that we didn't want to serve as a main course.

Toast with onion roe

When we were still at home in the houseboat, we served a vendace roe toast as a starter. Toasted white bread, red onion, smetana and vendace roe! This little dish was much appreciated.

Prawn sandwich

When we visited Smögen, we tried a classic shrimp sandwich and a sandwich with pickled salmon and hovmästar sauce. The shrimp were only moderately appreciated, but the salmon sandwich was really popular!

Shrimp soup

As a starter for the perch, Peter served homemade prawn soup, which he made with prawn shells and, among other things, fennel, onions, cayenne pepper, brandy and cream (and which we kept in the freezer of the camper van).

When serving, he put quick-fried cabbage, filleted tomato and some peeled prawns in the bottom of a deep plate, and then poured the soup at the table. Delicious, although as I said, Swedish prawns were not the favourite.

Herring and potatoes

We served herring and potatoes as a starter one day. We "warned" that it might be difficult to like, if you are not used to it, and expected that our friends would only take one tiny piece each. However, they took several pieces each, and said that it was much better than they expected. The Skåne aquavit also went down without a problem. This one was liked!

Black pudding with bacon and lingonberries

Another slightly "odd" dish that we chose to serve as an extra was black pudding. Our South African friends were hesitant to say the least (not least after we told them about the ingredients) but against all odds they each ate a whole piece. Better than expected, was the verdict.

Snacks

Dried reindeer meat

We also offered some different snacks during the trip. When we were in Stockholm, we bought a piece of dried reindeer meat, which we cut into thin slices. This went down well, although our friends think that South African "biltong" (dried meat) is better. And yes, we can agree that the dried meat in South Africa is very good!

Moose sausages

When we visited Glass Kingdom Moose Park In Småland we bought some elk sausages, which we tried one evening. These were good, and although they may not have been a flavour sensation, it was fun to try.

Rough bread, mess butter and caviar

Rye bread is also available in South Africa, but the choice is greater in Sweden. Our South African friends fell in love with Danish rye bread, which they liked very much and which we ate for breakfast every day.

We introduced, of course, caviar in a tube, although we know it can be hard to like. The response was 50/50. Michelle gave a thumbs up and Henri gave a thumbs down.

Another thing we took the opportunity to try was messmör. Peter ate this growing up but I (Helena), who grew up in Skåne, had never tried it. So this was a novelty for three of us. Our South African friends commented that they thought it was similar to "Dulce de leche" and Michelle was probably the one of us who was most excited.

Sweets

Glass

There have also been a lot of sweets during the trip, and not least ice cream that all four of us are fond of. Ice cream is of course not specific to Sweden, but the Swedish ice cream was approved with praise.

Ice cream with cloudberry jam

We also served vanilla ice cream with cloudberry jam one day. Henri, who is the one who appreciates berries and fruits, thought this was very, very good!

Marabou chocolate

Another favourite was Marabou chocolate and our South African friends say "better than Lindt"!

Polka dots

We also tried candy canes when we were in Gränna. This was perhaps not the favourite candy for any of us really, but it belongs to eat when you are in Gränna. Sometimes it's the place and the situation that makes the experience!

Summa summarum: Swedish dishes that we have served to our foreign guests

These were the Swedish dishes that we managed to offer our foreign guests. It was great to be able to offer our traditional dishes, and it was very nice that it was appreciated. What do you usually serve when you have guests from abroad?