In this article we suggest a list of books about cooking in Scandinavia and the Nordic Countries: from traditional dishes to more sophisticated choices, these books are great gifts and will be excellent companions for your free time!
‘Homestyle Icelandic Cooking for American Kitchens’ by Heidi Herman
Whether you’re looking to connect with your roots, try something new or already love Icelandic cooking, this book is a must for your cookbook shelf. This is a collection of 25 traditional everyday Icelandic recipes, translated with step-by-step instructions, some of the simple classic favorites that truly reflect the home-style Icelandic flavors and heritage. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
‘Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, with Recipes for Pastries, Breads, and Other Treats’ by Anna Brones, Johanna Kindvall
An illustrated lifestyle cookbook on the Swedish tradition of fika, a twice-daily coffee break, including recipes for traditional baked goods, information and anecdotes about Swedish coffee culture, and the roots and modern incarnations of this cherished custom. Sweden is one of the world’s top coffee consuming nations, and the twice-daily social coffee break known as fika is a cherished custom. Fika can be had alone or in groups, indoors or outdoors, while traveling or at home. A time to take a rest from work and chat with friends or colleagues over a cup and a sweet treat, fika reflects the Swedish ideal of slowing down to appreciate life’s small joys. In this adorable illustrated cookbook, Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall share nearly fifty classic recipes from their motherland, from cinnamon buns and ginger snaps to rhubarb cordial and rye bread, allowing all of us to enjoy this charming tradition regardless of where we live. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
‘Scandinavian from Scratch: A Love Letter to the Baking of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden’ by Nichole Accettola
Transport the taste of Scandinavia to your home kitchen with the delightful sweet and savory bites compiled in this delightful baking book. From chef Nichole Accettola, Scandinavian from Scratch brings to the page an assortment of baked goods and simple morning and midday meals rooted in Scandinavian cuisine. After moving back to the United States following more than a decade abroad, Accettola found herself longing for the wholesome breads, buttery pastries, decadent cakes, and cookies that she enjoyed on a daily basis while living in Copenhagen. She set out on a mission to bring the tastes and treats of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to San Francisco and opened her now beloved bakery café, Kantine. In ‘Scandinavian from Scratch’, Accettola has curated 75 delicious bakes, organized by occasion and arranged from simplest to most complex, drawing from her collection of each Scandinavian country’s baking traditions. Fill your home kitchen with the enticing aromas of Coconut Dream Cake, Black Currant Caves, Cardamom Morning Buns, Saffron Rusks, Gravlax and Chive Potato Salad Smørrebrød, and so much more. The easy-to-follow recipes will expand your baking horizons and bring something special to the table, from breakfast and brunch to afternoon tea to holiday celebrations. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
‘Coøk: Natural Flavours from a Nordic Kitchen’ by Mikkel Karstad
Taking inspiration from wild and seasonal ingredients, this book shows the reader how to make a selection of Nordic favorite recipes. Beautifully photographed and designed, this book will take you on a culinary adventure into the pure heart of Nordic cooking. Mikkel Karstad is the current head chef at Christianborg, the Danish Parliament and food writer and former gastronomic advisor to Claus Meyer (founder of the famous Copenhagen restaurant Noma). Mikkel trained at Tante Claire in London, Bagatelle in Paris, and Kommandant in Norway. His fantastic blog is at weyoutheyate.com where he shares his recipes and favorite ingredients. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
‘The Nordic Baker: Plant-Based Bakes and Seasonal Stories from a Kitchen in the Heart of Sweden’ by
Sofia Nordgren
In ‘The Nordic Baker’, Sofia Nordgren guides you through a year of plant-based Nordic cakes, buns, breads, cookies and crackers and invites readers to keep things simple, go back to basics and cook with nature in mind. From Thumbprint cookies, Kladdkaka and Rhubarb galette in springtime, Raspberry and cardamom cupcakes when the weather begins to warm up, and a Midsommar cake for summer celebrations, through to Lingonberry roll cake, pear tart and cardamom rolls for cozy fall nights and Gingerbread bundt cake, Saffron buns and Semlor for snowy winter days. Set to the backdrop of stunning location photography and interspersed with advice on embracing the Nordic lifestyle, bringing the outdoors into your home and tips on seasonal slow living, this is a charming celebration of a magical corner of the world and the wonderful food it has to offer. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
‘Fire and Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking’ by Darra Goldstein
2016 James Beard Award nominee, 2016 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) nominee for Best International Cookbook, and 2016 Art of Eating Prize longlist finalist. Bringing the best of Scandinavian home-cooking into your kitchen, Fire and Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking offers over 100 delicious recipes that showcase this region’s most beloved sweet and savory dishes. Scandinavia is a region of extremes, where effortlessly chic design meets rugged wilderness, and perpetual winter nights are followed by endless days of summer, and Fire and Ice proves that Scandinavian cuisine is no exception. Founding editor of Gastronomica and the West’s leading culinary authority on the cuisines of the European North, Darra Goldstein explores the rich cultural history and culinary traditions of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. From the bold aroma of smoked arctic char to the delicate flavor of saffron buns, and from the earthy taste of chanterelle soup to the fragrant aroma of raspberry-rose petal jam, this beautifully curated cookbook features over 100 inspiring and achievable recipes that introduce home cooks to the glorious and diverse flavors of Nordic cooking. Buy this book on Bookshop.org
The books suggested in this article are linked to Bookshop.org, an online bookstore whose mission is to financially support local, independent bookstores in the US and UK: we at ATN believe that indie bookstores are essential to a healthy culture. When you buy through these links, a small percentage of the price goes into our meagre pockets, helping us to keep All Things Nordic free for all users.
