Posts Tagged ‘midsummer’
Silltårta // Pickled Herring Cake
I was in Sweden celebrating midsummer a few years ago, and someone brought a pickled herring cake to the dinner. Beautifully decorated and pairing all of my favorite midsummer flavors in one dish, it was an instant favorite. Ever since, I’ve been making my own to add to the midsummer dinner spread.
If you’re a little weirded out by the idea of a herring cake, think of it more like a glorified open-faced sandwich. The bottom is a layer of sweet, dense rye bread which is then topped with herring, chives and eggs. Traditionally, the herring is mixed together with sour cream and cream cheese or quark, and then gelatin is used to firm it up. I never have any of the above on hand in my kitchen, so my twist is to use yogurt, straining it first to thicken it and make a kind of labneh, that is then mixed in with the herring.
A Strawberry Cake to Celebrate Swedish Midsummer
Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, and that’s cause for celebration. This week is one of sunshine stretching into the evening, carpets of wildflowers in the midst of grassy fields, bare feet and picnic blankets.
For me, it marks the celebration of Swedish midsommar, which will be celebrated this Friday. The traditional midsommar spread of food is one of my favorites, featuring some of my favorite dishes like marinated cucumbers, pickled herring (which you can even use in a savory cake), and plenty of knäckebröd.
But my favorite part of midsommar has to be dessert. Strawberry cake is one of the most common desserts on the Swedish midsommar table, and it puts seasonal berries front and center. It’s a simple dessert, topped with plenty of whipped cream and bright red berries.
I like to make the cake with cardamom, and even marinate a few strawberries in honey and cardamom to use as the center filling. The cake is cut in half, so that you can layer it, but if you want to make an even fancier cake, consider making two of them and layering them.
Glad Midsommar!
Today is the celebration of Swedish midsummer, my personal favorite holiday of the year.
Swedish Midsommar 101
It’s summer solstice this week, which means it’s high time for Swedish midsommar, the best of holidays. Why? Because it’s a classic Swedish tradition that celebrates the longest day of the year, with food and drink at the center. In other words, an event to celebrate the sun. Put good food, a few glasses of aquavit and a table of friends together and you have yourself a party. Read the rest of this entry »
Glad Midsommar!
Pickled herring, potatoes with dill, chocolate cake with strawberries… I love Midsummer, even when I’m not in Sweden to celebrate. The official kickoff to summer.
Want to throw your own solstice celebration Swedish style? Here’s the ultimate guide to what food and drink you need to make it all come together. Hint: it includes good tips for locally distilled Aquavit, recipe for a delicious mustard dill sauce and a little background on just why you should celebrate.
Glad midsommar!
Summer Drink
Krogstad Aquavit: tastes like Swedish summer, distilled locally in Portland, Oregon. Love.
Friday Photo: Glad Midsommar!
It’s Sweden’s official celebration of midsommar this weekend, which is of course leading to major withdrawal symptoms for me. Pickled herring, potatoes and plenty of Aquavit are key players in celebrating the return of the sun during this ultimate of traditions. And of course the never-setting sun. So it’s off to listen to Monica Zetterlund and dream of sitting around a table in the Swedish countryside singing “helan går.”
Glad Midsommar!!!
Although it is beautiful in Portland today and I am attending a solstice party this evening (pictures to come I am sure), there’s still a little part of me that wants to be in Sweden for the festivities… Last year I was in Raneberg (see above photo), just a little north of Gothenburg, and although it rained, we donned our waterproof jackets and made flower garlands anyway…
A little excerpt on Swedish midsummer that I wrote over at Gadling:
“Midsummer is one of the year’s most important celebrations, comparable to New Years and Christmas. Communities will hold traditional Midsummer events which include dancing around a maypole and singing Swedish songs, one of which is called Små Grodorna (Little Frogs) and entails everyone to dance around like a frog while singing the following loosely translated lyrics: “Little frogs are funny to look at/ They don’t have ears or tails.” Who ever said the Swedes didn’t have a sense of humor? Because you’re celebrating the sun, the Swedish countryside is the place to enjoy Midsummer. Most Swedes will choose a country-side location and join their friends in a long night of eating, drinking and merriment.”
Whole article here.
