In Norway, certain foods strictly belong to specific times of the year.
No one explicitly explains when this shift happens, but after living in the country for a while, you begin to connect the unspoken calendar with the changing light, the weather and of course the season, meaning your own cooking habits also change throughout the year.
When I first arrived in Norway, I quickly became hooked on the marinated baby ribs available in every supermarket. But as soon as the temperatures dropped, they vanished from the shelves. That was my first real lesson about Norwegian food habits: when a season ends, the food also transitions, and without warning.
Now that summer is around the corner, the aisles have filled up with lighter, fresher foods. Heavier dishes that we eat to cope with winter have been replaced by seafood, colourful salads, fresh berries, and a whole section just for the grillsesong (barbecue season).
The grill season
Let’s be honest, after a long, dark winter, everybody wants to capitalise on every single second of sunshine so being outside is a priority; and hosting a barbecue is the perfect excuse.
Supermarkets dedicate entire sections just for grilling. You can find everything from marinated steaks, my beloved ribs, and chicken skewers to pre-packaged items designed to go straight on the BBQ.
While sausages (pølse) are eaten all year in Norway, in summer, the variety is overwhelming. You can find everything from classic grill sausages to cheese-filled bratwursts and spicy chilli hot dogs.
Eat them American-style in a bun, or try the true Norwegian way: wrapped in a lompe, which is a soft, thin potato flatbread.
Even Vinmonopolet, the government-run stores that are the only places to buy stronger alcohol in Norway, highlights (and recommends) summer wines, light beers, and drinks that pair well with barbecue.
So, whether you use a big grill in your backyard or an engangsgrill (disposable aluminium foil grill), which was a huge culture shock for me, everyone is outside cooking.
Seafood by the coast
Summer is the time when people flock to the coast to enjoy the sun and go for a swim.
Naturally, there’s no better way to celebrate the happiest season of the year than with a fresh plate of seafood, whether at a restaurant, on your own boat, or right on the pier as many locals do.
Enjoy fresh mackerel (makrell), mussels, or the classic Norwegian summer treat, sweet summer shrimp (reker).
READ MORE: Where are Norway’s Michelin-starred restaurants - including the one in the Arctic circle?
The berry dream
This is easily one of my favourite things about a Nordic summer.
Norwegians proudly say their strawberries (jordbær) are the best in the world, and they are absolutely right.
Because of Norway’s long, bright summer days and relatively cool temperatures, fruit and berries experience an extended ripening period. This slow-growth climate creates ideal conditions for sweetness and acidity to concentrate over time, resulting in an incredibly intense flavour.
As production is slower but demand is so high at the start of the season, prices can be quite steep. However, as peak production hits later in the summer, prices drop, allowing you to have strawberries every day for breakfast or to enjoy them as a dessert with cream.
A favourite summer activity is visiting local farms where you can pick your own strawberries (selvplukk). Just gather your own baskets of fresh strawberries straight from the source!
Mountain meals
When livestock return to the mountain pastures to eat fresh grass, farms are at their best.
Many Norwegians say this fresh summer milk leads to amazing regional delicacies, so having a taste of local Norwegian cheeses is highly recommended.
This season is also the ideal time to head out and hike in the mountains, offering the perfect opportunity to refuel with traditional fjellkost (mountain food).
This usually means cured meats (spekemat) with a hot bowl of sour cream porridge (rømmegrøt). Eating hot porridge in summer might seem odd, but pairing it with cold, salty meats creates an unexpectedly good sweet and savoury mix.
This combo is especially popular during Sankthans (Midsummer) celebrations around June 24th.
Ice cream - the summer staple
Norwegians are among the highest consumers of ice cream in Europe, and the moment the sun comes out, kiosks nationwide are flooded with locals queuing for a softis (soft-serve ice cream).
Summer drinks
Just as winter brings darker, spiced beverages, the summer market completely pivots towards bright colours and vibrant, refreshing flavour profiles.
Breweries release special summer beers (sommerøl) that are lighter and crisper than regular lagers. Other companies also bring out their own 'summer vibes' drinks to match the season.
And of course, no Norwegian summer day is complete without a classic bottle of Solo, the iconic, bright orange soda.
Autumn previews
As summer turns into late August, the food scene shifts to the treasures found in Norway’s forests. This is the time to look for cloudberries (multe), the prized berries found in northern bogs and mountain areas.
August also brings the first crisp apples of the season, along with fresh local apple cider.
Did I miss any classic Norwegian summer foods?
READ ALSO: What you need to know about the midnight sun in Norway
Comments