23 Authentic Danish Recipes

Experiencing a country’s cuisine is a great way to get a deeper understanding of its culture. Denmark is no exception! Known for its rich culture, Denmark has a delectable cuisine. 

The desserts tend to be quite delicate. Though these desserts are less sweet than other countries, they are nonetheless packed with flavor. 

So if you want to get a taste of Danish cuisine, here are 23 authentic recipes that will make you feel as though you are in Denmark. From main courses to desserts, there’s something here for everyone!

1. Smørrebrød (Open-Face Sandwich)

Smørrebrød refers to a type of open-faced sandwich that’s popular in Denmark. These open sandwiches can be made with whatever filling you desire, making this a rather versatile dish.

This recipe is made with potato and horseradish, which creates a rather unique flavor combination. Thanks to the boiled potato filling, this sandwich is quite substantial and is sure to fill you up.

This sandwich is served on rye bread, which has a subtly nutty and sour taste. Topped with fresh chives, this sandwich has a sharp flavor.

2. Danish Pastry

Denmark is known for its pastries. Sweet and rich, these Danish pastries are delicious. These pastries have a flaky texture and a buttery taste. 

This gorgeous recipe can be made with two flavorsome fillings, such as a cream cheese filling or a fruit filling. Topped with a sugary glaze, these pastries look divine.

Just bear in mind that this recipe is a little time-consuming to make.

For instance, this recipe recommends leaving the dough to rest overnight. Yet, it’s worth putting in the time and effort to make these Danish pastries.

3. Koldskål

Koldskål is a type of Danish dessert made with buttermilk. It’s ideal for the summer, as it’s quite a refreshing treat. This simple dessert embodies Denmark’s attitude toward desserts.

Namely, they are not overly sweet.

This old-fashioned recipe is incredibly straightforward and will require just a handful of ingredients. It has a mild vanilla flavoring that’s subtle yet enjoyable. 

This buttermilk soup is best served with a handful of fresh berries and cookies. Additionally, it will be ready in just 15 minutes.

4. Medisterpølse (Danish Sausage)

Medisterpølse refers to a type of Danish sausage that’s famous for its thickness. These Danish sausages are packed with meat and vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, and potatoes.

If you are interested in Danish cooking, this incredible recipe will help you to make authentic Danish sausage. Serve with potatoes or in a sandwich, especially if it is encased in rye bread.

This Danish dish also pairs nicely with brown sauce.

5. Gravlax

Gravlax is a dish that’s popular in Nordic countries, such as Denmark. Though this dish has a fancy name, it simply refers to cured salmon, a process that gives it extra flavor.

With a curing time of 24 hours, this gravlax recipe will take a little longer than many of the other recipes on this list. But if you love the salty taste of salmon, this dish is worth it.

Made with fresh salmon fillets, this dish is loaded with flavors. This is thanks to seasonings like sea salt, black pepper, and dill. 

6. Danish Butter Cookies

Who can turn down a delicious cookie? These cookies have a delicate taste and texture that makes them incredibly moreish.

They’ve been seasoned with vanilla and butter, which gives them a delightful taste. They’re bound to melt in your mouth!

We particularly love the idea of dipping these cookies in melted chocolate and decorating them with sprinkles. The result is a fun recipe that’s ideal for people who love sweet flavors.

7. Millionbøf

If you fancy something savory, Millionbøf is an outstanding option! This is a Danish beef dish that’s magnificent for meat lovers. 

If you like the sound of this beef dish, we thoroughly recommend using this mouth-watering recipe. The beef has been cooked in a brilliant broth that provides it with a rich flavor.

The use of onions complements the beef incredibly well.

This dish is traditionally served with potatoes. We particularly enjoy consuming it with mashed potatoes, as this side dish has a sensational creamy texture that enhances the dish.

8. Bøfsandwich

Do you enjoy hamburgers? If so, bøfsandwich is a brilliant Danish burger that you’re bound to love! This authentic Danish food is regularly served in the country’s fast-food restaurants.

Though this recipe is a little messy, it’s worth the risk. This meaty treat is too difficult to resist. Bøfsandwich consists of a minced beef patty, which has been coated in a glorious gravy sauce.

This is then out between two burger buns to create a superb savory dish.

9. Aebleskiver

This recipe refers to a type of Danish pancake which is served in the shape of a ball. The pancake batter is rolled to make these sweet balls, which are often consumed during the Christmas season.

With a golden brown hue and a soft texture, this recipe can be used to make perfect aebleskiver.

Another reason why we adore this recipe is that it can be customized. It gives you the option of experimenting with different fillings, such as strawberry jam.

10. Æbleflæsk

Up next, Æbleflæsk is a type of Danish pork belly recipe that’s served with apples. Apple and pork are two flavors that are often combined because they work wonderfully together, as evidenced by this recipe.

The use of apples gives the pork a slightly sweet taste.

Requiring just 6 ingredients, this pork recipe is super simple. The addition of onions contrasts nicely with the apples, as the onions taste sharp and pungent.

This dish is regularly eaten at Christmas, so it’s bound to get you in the festive spirit.

11. Pfeffernüsse

These spiced cookies originate not only from Denmark but also Germany and The Netherlands.

Because these cookies are so popular in Denmark, it made sense to include them on this comprehensive list.

As with some of the other recipes on this list, Pfeffernüsse is widely eaten around Christmas time. So if you enjoy festive baking, why not give them a try?

This recipe creates a scrumptious spiced dough that is covered in a gorgeous white glaze.

12. Remoulade

Remoulade may not look like much, but trust us, it can be really tasty. Remoulade is a savory sauce that can be used to top sandwiches or paired with fish cakes. You can even dip fries into this scrumptious sauce.

With a creamy texture, remoulade is a delicious accompaniment to a range of dishes. This recipe is particularly flavorsome, thanks to the addition of paprika and hot sauce.

The result is slightly spicy and smoky. Ready in just 10 minutes, this remoulade is extremely easy!

13. Rød pølse

Hot dogs, known as rød pølse, is a variety of Danish hotdog. So if you fancy some fast food, this is an outstanding option. These Danish sausages are longer than other versions and tend to have a smoky flavor.

Traditionally served in bread buns, this recipe is a more elegant way of serving this dish. They are accompanied by tantalizing pickled red onions, potatoes, and ketchup.

As a result, this rød pølse makes a more complete meal.

However, if you prefer a taste of authentic Danish street food, you should eat this rød pølse inside of a hot dog bun.

14. Flæskesteg

A form of roast pork, flæskesteg is often thought of as one of Denmark’s national dishes. This dish is ideal for a Sunday roast In Denmark, it’s traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

One of the key features of this Danish roast pork is the crackling, which this recipe will help you to nail. Seasoned with thyme, this pork is truly tantalizing!

The recipe even helps you to make caramelized roast potatoes, which are an amazing addition to this roast pork. 

15. Stjerneskud

Stjerneskud, known as a shooting star, is another form of open sandwich. It’s a lovely lunchtime meal. This seafood version has a decadent feel to it, so it will instantly elevate your lunchtimes.

The above recipe is made with sole fillets and shrimp. Consequently, it’s a dream come true for seafood lovers. Delicately seasoned with lemon and dill, this stjerneskud has a sharp flavor.

Despite its elegance, this gorgeous recipe is straightforward to make.

16. Risalamande

Do you adore rice pudding? If so, you will fall in love with risalamande. This delicious Danish dessert is especially popular on Christmas Eve, though you can consume it whenever you fancy.

With the aid of this recipe, you can make a risalamande recipe that’s got a lusciously smooth and creamy texture.

The use of blanched almonds and almond extract gives this dessert a pleasant nutty flavor. When served with cherry sauce and some sprigs of mint, this dessert looks almost too beautiful to eat.

17. Frikadeller

Made with minced meat, these meatballs are widely consumed throughout Denmark and the rest of Europe. These magnificent meatballs work particularly well when served with gravy or a creamy sauce.

Seasoned with nutmeg, garlic, sage, and pepper, these Danish meatballs are bursting with fantastic flavors. This is a wonderful way of enhancing the taste of the meat by giving it a pungent flavor.

These meatballs have the perfect texture. Not to mention, they are simple to make.

18. Frugtsalat

Do you love fabulous fruit flavors? If so, you’re going to find this Danish fruit salad hard to resist. The recipe consists of a plethora of different fruits, such as mangoes, bananas, apples, mandarin, pineapples, grapes, kiwi, and pomegranates.

The addition of dark chocolate is a great way of adding a rich taste to the salad. Pairing the fruit salad with a vanilla-flavored cream gives a creamy texture to the dish. 

Plus, it makes it even sweeter. Additionally, frugtsalat is fantastically simple to prepare.

19. Agurkesalat

If you prefer something a little healthier, you can make agurkesalat. This is a form of traditional Danish cucumber salad. This may not sound like the most exciting dish, but agurkesalat can be filled with flavors.

This superb salad is a nutritious option that works well as a starter or side dish. It has a light flavor, especially thanks to the gentle use of salt and pepper. Meanwhile, the addition of sugar gives the cucumber salad a slightly sweet taste. 

20. Hønsekødssuppe

Ideal for winter, hønsekødssuppe is a Danish hen or chicken soup. A bowl of this mouth-watering soup will warm you up when the weather is chilly.

The soup is packed with delicious vegetables, such as carrots, onion, celery, and leeks. The result is a hearty soup that’s irresistible with bread rolls, dumplings, or croutons. It’s a great form of comfort food!

We particularly adore how flavorsome this meaty soup is, which is thanks to sharp herbs like garlic, parsley, and thyme.

21. Citronfromage

With the help of this recipe, you can make a smooth and creamy Danish mousse, known as citronfromage. It’s been seasoned with lemon, which offers a sensationally sour taste to this dish.

Made with just 5 ingredients, this is a simple recipe that is the perfect way of finishing a meal.

22. Danish Potato Salad

Another form of Danish salad that you can make is this potato salad. It’s more substantial than other salad recipes, so it’s sure to fill you up.

With a super simple salad dressing, this salad is packed with tangy tastes. It has a creamy texture, which is due to the inclusion of sour cream and mayonnaise. As a result, this Danish salad feels a little naughtier than other varieties.

23. Tarteletter

Our final pick is tarteletter. These foods are essentially mini tarts, known as tartlets. These cute and delicate tartlets are made with a buttery crust. This is then topped with a creamy chicken and asparagus filling.

These adorable tarts are ideal for appetizers and starters. All you have to do is serve them with a little bit of salad. This recipe is ideal for dinner parties, as it has a grandiose vibe to it. 

Of course, these Danish tarts can be made with whatever flavorsome fillings you desire. So feel free to experiment with different options to find what works best. 

Are any of the British pies on the list influenced by Danish cuisine?

When analyzing the british pie recommendations, it’s interesting to question if any on the list are influenced by Danish cuisine. While traditional British pies generally incorporate local ingredients and cooking methods, some modern variations have embraced global influences. However, it is unclear if any Danish-inspired pies have made it onto the coveted recommendations list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, these 23 tremendous recipes will have given you a deeper understanding of Danish culture and cuisine.

So whether you fancy something sweet or savory, there are loads of delectable Danish recipes for you to try!