Finnish food and Wild food – berries, mushrooms, wild herbs and vegetables as well as fish, game and reindeer – is derived straight from Arctic Finnish nature.

Finnish food is known for its simplicity and deliciousness. Finnish cuisine uses a lot of local ingredients, such as meat, fish, potatoes, vegetables, and berries.

Finland has a long tradition of preparing traditional food. Traditional dishes are often simple and easy to make, but they are still delicious.

Here are some of the most famous Finnish traditional dishes:

Karjalanpiirakka is a Finnish national dish. Karjalanpiirakat are made from barley and potatoes. They are traditionally served with cranberry jam or lingonberry sauce.

Karjalanpaisti is another Finnish national dish. Karjalanpaisti is a stew made from lamb meat, potatoes, and cabbage.

Hernekeitto is a popular Finnish soup. Hernekeitto is made from dried peas, pork, potatoes, and vegetables.

Leipäjuusto is a Finnish cheese that is made from milk and grated cheese. Leipäjuusto is traditionally served with cranberry jam.

Mämmi is a Finnish delicacy that is eaten at Easter. Mämmi is a dark, sweet syrup that is made from rye flour, wheat, and fermented barley and rye flours.

Finnish food is rich and diverse. It has been influenced by many different cultures, such as Sweden, Russia, and Germany. There is something for everyone in Finnish food.

Karjalanpaisti

Karjalanpaisti is a very easy dish to make. However, it is important not to rush the cooking process, as the meat pieces will become tender when they are cooked for a long time.

• 1 package (800 g) karjalanpaistiliha (mixed cuts of meat for karjalanpaisti)
• 2 (250 g) onions
• 2–3 (250 g) carrots
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 10 whole black peppercorns
• Water

Instructions

1. Peel and chop the onions. Peel and cut the carrots into large pieces.
2. Place the meat, onions, carrots, salt, and peppercorns in a greased pot or baking dish in layers. Pour water into the dish until the meat is just barely covered.
3. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 2–3 hours. Add water as needed. Cover with a lid towards the end of cooking, if desired.
4. Serve with boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes. Also, cranberry jam and pickled cucumbers are a good match.