Norway

In Norway the main Christmas dinner is eaten on the evening of December 24, and what is served depends on the region. Eastern Norway, around Oslo, roasts ribbe, pork belly with crisp crackling, while the west and north steam pinnekjøtt, dry-cured lamb ribs, over birch twigs; the rivalry is a friendly national debate. Braised red cabbage is the classic side for both, and dessert is often riskrem, rice cream with red berry sauce and a hidden almond. Custom also calls for seven kinds of Christmas cookies, among them krumkake and pepperkaker.

The Norwegian chapter is mostly everyday winter food, with two Shrovetide dishes. Lapskaus, a thick stew of meat, potatoes and root vegetables, kjøttkaker in brown gravy, and raspeballer, potato dumplings from western Norway served with salted meat and rutabaga, are winter dinners. Bergensk fiskesuppe is the creamy fish soup of Bergen, bacalao a salt cod stew from the Møre coast, and sodd the festive meatball soup of Trøndelag. Heitevegger, Bergen cardamom buns in hot milk, belong to Fastelavn, and rømmegrøt, a sour cream porridge, is often served on Shrove Tuesday in Nordfjord.

The Norwegian menu is built around salmon. It starts with Gravlaks med sennepssaus, salmon cured for a few days with salt, sugar and plenty of dill, sliced thin and served with a sweet, sharp mustard sauce. The main course, Ovnsbakt laks med fløtesaus, is salmon baked in the oven with a light lemon and dill cream sauce and boiled new potatoes. Dessert is Hjertevafler, heart-shaped waffles with sour cream and jam.

In Norway Easter is a holiday of eggs, oranges and ski trips. Easter Sunday, March 28, 2027, begins with a long breakfast, here eggerøre, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Easter Eve, March 27, is the evening of the main meal, with slow-roasted leg of lamb or a roast chicken. On Easter ski trips Norwegians eat pølser og lomper, sausages wrapped in potato flatbread, and the coffee table holds solboller, sun buns with vanilla cream, and Kvæfjordkake. Oranges, the fruit of Norwegian Easter, flavor appelsinkake, an orange cake, and eggedosis, a whipped egg cream.