Norwegian cuisine
Traditional ingredients, modern methods
Sample everything from sweet treats like berries, waffles and ciders, to cured meats and some of the world's best cheeses. And don't forget to taste some fresh seafood: king crab, salmon and Norway's famous Atlantic cod.
Must-try Norwegian foods
Make your holiday last longer by bringing home some Norwegian culinary specialities.
Røkelaks (smoked salmon)
Available as a whole fish or in vacuum packed slices that are thin and delicate. Complete your purchase with an accompanying mustard sauce.
Tørrfisk (dried cod) Small slices of brittle stockfish make a perfect (and healthy!) snack. Dried cod is available in small portion bags.
Brunost (sweet brown cheese)
Take home a bit of our national soul with this sweet brown cheese. Although most brown cheeses are made of cow’s milk, there is also a variety made from goat’s milk that has a sharper flavour. Don't forget to pick up a cheese slicer, called ostehøvel in Norwegian, a beautiful tool that's typically found in every Norwegian kitchen.
Sild (herring)
Herring is used in a wide variety of dishes and comes in a myriad of delicious marinades and flavours.
Flatbrød (crispbread)
Flatbrød is a dried and crisp type of flatbread, far thinner than even the fanciest laptop, and is sold in a small protective box. Perfect with soups and stews, or topped with cured meats and sour cream.
Lefse
A traditional thin flatbread consisting of flour, potatoes, milk and butter, made with traditional techniques. Usually served folded with a thin layer of butter, sugar and cinnamon inside.
Waffle mix and waffle iron
If you want to experience real Norwegian kos, try a tasty Norwegian-style waffle.
With its dramatically varied landscapes and one of the world’s longest coastlines, Norway boasts an abundance of healthy, fresh ingredients. You can sample them in both traditional recipes and modern variations dreamt up by Norway’s innovative and internationally renowned chefs.
In fact, Norway is the most-awarded country in Bocuse d´Or, one of the world's most prestigious culinary competitions.
First-class seafood
Millions of people around the world regularly enjoy seafood from Norway. Our country is known for its cold, clean waters, which provide the perfect habitat for countless species of fish. Inland Norway is home to hundreds of rivers and lakes, and the Norwegian coastline offers excellent deep-sea fishing.
Catching and preparing top-quality fish has always been a key part of Norwegian culture. Tørrfisk, dried cod, has been a major export for centuries, and has more recently been joined by a thriving industry in fresh salmon and the Arctic cod called skrei.
Let's not forget the king of Norwegian seafood — king crab. Although these delicious crabs are available around the world, if you travel to Northern Norway, you can enjoy them when they are freshly caught.
Come join us inside the Arctic kitchen and learn all about the unique culinary delicacies Northern Norway has to offer, from both land and sea.
Game on: four unique meats you should try
From grouse, to moose and deer – Norwegian game is world-class, according to master chef Arne Brimi.
Autumn is hunting season in Norway, when game is served in both restaurants and Norwegian homes. Here are four delicious Norwegian specialities you should try.
1. MOOSE. Moose meat is a delicacy when prepared correctly, and the taste is typically compared to venison.
2. REINDEER. Northern Norway is home to as many as 250,000 reindeer. The indigenous Sami people are especially known for reindeer herding. The meat is lean and delicious.
3. DEER. The deer population has surpassed the moose population in Norwegian forests. Deer is frequently served as steak, but can also be smoked, dried or cured.
4. GROUSE. Grouse is the most sought-after bird for hunters in Norway. The breast of young grouse is tender, with a mild, gamey taste. The rest of its flesh has a more intense flavour.
The world's best meat and dairy products?
With so many wild and grazing animals, you’re almost never alone in Norwegian nature. Lamb is the main ingredient in many traditional dishes in Norway. Norwegian lamb meat is especially tender and juicy, since the lambs graze in vast expanses of untouched nature, with clean flowing water and rich vegetation. Norwegian goats and cattle also enjoy long outdoor summer holidays (by law!). In addition, livestock is not given antibiotics, unless an animal is sick.
Learn more about what makes Norwegian milk and meat some of the best in the world, and why Norwegian cows are unique.
From farm to fork
One of the best things about traditional Norwegian food is that it often travels straight from farm to fork in many places. Small-scale farming, often family-driven, has a very long tradition in Norway.
To sample the best ingredients Norway has to offer, you need to head for the Norwegian countryside. Visit a cosy Norwegian farm or summer mountain farm, and see where the food comes from. Enjoy traditional farm food like rømmegrøt (sour cream porridge), flatbread and cured meats. Many farms are situated in stunning cultural landscapes, so you can indulge your taste buds while enjoying the view!
Want some rural luxury? You can find traditional farms and manor houses throughout the country that have been converted to offer fashionable accommodation!
Tasty cheeses
The most famous cheese in Norway has traditionally been brunost, or sweet brown cheese – a caramelised whey cheese, similar to fudge, made with cow's milk or goat's milk. Norwegians often enjoy it on freshly baked bread or waffles.
In recent years, Norwegian cheesemaking has been booming, and Norwegian cheeses, including many blue cheeses and Gouda-style cheeses, are now winning prestigious international prizes.
Unique fruit villages
From award-winning cider producers in Hardanger, to the Gvarv Fruit Village in Telemark, Norway’s capital of apple production, Norwegian fruit and berries are in a league of their own. Long summer days, relatively low temperatures, and clean country air make ideal conditions for fruit and berries to grow and ripen slowly, giving them an extra sweet flavour.
Visit the charming fruit farms in the fjords and the valleys, to learn about and try your hand at picking fruit and making ciders. Join a course or a guided tour, participate in cider or beer tasting, stroll along picturesque fruit trails, and buy some jam to bring home.
Norway’s weird and wonderful food
Are you brave enough to try our quirky cuisine?
Typically Norwegian
Make your trip to Norway unforgettable by sampling these must-try dishes and delicacies.
The Norwegian kitchen – the way you haven't seen it before
Have you ever wondered what tørrfisk, stockfish, actually tastes like? And what about the famous Norwegian brown cheese? Come along as we dig in on traditional dishes and present some mouthwatering modern takes on the classics.
The taste of Christmas
Christmas traditions in Norway are as varied as the country itself. Here are the most popular Norwegian holiday treats.
Norwegian food destinations
Are you a real foodie? Join our gastronomic tour of Norway, from north to south.
Our best restaurants
Michelin-starred experiences, spectacular table views, and easy-going eateries.
Discover a country full of flavour …
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