RECIPE:
Småmat
Traditional Hallingdal soup

This hearty soup with lamb, beef, ham, and vegetables is the ultimate traditional food from Hallingdal, a 200 km long valley in Eastern Norway.

Småmat tastes best when made with fresh ingredients from local farms.

The dish dates back to the 1800s and is served at family dinners and special gatherings of all kinds in Hallingdal. People joke that the locals carry a portion tucked somewhere in their bunad, Norway's traditional costume.

The soup is so precious to locals that the name is now legally protected. You can only call it Småmat if you follow the official recipe, which calls for clear broth and uniform pieces of meat and vegetables.

Småmat

Ingredients

(Makes approx. 2.5 litres soup, 3-4 portions.)

0.6 kg lean beef, 500 g cured ham and 100 g fenalår or similar

1 l potatoes, cubed

250 ml carrots, cubed

150 ml cooked yellow peas

Source: Herlig AS

Method

1. Cut the vegetables into even cubes of around a centimetre.

2. Cook each kind of vegetable separately (to keep the broth clear). Strain and cool.

3. Cook the meat until tender (around 1 hour) then remove the beef, cool it and cut it into even cubes of around a centimetre.

4. For a rich taste, simmer the remaining cured meat broth for 4-8 hours. Skim the top regularly to keep the broth clear.

5. Mix the beef and vegetables into the meat broth.

6. Salt to taste.

Serve Småmat with lefseklining, Hallingdal’s version of lefse. Or with rummebrød like they do in the Hemsedal part of the valley.

When people think of småmat, they often think of Herlig AS. The company sells frozen portions of the soup at their bakery in Geilo and at most grocery stores in Hallingdal. Småmat is also served at the cafes Mat so klart and Ein smak tå Hemsedal, as well as at Thon Hotel Bjørneparken.

The heather-covered valley of Hallingdal is also known for its award-winning cheeses, which can be purchased at Hol cheese factory (Hol Ysteri), among other places.

Try the world's best cheese!

Hallingdal is a family-friendly destination with nature parks, adventure parks, camping and swimming areas, and much more!

Family fun in Hallingdal

It's also a mecca for hiking, climbing, skiing, cycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, and fishing.