1. Food experiences in Norway
  3. Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try

Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try

If you are a foodie or even just a lover of barbecue, then you will definitely want to make sure that you take a trip to Norway to experience the incredible local cuisine in places like Bergen and Røros. To give you a small taste of the kind of culinary experience you will get in Norway, here are three top Norwegian recipes that you can easily make at home.
3 min readUpdated: Feb 27, 2026By: The Fjord Tours team
Man in orange jacket reaches for fish mid-air on a boat at sea.

Gravlaks (Gravlax)

Gravlaks is a very traditional food in Norway and often used as an appetizer, but can also be served as a main course, for example with stewed potatoes. The name Gravlaks dates from the Middle Ages when fishermen buried salted fish in the sand for fermentation. Today we rarely use the salmon to ferment, but instead use a so-called dry marinade consisting of salt, sugar and dill.
Ingredients:
8 slices raw salmon, 4 slices thin rye bread (toasted), 3 tablespoons sour cream, 3 teaspoons grated horseradish (to taste), salt and pepper, red onion finely diced, fresh dill or chives.
Steps
  1. Remove all bones from the fish and cut away the abdomen. Wipe the fillet well with paper towel
  2. Mix together salt, sugar and pepper and sprinkle half in bottom of a suitable large mold
  3. Sprinkle over half of the dill and place on the fillet with the skin side up. Sprinkle with the rest of the salt and sugar mixture and dill
  4. Drizzle over aquavit or brandy, cover with foil and place cool and under pressure for 3-4 days
  5. Turn the fillet a couple of times a day.
  6. Keep the fish cool (8 ° C or lower)
  7. Cut the salmon into thin slices obliquely from the head side
  8. Prepare toast, garnish with salad and serve it with mustard sauce or your choice of sides of dipping sauce
Cozy festive table with Christmas tree in background, featuring meat, sausages, mashed potatoes, and elegant setting.

Pinnekjøtt

This is a staple of all Norwegian Christmas celebrations and has a flavor that is beloved by both locals and tourists. Here is how you can successfully cook some of this delicious lamb on your own.
Ingredients:
4 lbs of pinnekjøtt
Steps
  1. Place the pinnekjøtt in a container filled with water and leave soaking at room temperature for approximately 30 hours
  2. Put a metal cooking rack in a casserole dish, fill the dish with enough water to just cover the bottom of the rack, then place the pinnekjøtt onto the rack, cover the dish, and place it into the oven at 350-degrees Fahrenheit
  3. After about 15 to 20 minutes, take the pinnekjøtt out of the oven and serve with the traditional side dishes of carrots, swede, and potatoes

Potato Lefse

In between delicious meals of pinnekjøtt or lutefisk, this lefse is a great Norwegian snack. Luckily, it can be prepared fairly easily, so you don’t have to spend a whole afternoon in the kitchen.
Ingredients:
One pound of potatoes, a quarter cup of butter, a quarter cup of heavy cream, and one cup of all-purpose flour.
Steps
  1. Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes so that they are split into quarter pieces
  2. Submerge the potatoes in a pot of boiling water and cook until tender
  3. Drain the potatoes and mash them while adding the butter and cream. Once they have been mashed to the point of no longer having lumps, put in the fridge for a minimum of eight hours
  4. Add the flour to the potatoes and mix together thoroughly before kneading the dough substance for a couple of minutes and then separating into approximately a dozen equal portions
  5. Roll the dough portions into very flat discs and then cook in a pan until reaching a light tan color
  6. Serve immediately with butter and cinnamon or sugar
To try these dishes and explore more fantastic Norwegian cuisine we'd like to welcome you on one of our "Norwegian food tours" one day soon!
A stack of Flatbrød, a crisp Norwegian bread, arranged neatly on a decorative plate with a ceramic pot nearby.

Food experiences in Norway

We offer several activities and experiences which include sampling Norwegian food and beverages. Here are some of our favorites.
Cozy glass-fronted waterfront restaurant glowing warmly at twilight, reflections shimmering on calm water surface.
Fjord cruise and dinner at Cornelius
Bergen • 5 hr
From 1695NOK
Available all year
Traditional Norwegian lapskaus stew served at Flåm farm
Hidden Gem in Flåm
Local food tasting in Flåm
Flåm • 1 hr
From 750NOK
1 May - 1 October
Silver bowl of shrimp with lemon wedges, surrounded by bread, plates, condiments, and napkins on a boat deck.
Oslofjord Sunset Cruise with shrimp buffet
Oslo • 3 hr
From 802NOK
1 May - 4 October
Musician playing traditional Hardanger fiddle during intimate concert in rustic barn at Flåm
Local Food & Concert in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 30 min
From 990NOK
15 May - 14 September
Elegant table setting with wine and food aboard cruise boat
Bestseller
Dinner cruise on the Oslofjord
Oslo • 2 hr 30 min
From 1490NOK
Available all year
Yellow Ulriken cable car ascending to mountain top restaurant in Bergen with fjord and city views below
Ulriken Gondola & lunch with a view over Bergen
Bergen • 2 hr 30 min
From 1081NOK
Available all year
Tourists on the boat deck on the winter cruise on the Geirangerfjord surrounded by a beautiful world heritage landscape
Geirangerfjord winter cruise
Ålesund • 9 hr
From 2933NOK
1 November - 31 March
Norwegian cider tasting with local food at Ciderhuset Balestrand overlooking Sognefjord
Cider & lunch in Balestrand
Balestrand • 2 hr
From 860NOK
4 May - 30 September
Family of three enjoying a meal by a fjord, with a boy reaching for a strawberry and adults laughing.
RIB boat tour with cheese tasting from Flåm
Flåm • 3 hr
From 1395NOK
1 May - 20 September
Red inflatable boat speeding through rippling water, carrying yellow-jacketed people, framed by snow-covered mountains.
RIB boat winter tour in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 30 min
From 1220NOK
1 November - 31 March
Cheerful pair enjoying waffles with cheese and jam at outdoor park, with sunny weather and surrounding trees.
Oslo street food tour
Oslo • 2 hr 30 min
From 1590NOK
Available all year
Two smiling kayakers in a yellow tandem kayak on calm blue water, surrounded by green hills and waterfalls in a peaceful fjord.
Sea kayaking day tour in Gudvangen
Gudvangen • 7 hr 30 min
From 1396NOK
6 April - 30 September
Table with cider glasses, bread, cured meat, and mountain backdrop, suggesting a relaxing moment in nature.
Cider tasting & lunch in Ulvik
Ulvik • 1 hr
From 795NOK
13 April - 14 October
People on boat raise arms watching northern lights.
Northern Lights cuisine cruise in Tromsø
Tromsø • 3 hr 30 min
From 1890NOK
Available all year
People in bright thermal suits and life vests on a boat, smiling and excited, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and icy fjord waters.
Winter fjord safari and viking dinner in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 45 min
From 1650NOK
1 November - 31 March
Fresh seafood platter with oysters, clams, and sea urchin on ice, served elegantly at sophisticated indoor event.
Fjord cruise and shellfish tower at seafood restaurant
Bergen • 5 hr
From 2295NOK
1 March - 19 December
Man pouring golden cider into glass at Ciderhuset fruit farm in Balestrand, Norway
Cider tasting in Balestrand
Balestrand • 1 hr 30 min
From 700NOK
1 June - 28 August
Viking dinner with 5 courses and beer tasting at Ægir Brewery in Flåm featuring local Norwegian ingredients
Viking dinner and beer experience in Flåm
Flåm • 1 hr
From 775NOK
1 October - 31 March
Two women smiling and conversing at a stylish bar in Oslo with cozy lighting, champagne in hand, and waterfront view.
Oslo food & beer tour
Oslo • 3 hr
From 1990NOK
Available all year
Geodesic dome tent illuminated from within, set against starry night sky with snow-capped mountains.
Glamping at Trolltunga
Multiple locations • 1 day 4 hr
From 4400NOK
1 May - 1 December
See more activities

Articles about Norwegian food and cuisine

A group of friends enjoying an outdoor meal at a cozy table with a white tablecloth, candle lantern, and small plant.
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Close-up golden sparkling cider poured into glass outdoors under bright sky with branches in background.
Norwegian cider’s rise in popularity
Cider brewing is a Norwegian custom that dates all the way back to the 13th century. However, once the Vinmonopolet or the Wine Monopoly came into effect, the practice largely died down. Despite this, Norwegians continued to brew cider in their homes and cellars. And now the drink is experiencing a surge in popularity yet again. If you’re a cider lover planning a visit to Norway, here’s everything you need to know!
Man in orange jacket reaches for fish mid-air on a boat at sea.
Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try
If you are a foodie or even just a lover of barbecue, then you will definitely want to make sure that you take a trip to Norway to experience the incredible local cuisine in places like Bergen and Røros. To give you a small taste of the kind of culinary experience you will get in Norway, here are three top Norwegian recipes that you can easily make at home.
An elegant presentation of cured salmon with pepper crust, creamy sauce, and fresh herbs on a stone plate.
Sustainable eating trends
Norway is already publicly recognized by almost every foodie as being home to some of the tastiest cuisine options in the world, with some truly exquisite national recipes like lutefisk and pinnekjøtt originating in Nordic countries. But what you may not know is that Norway is also a leader in bio-farming and sustainable food production.
Under Restaurant in Lindesnes - this unique restaurant serves the dinner under water, a truly unique experience
Here's what you'll experience at this record-setting underwater restaurant
There are a lot of fantastic things to experience on land in Norway, but there is a new exciting activity that takes you under the water. At the southern tip of Norway in Lindesnes, you can find the world's largest underwater restaurant.
Wooden Viking-style table with food preparation, herb butter, wooden bowls and crackers, and historical figures in background.
What did the average viking eat?
When your every-day activities include pillaging villages and exploring the impressive fjords in Norway, you are going to need a lot of energy to sustain yourself. This means eating some pretty astonishing meals in order to maintain proper health with such an active lifestyle.
A block of brown Norwegian goat cheese sits on a plate with a cheese slicer resting on top, surrounded by jars and traditional food packaging.
What do you eat with Brunost?
Every culture will have its own set of unique food items that either impress or disgust visitors when they try it upon visiting. Norway is no different and offers an assortment of delicious Norwegian food that is unlike anything that can be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the more common examples include lutefisk and pinnekjøtt.
A rustic scene with rolling pins and dough being prepared for lefse, with flour on the surface.
What is lefse?
Whether you’re planning to visit Norway or are just interested in Norwegian culture and tradition, you’ll want to find out more about lefse. Lefse has a long-standing history as a traditional food in Norway, and it remains about as popular today as it was a hundred years ago. Let’s take a closer look at what this tasty, simple food is all about!