In need of a quick, nutritious Swedish meal and can be enjoyed during hectic working days? It’s this recept vardagsmat (everyday meal recipe) that you need. Using only a few simple ingredients, potatoes, milk, flour, and eggs, you can make one of the coziest Swedish dishes, raggmunk, or Swedish potato pancakes, with crispy salted pork belly and lingonberry jam.
The dish is a real favorite in Swedish households. It is cheap, hearty, and so gratifying – the type of food that makes you realize that simple food is the tastiest. So, it is time to do it at home!
What Is Vardagsmat?
Vardagsmat in Swedish translates to everyday food – the type of food that families prepare during the week when they are in need of something fast, delicious and warm. Imagine it as home-cooking, which does not need any fancy ingredients or complex methods.
One of the most popular vardagsmat meals in Sweden is this raggmunk med fläsk (potato pancakes with pork) recipe. It is a mixture of crunchy sides, soft interiors, salty pork, and a sweet bite of lingonberry jam – the ideal combination of tastes on a single plate.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 1 dl (about 2/5 cup) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 dl (about 7 ounces) milk
- 1 egg
- 400 g (14 ounces) coarsely grated potatoes
- Butter for frying
- 400 g (14 ounces) salted pork belly, sliced
- Lingonberry jam (or cranberry jam) for serving
- Optional: grated carrots for a fresh touch
Instructions
- Make the batter: Whisk the flour and the salt in a mixing bowl. The milk should be added gradually little by little and whisked to prevent lumps. After this is smooth, add the remaining milk and beat in the egg until you have a light even batter.
- Prepare the potatoes: Peel and roughly grate the potatoes. They should be added immediately into the batter to avoid browning. Gently stir to mix.
- Fry the pancakes: Heat a frying pan in medium heat and melt a small knob of butter. Add approximately 0.5dl (a couple of tablespoons) of batter into the pan per pancake. Spread it and fry till golden brown and crispy on both sides -approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Meanwhile, keep warm cooking the rest.
- Cook the pork belly: Fry the slices of salted pork belly in a different pan until crispy and brown to your preference. On paper towels you can leave them to dry, in case you want less grease.
- Serve and enjoy: Potato pancakes are to be served with crispy pork belly and a large spoon of lingonberry jam on the side. You may also add a few grated carrots to make it fresher and look fresher.
Serving Suggestions
It is a full meal in itself, and can be served with a light salad or a bowl of soup to make it a comfortable dinner. To make it vegetarian, omit the pork and fry some mushrooms or roast some vegetables instead of pork and serve them with the pancakes.
To have a true Swedish experience, you must not miss the lingonberry jam, its sweetness with a tangy touch is a perfect match to the pork and crispy potato pancakes that are salty.
Tips for the Perfect Potato Pancakes
- Crisper results are achieved by use of starchy potatoes (such as Russet or King Edward).
- Drain all the moisture out of the grated potatoes in case they are too wet – this keeps the pancakes firm.
- Cook in batches and do not overcrowd the pan so that the pancakes are evenly browned.
- Best eaten immediately to achieve the best texture crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Why You’ll Love This Recept Vardagsmat
This meal is a real Swedish home cooking at its finest, a simple, rustic, and hearty meal. It is a family recipe that has been passed down through the ages and particularly on cold evenings when you need something warm and satisfying.
Every bite is comfort on a plate, whether it is the crispy golden pancakes or the savory pork or the explosion of lingonberry sweetness. In addition, it can be prepared in less than 30 minutes, which is why it is perfect in weekday dinners.
In case you are looking to find a simple recipe of Swedish vardagsmat, this is a dish that you cannot afford to miss. Using very simple ingredients and a hint of Scandinavian culture, these Swedish potato pancakes with crispy pork and lingonberry jam will get you a taste of Sweden in your own kitchen. Uncomplicated, tasty, and certainly cozy that is what vardagsmat is.
