Taste Lapland: 5 Traditional Dishes
- Artur Kukov
- Nov 18
- 2 min read
5 Traditional Dishes You Should Try at Least Once
Lapland isn’t just stunning landscapes, frozen lakes, and northern lights — it’s also a region with a rich culinary heritage shaped by nature, seasons, and Sámi culture. If you’re planning a trip, make sure to taste these authentic dishes that capture the true flavor of the north.
Here are 7 traditional Lapland foods worth discovering:
1. Poronkäristys – Sautéed Reindeer
The most iconic dish of Lapland. Thinly sliced reindeer meat, slow-cooked with butter and served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
Rich, hearty, and deeply local.
2. Leipäjuusto – Finnish Squeaky Cheese
Also known as “bread cheese” — a soft cow’s milk cheese lightly grilled or pan-fried. In Lapland, it’s often served warm with cloudberry jam.
Sweet, creamy, and totally unforgettable.
3. Lohikeitto – Creamy Salmon Soup
A Finnish classic: fresh salmon, potatoes, carrots, and dill in a silky broth. Simple, pure, and perfect after a day in the snow. Comfort food, Nordic-style.
4. Cloudberries (Hilla)
Golden, tart, and rare — cloudberries grow in the wild wetlands of Lapland. They’re often served with whipped cream, cheese, or desserts.
The “gold of Lapland.”
5. Muikku – Smoked Vendace
Small lake fish grilled or smoked whole — especially common in northern lake regions like Inari. Eat them like locals do: heads, tails, everything.
Bonus: Try Them in a Kota
Many Lapland restaurants serve these dishes in traditional Sámi huts (kota) — with open fire and reindeer hides. It’s not just a meal. It’s a moment.
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