Preparing Authentic Finnish Christmas Delicacies

As the holiday season approaches, Finnish households embrace the culinary traditions that define the festive spirit. Let’s uncover the intricate steps involved in crafting these beloved Finnish Christmas delicacies:

Kinkku (Christmas Ham)

A classic Finnish Christmas ham, baked with a delightful glaze comprising mustard, breadcrumbs, and honey. It’s typically served alongside boiled potatoes and an assortment of pickles.

Ingredients:

Ham
Mustard
Honey
Dry Breadcrumbs
Cloves
Boiled Potatoes
Root Vegetables
Boiled Prunes

Preparation: Preheat the oven to 100 – 125°C. Rinse the ham thoroughly with cold water and pat it dry.
Roasting: Place the ham in a roasting bag and insert a roasting thermometer into the thickest part.
Baking: Position the ham on a rack in the oven or on a cookie sheet. Bake until the thermometer reads an internal temperature of 75-80°C (45 – 55 minutes/1 kg).
Glazing: Coat the ham with a mixture of mustard and honey, then press dry breadcrumbs onto the coating.
Final Touch: Bake at 225°C until the coating browns (approximately 10 minutes). Decorate the surface with cloves.
Serving: Serve the ham with pan juices for making gravy, boiled potatoes, root vegetable casseroles, and boiled prunes.

Lanttulaatikko (Rutabaga Casserole)

This Finnish casserole combines rutabaga, rice, and syrup, baked to perfection. Usually served as a side dish to complement ham or other festive meats.

Ingredients:

Rutabaga (500g)
Rice (1 cup)
Milk (3 cups)
Dark Syrup (½ cup)
Eggs (2)
Butter (2 tbsp)
Salt (½ tsp)

Preparation: Boil the rutabaga until tender (15-20 minutes) and allow it to cool.
Mashing: Mash the cooled rutabaga in a bowl using a potato masher or ricer.
Mixing: Combine the mashed rutabaga with other ingredients thoroughly.
Baking: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and bake at 325°F for approximately one hour until the casserole turns brown and cooks through.

Joulutorttu (Prune-Filled Pastry)

A Finnish Christmas pastry crafted from puff pastry and filled with prune jam, elegantly shaped like a star—a beloved holiday treat in Finland.

Ingredients:

Puff Pastry
Prune Jam
Iced Water

Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200°C and roll out the puff pastry thinly.
Shaping: Cut the rolled-out pastry into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
Baking: Place the shaped pastries on oven trays, brush them with iced water, and bake for 6-8 minutes until they turn brown and slightly puffy.

Riisipuuro (Rice Porridge)

A cherished Finnish rice porridge, traditionally savored on Christmas Eve. The recipe involves cooking rice in milk, enhanced with cinnamon and sugar.

Ingredients:

Rice (1 cup)
Milk (4 cups)
Melted Butter (2 tbsp)
Sugar (½ cup)
Eggs (2)
Sliced Almonds (½ cup)
Salt (½ tsp)
Cinnamon (1 tsp)

Cooking Rice: Cook the rice following the package instructions, then drain and rinse it under cold water.
Mixing: Combine milk, melted butter, sugar, eggs, and salt in a bowl. Stir in the cooked rice and pour the mixture into a well-buttered 2-quart casserole.
Finishing: Combine sliced almonds and cinnamon, sprinkle them over the pudding, and bake in a moderate oven (350°F) for about an hour or until the pudding thickens adequately.

Piparkakut (Gingerbread Cookies)

These Finnish gingerbread cookies embody the Christmas spirit, prepared by blending flour, sugar, and spices before shaping and baking to perfection.

Ingredients:

Golden Syrup (½ cup)
Sugar (1 cup)
Butter (125g)
Mixed Spice (1 tsp)
Citrus Peel (1 tsp)
Plain Flour (3 cups)
Bicarbonate Soda (1 tsp)
Salt (½ tsp)
Iced Water

Syrup Mixture: Place golden syrup, sugar, butter, spices, and citrus peel in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow it to cool slightly.
Dough Preparation: Beat the cooled mixture with an electric beater until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
Refrigeration: Sift flour, bicarbonate soda, and salt together, add to the mixture, and form a dough. Wrap the dough with cling film and refrigerate it overnight.
Baking: Preheat the oven to 200°C, roll out the dough thinly, cut it into shapes using cookie cutters, place the biscuits on oven trays, brush them with iced water, and bake for 6-8 minutes until they turn brown and slightly puffy.

These culinary treasures hold a special place in Finnish holiday traditions, each dish carrying the authentic flavors that define a Finnish Christmas.

Embrace the rich tapestry of Finnish Christmas cuisine and savor the warmth and joy of the season through these time-honored dishes.