Christmas Smorgasbord Dinner in Sweden

Christmas in Sweden is a festive celebration, as people gather to celebrate light in a season of darkness and cold, much as the birth of Jesus brought light into the world itself. The holiday season is a highly anticipated time of gatherings with friends and family and enjoyment of great food and drink.

The main Christmas feast in Sweden is served on Christmas Eve. Friends, neighbors and family members gather at a house to celebrate around the Christmas Tree and to enjoy a smorgasbord of party food. Many of the foods are relatively simple to serve, consisting of cold meats, cheese and fish served on trays. Rice porridge is a traditional Swedish dish. Baked beans and pickled beets add hearty and healthy sustenance to the meals. The smorgasbord is a popular way to serve food at parties, as guests can serve themselves and enjoy their favorite dishes out of the choices offered.

Swedish meatballs are a very popular dish that goes over well at parties. Prepare the meat mixture by combining about a pound of meat, bread crumbs, eggs, milk to moisten, one small chopped onion, a clove of chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Some people add allspice, nutmeg or cardamon. I prefer to make all beef meatballs out of ground chuck, but many people like to combine beef and pork. After mixing the meat, refrigerate it from 15 - 30 minutes so the breadcrumbs can soak up the liquid. Form the meat into small balls and saute in butter. The meatballs can be served in a bowl or a warming dish to keep them hot.

A baked ham is often the centerpiece of the Christmas smorgasbord. Purchase a ham from the deli or grocery store. Most people purchase precooked ham that just needs to be heated through at a low heat in the oven (about 250 - 300 degrees). Glaze the ham with a honey, mustard or another glaze of choice and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Sliced ham can be served warm or cold. Ham lasts quite a while in the refrigerator and makes great leftovers.

Cold fish, such as smoked salmon, pickled herring and lutefisk are popular dishes in Sweden. Lutefisk has a strong flavor and is an acquired taste. Fish can be served on a cold tray, garnished with lemon slices and /or parsley.

Set out a tray of whatever cold cuts and cheeses you and your guests will enjoy so people can make their own sandwiches.

Limpa bread is a Swedish rye bread that is uniquely flavored with cardamon. Unless you have a bakery that makes Limpa bread in the neighborhood it can be difficult to find. If you are a baker, you can make your own. Place a selection of breads out near the ham and other meats and cheeses. People like to choose from rye and white breads and rolls. Slice the rolls about15 minutes before serving, so they do not dry out.

For dessert set out a selection of cookies and cakes. Marzipan cake, sugar cookies, ginger cookies (pepperkaker), nuts, figs dates, sweet fruits and Christmas cookies are a delicious finish to the holiday meal.

Mulled wine, glogg and beer are often served for the party. Mulled wine is a wine that is simmered with arming spices such as cardamon, cinnamon and cloves.

The celebration of Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. The Swedish smorgasbord is a festive spread of foods that enhance the enjoyment of the special holiday.

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