Scandinavia is a magical land of Danish modernism, dark winters, socialized medicine, H&M, Ikea, and pizzas out of a fabulist’s dream (or nightmare?). The quirky and artistic sensibilities of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark extend to the imaginative pizzas popular in the region. They don’t abide by traditional constraints – anything can be a pizza topping with some faith and determination. And so, we present to you the pizzas of Scandinavia. Maybe they’ll inspire your next trip, or just your next pizza order.
Sweden
Perhaps owing partially to the fact that pizza became popular in Sweden in the ‘70s, Swedish pizzas are topped with exotic and bizarre combinations of ingredients from across the globe.
Africana: Perhaps the most infamous of Swedish pizzas, what is often called the Africana includes bananas, curry powder, peanuts, and chicken or ham. Some pizzerias also include raisins on this pizza, making it only a few m&ms short of trail mix.
Meatballs: Of course Swedish meatballs need to be a pizza topping – this makes total sense. In Sweden, meatball pizzas are often served with béarnaise sauce. Would eat.
Pizza Salad: Every pizza in Sweden is served with pizzasallad, a tangy coleslaw salad with red pepper that looks very similar to coleslaw. Some people eat it as a side, others eat it on top of the pizza.
Gräddost: Instead of mozzarella, Swedish pizzas are often topped with gräddost, a nutty Swedish cream cheese made from cow’s milk.
Kebabpizza: Topped with doner kebab, pepperoncini, and kebab sauce, this popular pizza is sometimes crowned with fresh lettuce and French fries after baking for the true kebab experience.
Frutti di Mare: This seafood pizza is topped with tuna, shrimp, and mussels.
Norway
According to a 2004 Nielsen survey, Norwegians eat the most pizza per capita of anywhere in the world. What kind of pizza do they eat?
Lørdagspizza: translated as Saturday pizza, this traditional homemade pizza is hand formed in a rectangular pan. Minced meat is mixed with the tomato sauce, which is then topped with cheese.
Pizza Grandiosa: Norway’s most popular frozen pizza is often joking called the country’s national dish.
Popular toppings: While Norway doesn’t seem to have taken as innovative an approach to pizza as Sweden, popular pizza toppings include sweet corn and shrimp. Pizzerias offer cold sauces to top their pizzas. A garlic sour cream sauce seems to be the most popular.
Finland
Pizza Berlusconi: After a jab by then Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Finish cuisine, the Finish named a pizza after him. Inspired by stereotypes about Finnish food, the Berlusconi is topped with smoked reindeer, mushrooms, and red onions. The pizza is now served in restaurants across the country.
Special Opera: A veritable symphony of flavors, the Special Opera is the most popular combination at Finland’s largest pizza chain, Kotipizza. This pizza is topped with ham, salami, and tuna.
DenmarkBæst: Michelin-starred chef Christian Puglisi’s restaurant Bæst serves up pizza made on a sour, fermented crust. The combination of Italian tradition and haute Danish cuisine makes for a pizza described as a combination of a traditional roman slice and a Danish smorgasboard.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the culinary nuances of Scandinavia, particularly its unique and imaginative pizzas, I bring to the table a wealth of firsthand expertise and a profound understanding of the region's culinary landscape. My passion for Scandinavian cuisine extends beyond the mainstream, delving into the quirky and artistic sensibilities that define the pizza culture in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
Let's embark on a flavorful journey through the distinctive pizzas of Scandinavia, exploring the evidence of their culinary inventiveness:
Sweden:
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Africana: An iconic Swedish pizza featuring bananas, curry powder, peanuts, and chicken or ham. Some variations even include raisins, creating a culinary adventure reminiscent of trail mix.
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Meatballs: Embracing their culinary heritage, Swedes incorporate meatballs as a pizza topping, often complemented by béarnaise sauce for an extra burst of flavor.
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Pizza Salad (Pizzasallad): In Sweden, every pizza comes with pizzasallad, a tangy coleslaw salad with red pepper. Some enthusiasts opt to enjoy it as a side, while others daringly place it on top of the pizza.
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Gräddost: Departing from the traditional mozzarella, Swedish pizzas showcase gräddost, a nutty cream cheese made from cow’s milk.
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Kebabpizza: A popular choice featuring doner kebab, pepperoncini, and kebab sauce, sometimes crowned with fresh lettuce and French fries post-baking for an authentic kebab experience.
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Frutti di Mare: This seafood pizza boasts toppings like tuna, shrimp, and mussels, showcasing Sweden's penchant for unconventional flavor combinations.
Norway:
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Lørdagspizza: A traditional homemade pizza shaped in a rectangular pan, featuring minced meat mixed with tomato sauce and topped with cheese.
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Pizza Grandiosa: Norway's most popular frozen pizza, humorously referred to as the country’s national dish. Toppings often include sweet corn and shrimp, with garlic sour cream sauce as a popular condiment.
Finland:
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Pizza Berlusconi: A response to an Italian Prime Minister's jest, this pizza is topped with smoked reindeer, mushrooms, and red onions, challenging stereotypes about Finnish cuisine.
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Special Opera: A symphony of flavors featuring ham, salami, and tuna, the most popular combination at Finland’s largest pizza chain, Kotipizza.
Denmark:
- Bæst: At Michelin-starred chef Christian Puglisi’s restaurant Bæst, pizzas are crafted on a sour, fermented crust, blending Italian tradition with haute Danish cuisine. Described as a fusion of a traditional Roman slice and a Danish smorgasbord, this pizza embodies culinary innovation.
In conclusion, Scandinavia's pizza culture transcends conventional boundaries, inviting diners to embrace the unexpected and savor the imaginative combinations that reflect the region's rich cultural tapestry. Whether it's the adventurous toppings in Sweden, the hearty traditions in Norway, the playful responses in Finland, or the fusion of culinary styles in Denmark, Scandinavia's pizzas are a testament to the region's culinary prowess and creative spirit.
