Smorrebrod

Rules for Eating Smørrebrød
Here are some of the rules of eating smørrebrod. First, smørrebrod are not finger food. These are sandwiches that you eat with a knife and fork, thank you very much! (As strange as this sounds, it probably makes sense. If you tried to pick up one of these carefully constructed open-faced sandwiches, the toppings would likely spill down your shirt.) And, if you are sampling multiple smørrebrod, begin with fish, move on to meat and end with cheese.

Just like hygge, smørrebrød is a Danish tradition that we Canadians might think about adopting. A simple smørrebrød or two is a delightful, out-of-the-ordinary lunch. And a lavish smørrebrød buffet is an easy and fun way to entertain at home. Lay out a selection of toppings and garnishes, gather your friends around the table and pass the bread!

Yield:
4 to 6 lunches
Category:
Lunch and Sandwiches
Cuisine:
Danish
Prep Time:
20 min
Cooking Time:
Total Time:
20 min

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 loaf dark, seedy rye bread, thinly sliced, or 1 package of rye crispbreads, such as Wasa
  • 8 oz butter, softened
  • 200g roast beef slices
  • 200g black forest ham deli slices
  • 8 oz smoked salmon
  • 4 oz blue cheese
  • 1 tub of spreadable cream cheese
  • ½ English cucumber
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 jar cornichons, sliced
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 bunch fresh dill
  • 2 radishes, thinly sliced
  • 1 small jar of capers
  • 1 pear, sliced lengthwise
  • 1 pot of raspberry or strawberry or lingonberry jam
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts and or hazelnuts
  • Horseradish
  • 1 cup of cucumber salad - your recipe
  • Mustard, salt, pepper

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Spread butter or spreadable cream cheese on rye bread.
    For a roast beef smørrebrød: Top bread with two slices of roast beef. Add cornichons and slices of red onion. Top with horseradish.
  2. For a smoked salmon smorrebrød: Top bread with two slices smoked salmon. Add two to three slices of radish or English Cucumber and several sprigs of fresh dill. Top with capers, a squeeze of lemon juice and optionally mustard.
  3. For a ham smorrebrod: Put a base layer of spreadable cream cheese on the bread. Top with 2 slices of black forest delicatessen ham. Top that with 2 tablespoons of Raspberry, Strawberry or Lingonberry jam. serve with pickles and/or small cheese pieces.
  4. For a veggie smorrebrod: Prepare a portion of cucumber salad, remembering to keep the cucumber bits small. Spread the salad on the bread. Top with roughly chopped hazelnuts or walnuts and finally. top with chives or parsley.
  5. For a blue cheese and pear smørrebrød: Sprea

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