Finland is a small state located in the north of Europe. The current name of the country Finland is of Swedish origin, in translation it means "the land of the Finns".
Indigenous Finns and representatives of Finno-Ugric peoples call their state Suomi - "scales".Probably, it is already possible to guess from the name itself how the ancient Finns lived and traded, for which fish was the main product, and fish scales - by sewing.
Fish - the basis of Finnish cuisine
Fish dishes and today occupy the lion's share( 90%) of the diet of the inhabitants of Finland. Initially, the local population ate only fish caught in the lakes. The time has passed, and Finnish fishermen have gained precious experience, and fishing gear and vessels have become more sophisticated, which made it possible to master the sea. So on the tables of Finnish housewives appeared herring, salmon and trout. Sea herring is very popular among Finns. The traditional, special dish of the cuisine of Finland is the ear of Kalakteito.
Fish in this northern country are cooked in a variety of ways: stew in milk, dried, fried, smoked, cooked, marinated. It is also one of the components of a wide variety of salads.
Some recipes in the distant past migrated to the Finns from Swedish and Norwegian cuisine. The Russian Empire conquered Finland in 1807 and ruled there until February 1917.This period did not pass without a trace for the Finnish culinary tradition, to it were added some Russian dishes. The Finns' cuisine was based on products available to the local population.
The main component of Finnish dishes has always been fish and seafood - the gifts of the Baltic Sea. It should be noted that dishes from deer meat and moose in Finnish cuisine are also not uncommon: the northerners like to hunt. And for today every year at a certain time the hunting season for bears and moose in the forests of Finland opens. Hunters get special permission to shoot animals. This measure is directed against the complete extermination of populations. Many recipes for meat dishes Finland borrowed from Sweden. For example, Swedish meatballs turned into Finnish meatballs.
Gifts of wood and agriculture on the table of Finns
The Finnish state has many forests rich in mushrooms and berries. A distinctive feature of Finnish cuisine is the use of cranberries and cowberries, which are used in the preparation of sauces for meat dishes. A popular Finnish dish, which can be called a delicacy, is cereal sausages. They are prepared from pearl barley or rice, and certainly add to this dish a wet cowberry.
Especially it is necessary to note traditional Finnish bread and bakery products. And in Finland, flour from barley is used, because wheat does not withstand the harsh local climate. Finnish pies with Kalakukko fish are very popular all over the world. By Christmas, traditionally baked pie, which is called "Fish Cock".The dough for it is kneaded from rye flour, and as a filling put lard and fish.
The Finns are especially fond of potatoes, usually boiled, dressed with greens and butter, or in puree, whipped in high-fat cream. Often, as a side dish or as a full-fledged second course, Finns consume porridge, for example, Kaaliwelli or cabbage porridge with pearl barley, the addition of peas, carrots, rutabaga and milk.
Soup in Finland is considered to be a traditional festive dish. As a rule, local housewives are engaged in preparing the first dishes only for Christmas or for some special dates. Representatives of this northern people prefer a "cold table", this is when there are no first hot dishes. Finally, it is necessary to note the distinctive features of the Finnish culinary tradition: the combination of meat with fish, the combination of different types of meat in one recipe and the fish cooked on milk.