Finland Appetizers Recipes

EGG BUTTER (MUNAVOI)

Steps:

• 1. Mash together the eggs and butter with a fork until the mixture is spreadable, as you can see the yolks will mash and the whites are finely minced from the fork. Season with sea salt as desired.
• 2. Spread on your favorite crackers, bread, or even place on top of several lettuce leaves. Sprinkle some black pepper on if desired, enjoy.

FINNISH MEATBALLS (LIHAPYORYKOITA)

Steps:

• Mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, cream, salt, and allspice in a bowl with your hands until evenly mixed. Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized spheres.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook about half the meatballs in the melted butter until evenly browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes; remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining meatballs, keeping the liquid in the skillet when finished.
• Sift the flour into the skillet drippings; cook the flour in the skillet drippings until brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly stream the milk into the skillet while whisking vigorously; pour the cream into the mixture and stir until smooth. If you aren't good at making gravy and end up with some lumps you can pour the gravy through a strainer. Return all the meatballs to the skillet; stir to coat with the gravy. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

FINNISH RYE CRISPBREAD

Steps:

• Pour warm water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in yeast until dissolved. Season with salt. Gradually mix in 4 1/2 cups of the flour. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Sprinkle a clean, flat work surface with the remaining 1/2 cup flour; turn the dough onto the floured surface. Divide evenly into 4 balls. The flour from your work surface is to keep the dough from becoming sticky, but be careful not to work the extra flour into the balls of dough.
• Roll out each ball until 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick and about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Very carefully, use a thin, flat object to transfer each round to baking sheets that have been greased and well-sprinkled with flour. Cut a 2-inch hole in the center of each round. A cookie cutter generally will do the trick. Prick all over with a fork.
• Keep rounds in a warm place to rise for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Bake rounds in the preheated oven until firm to the touch, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool for 1 hour. The rounds will not be crisp yet.
• Let the cooled rounds dry on racks in a cool, dry place for 8 hours, or overnight. Avoid humidity.