True North Kitchen

  • Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes
  • Nordic & Scandinavian Recipes Index
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring
  • Recipe Index
  • Nordic Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring
    • Recipe Index
    • Nordic Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes » Recipe Round Ups

    A Modern Scandinavian Christmas Eve Smörgåsbord

    Published: Dec 18, 2019 · Modified: Jan 14, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

    A table topped with food for a Scandinavian Christmas Eve smörgåsbord

    Looking to bring a fresh and modern approach to this year's Christmas Eve Smörgåsbord? I've got you covered. I've put together a simple, elegant menu which both honors tradition and brings some new dishes to the table:

    A Modern Christmas Eve Smörgåsbord

    Roasted Salmon with Brown Sugar and Butter

    Swedish Meatballs (prepared without gravy)

    Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce

    Celery Root and Potato Puree

    Spicy Pickled Beets

    Fresh Pickled Cucumbers

    Stirred Lingonberries

    Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans

    Mushroom Gratin

    Swedish Limpa

    Lingonberry Skyr Mousse

    Everything on this menu goes together beautifully.  Both the roasted salmon and the meatballs benefit from a spoonful or two of the Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce, and the Celery Root and Potato Puree provides a velvety rich base.  The Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans brings a fresh burst of green and orange to the plate, and the Mushroom Gratin a delightful mix of creamy mushrooms and crispy, buttery breadcrumbs.  The Spicy Pickled Beets, Fresh Pickled Cucumbers and Stirred Lingonberries round everything out with a bit of spicy, briny and sweet. And for dessert, a luscious Lingonberry Skyr Mousse which somehow manages to be both light and decadent at the same time. 

    A table topped with food for a Scandinavian Christmas Eve smörgåsbord

    Christmas Eve is a time to gather with family and friends and enjoy each other’s company.  For that reason, I intentionally designed this menu with several make ahead options so that when the guests arrive, most of the work is done.  Even those of us who love to cook want to relax and revel in the holiday festivities. This menu allows you to do just that.

    Bowls of roasted beets, pickles and lingonberries with a spoon on a marble surface

    My family and friends enjoyed Christmas dinner in October several weekends in a row as I tested these recipes.  While everyone had their favorites, the Celery Root and Potato Puree (“more delicious than mashed potatoes”), the Mushroom Gratin (“I love the contrast between the creamy mushrooms and the crispy, buttery breadcrumbs”), and the Lingonberry Skyr Mousse (“I would eat this every day if I could”) were clear stand-outs.  

    Christmas carries with it many expectations.  Our loved ones expect to see certain foods on the table each and every year prepared in exactly the same way.  Change, when it comes to the holidays, is not always welcome. If that’s the case for you, maybe offering one or two new dishes alongside your tried and true favorites is the best way to go.  You certainly don’t have to do a whole new menu all at once. Or maybe you are ready for something modern and new, a complete overhaul of your Christmas routine. The choice is yours. Either way, I hope you give one, several or all of these recipes a try.  I wish you the happiest and most delicious of holidays! 

    A piece of salmon on a plate with fresh dill
    Roasted Salmon with Butter and Brown Sugar
    A close up of cooked meatballs on a sheet pan
    Swedish Meatballs
    Creamy mustard dill sauce in a gravy boat with a spoon and fresh dill on a marble surface
    Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce
    A bowl of potato and celery root puree with a spoon on a wooden surface
    Celery Root and Potato Puree
    Kale salad with roasted butternut squash and pecans on a plate
    Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecans
    A close up of mushroom gratin on a spoon
    Mushroom Gratin
    A close up of fresh pickled cucumbers in a jar
    Fresh Pickled Cucumbers
    A jar filled with pickled beets and a fork
    Spicy Pickled Beets
    Bowl of lingonberries with a spoon and evergreen branches
    Stirred Lingonberries
    Sliced limpa bread on top of a wooden cutting board next to an orange
    Swedish Limpa
    Lingonberry mousse topped with lingonberries in a glass next to a spoon
    Lingonberry Skyr Mousse


    More Nordic/Scandinavian Recipe Round Ups

    • Featured image for Danish Hot Dogs (Rød Pølse).
      Scandinavian Hot Dogs 3 Ways: Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish Recipes
    • Close up of Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj) with a salad and fork.
      20 Scandinavian Brunch Recipes Perfect for Spring
    • Glass of white glögg (mulled white wine) being stirred with a cinnamon stick.
      Cozy & Homemade: 12 Nordic Edible Gifts for Winter Gifting
    • Close up of waffle topped with roasted strawberries and whipped cream.
      25 Delicious Waffle Topping Ideas (Sweet and Savory)

    Comments

    1. Mary Holoun says

      December 15, 2021 at 11:20 am

      My sister made your entire Julebord Menu after seeing it in the Dec. 3 NorwegianAmerican paper. Everyone loved it! Susan also adjusted the meatball recipe for her vegan daughter-in-law, leaving out the eggs. Susan especially loved the kale salad, which doesn't wilt! She's making it again for the Sons of Norway meeting in Bozeman.

      Reply
      • Kristi says

        December 16, 2021 at 2:16 pm

        Hi Mary,
        So good to hear from you! I'm glad the julbord menu was enjoyed by all. It's such a delicious meal. Thanks for leaving me a comment and letting me know!
        Kristi

        Reply
    2. Alana Rung says

      December 12, 2020 at 12:07 am

      I made this as a replacement for Thanksgiving and a practice for Christmas and I AM IN LOVE! Best meal I've ever made, and feeling so much closer to my Scandinavian heritage. Can't wait to make for my family once the COVID era passes. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristi says

        December 12, 2020 at 10:43 am

        Hi Alana,

        I'm so glad you enjoyed this meal! And I loved what you said about connecting with your Scandinavian heritage. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. It's greatly appreciated.

        Kristi

        Reply
    3. Marie says

      December 21, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      Hej,
      Great recipes. Everything looks very good on the pictures too.
      Marie USA

      Reply
      • Kristi says

        December 22, 2019 at 8:38 am

        Thanks, Marie!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Kristi! Welcome to my cozy Nordic kitchen!

    More about me

    Popular Posts

    • Featured image for Soft and Tender Buttermilk Bread.
      Soft and Tender Buttermilk Bread
    • Close up of Soft Rye Dinner Rolls.
      Soft Rye Dinner Rolls
    • Kavring bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.
      Kavring (The Easiest Swedish Rye Bread)
    • Swedish semla bun closeup.
      Easy Swedish Semla (Traditional Lenten Buns)
    • Close up of cardamom bun.
      Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)
    • Close up of Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) on a plate.
      Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

    Holiday Posts

    • Slices of Swedish Limpa Bread
      Swedish Limpa Bread
    • A close up of a stack of Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor).
      Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)
    • Vegetarian meatballs and cream sauce in a pan
      Really Good Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs
    • Close up of a pile of krumkaker.
      Krumkake (Traditional Norwegian Waffle Cookies)
    • Close up of 3 Swedish pancakes on a plate topped with lingonberries.
      Traditional Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor) with Lingonberries
    • Featured image for Swedish Meatballs with Gravy.
      Easy Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar)

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Work with Me
    Contact
    Disclosure and Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Statement

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 True North Kitchen