Scandinavian-Inspired Holiday Side Dishes

Delight your friends and family with a Scandinavian-inspired side dish or two this holiday season! I've gathered my favorite Nordic sides that bring bright flavor, cozy comfort and a touch of simple elegance to any festive meal - from colorful salads and hearty casseroles to buttery dill potatoes. Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving, planning a Christmas feast or gathering together anytime during the winter season, there is something here for every occasion.

Kale Salad with Butternut Squash

A delicious salad with kale, sweet roasted butternut squash and red onions and toasty pecans.  It makes a tasty leafy green side dish or a hearty main coarse salad.

Kale Salad with Butternut Squash Recipe

Nordic Red Cabbage Slaw with Carrots and Beets

This zesty, colorful slaw is much more interesting than the average coleslaw.....shredded red cabbage, carrots and raw beets are tossed with chopped red onion, dill and a creamy skyr or Greek yogurt-based dressing to create a Nordic-inspired slaw you are going to love!

Nordic Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe

Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)

A classic Swedish salad featuring pickled beets, crisp apples and a zippy creamy dressing.

Swedish Beet Salad Recipe

Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula, Rye and Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce

This impressive and hearty salad is a delightful combination of flavors and textures: Earthy beets, spicy arugula, crisp shallots and pop-in-your-mouth rye berries all tossed in a honey mustard vinaigrette. And alongside there's a Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce to perfectly compliment the components and bring them all together.

Roasted Beet Salad Recipe

Spicy Quick Pickled Beets

Scandinavian style quick pickled roasted beets with a spicy kick! The perfect compliment for all manner of Nordic inspired dishes.

Spicy Pickled Beets Recipe

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers

An easy recipe for Scandinavian-style fresh pickled cucumbers with dill.  

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers Recipe

Green Beans with Dill Caper Butter and Toasted Hazelnuts

Fresh green beans tossed with a zesty dill and caper compound butter and toasted hazelnuts. An easy and elegant side dish for any time of year!

Green Beans with Dill Butter Recipe

Mushroom Gratin

A delicious and easy gratin with creamy, thyme-infused mushrooms covered with melty cheese, crispy bread crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbly.

Mushroom Gratin Recipe

Buttery Swedish Dill Potatoes (Färskpotatis med Dill)

These buttery, herby Swedish Dill Potatoes are the ideal compliment to any meal. This traditional dish has a rich culinary heritage in Sweden. Known as "nypotatis" or "färskpotatis med dill" in Swedish, Dill Potatoes are a staple on the Midsummer menu, enjoyed alongside foods like pickled herring, gravlax (cured salmon) and crispbread.

Swedish Dill Potatoes Recipe

Foolproof Everyday Mashed Potatoes

An easy and reliable recipe for mashed potatoes that delivers perfect results every time.

Everyday Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Hasselback Potatoes with Caramelized Onions and Sage Butter

Yukon Gold Potatoes sliced thin and topped with caramelized onions and sage butter. A delicious update to a Swedish classic!

Hasselback Potatoes Recipe

Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation (Creamy Swedish Potato Casserole)

This Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation is a delicious Scandinavian potato casserole made with potatoes, onions, mushrooms and topped with crispy breadcrumbs and briny capers.

Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation Recipe

I hope these Scandinavian-inspired side dishes add brightness, warmth, and a little Nordic charm to your holiday meals, no matter what you're celebrating. Wishing you a delicious and beautifully simple season of gathering.