• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

True North Kitchen

  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
×

Home » Recipes

Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad)

Published: Aug 2, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Pinterest pin for Skagenröra.
Pinterest pin for Skagenröra.

Cool, creamy and quick to make, skagenröra (or Swedish Shrimp Salad) is the kind of easy and versatile dish you want in your collection of Scandinavian recipes.

Skagenröra is most notably the topping for the legendary Swedish appetizer known as Toast Skagen, but it has many other delicious uses as well! Keep reading for step by step instructions for making skagenröra and tasty ways to serve it at home!

Skagenröra in white bowl next to a spoon and lemon wedges.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Frozen cooked shrimp form the base of this recipe which makes it easy to whip together on a moment's notice.
  • A simple, flavorful dressing is whisked together in minutes and tossed with the shrimp making this possibly the most quick and elegant shrimp salad of all time.
  • I've got a few tips and tricks outlined below to keep your dressing super creamy (aka NOT watery) and delicious!

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad)
  • Frozen cooked shrimp form the base of this recipe making it extra easy to prepare. Look for the smallest shrimp you can find.
  • Creme fraiche and mayonnaise create the creamy base of the dressing. The two together create a luxurious texture and balanced flavor.
  • A bit of dijon mustard and minced shallot add a little something extra to the dressing without being overpowering. Some people find minced shallot or onion to be objectionable in skagenröra. If this is you, please feel free to omit it.
  • Chopped fresh dill finishes off the dressing with herbal flair, and a squeeze of a lemon wedge over the top just before enjoying adds welcome brightness.

How to Make This Recipe

  • Begin by thawing the shrimp, either overnight in the refrigerator or by placing them in a strainer and rinsing the shrimp under cold water until they are thawed (this should only take 5 minutes or so). Transfer the shrimp to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and pat dry.
Small cooked shrimp on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
  • Whisk the creme fraiche , mayonnaise, dijon mustard, shallot and dill together in a medium bowl.
Creamy dill dressing in a glass bowl with a whisk.
  • Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss gently to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper (it's quite likely you won't need any salt depending on how salty your shrimp are to begin with so be sure to taste it first.
Skagenröra in a glass bowl with a rubber spatula.
  • Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to a day. Serve with lemon wedges.

Expert Tips

  • Thaw the shrimp thoroughly and dry them well before adding to the dressing. Extra moisture is the enemy of skagenröra as it can create a watery dressing. Take care to eliminate as much moisture from the shrimp as possible prior to tossing them with the dressing.
  • Squeeze lemon wedges over the top rather than adding lemon juice to the dressing. This will also help keep you dressing as moisture free and creamy as possible.
Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad) on rye bread with sliced hard boiled egg, cucumber and caviar.

FAQs

What ingredients make up a traditional skagenröra?

Skagenröra can contain a variety of different shellfish but is usually made with small shrimp. Some recipes are entirely mayonnaise-based, and some contain a combination of mayonnaise and creme fraiche or sour cream. The former produces a much creamier salad, whereas the latter creates something a little lighter.  Skagenröra usually contains chopped fresh dill and sometimes includes lemon juice, grated horseradish, Tabasco sauce or brandy for added flavor.

Some recipes include minced onion or shallot, but this is a controversial topic. There are some people who feel very strongly that skagenröra should NOT contain any onion or shallot whatsoever.

How can I vary this recipe?

There are many ways to switch up this recipe! Add a combination of shellfish rather than using all shrimp, add some lemon zest to the dressing to give it a little lemony zing, add some fresh or prepared horseradish or a dash or two of Tabasco sauce for a little heat. And feel free to leave out the chopped shallot if it doesn't suit your taste. It's totally up to you!

How should I store this Swedish shrimp salad?

Store it tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to a day.

Help! My skagenröra is watery! What did I do wrong?

It's most likely that you didn't thaw the shrimp completely before tossing them with the dressing or that you didn't pat them dry thoroughly. It's also important to wait and squeeze a lemon wedge over the top of the salad before serving rather than including lemon juice in the dressing itself.

How should I serve skagenröra?

Check out the section below for serving suggestions!

Serving Ideas for Skagenröra

  • Use it as a topping for Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts). This is probably the most popular and well known use for skagenröra, and it is an incredibly simple and elegant appetizer.
Skagenröra on top of toasted white bread with caviar on top.
  • Pile it on rye bread along with a few complimentary ingredients such as sliced hard-boiled egg, cucumbers and fish roe. This makes for a very tasty and substantial open face sandwich.
Skagenröra on rye bread with sliced hard boiled egg and sliced cucumber and topped with caviar.
  • Simply spoon it on top of rye crackers. Sometimes simple is best.
  • Make Tunnsbrödrulle! This very uniquely Swedish way of enjoying a hot dog is not to be missed: Soft flatbread is wrapped around mashed potatoes, a hot dog, crispy fried onions, ketchup, mustard and a spoonful or two of skagenröra. I know it sounds kind of crazy but it is SO unexpectedly delicious.
Shrimp salad on flatbread with mashed potatoes, a hot dog and lettuce.

Related Recipes

Looking for more Scandinavian-inspired salad recipes? Give these a try!

  • Close up of lemon cucumber salad (featured image).
    Lemon Cucumber Salad with Dill
  • Roasted beet salad on a platter next to a napkin.
    Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula, Rye and Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce
  • Egg salad in a bowl with a spoon next to crackers and dill sprigs.
    Creamy Egg Salad with Dill and Capers
  • Spinach, asparagus and red pepper salad on a plate.
    Barley Salad with Asparagus, Red Pepper and Spinach
Close up of a bowl of Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad) next to a spoon and lemon wedge.

Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad)

A simple and traditional Swedish shrimp salad flavored with fresh dill.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: appetizers, salads
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian, Swedish
Keyword: skagenröra, Swedish shrimp salad recipe, Toast Skagen
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 83kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup creme fraiche
  • 1 small shallot minced (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 12 ounces small frozen precooked shrimp thawed, drained and patted dry
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  • Whisk mayonnaise, creme fraiche, shallot, mustard and dill together in a medium bowl. Gently fold in shrimp. Season to taste with salt and pepper (it may not need any additional salt depending on how salty the shrimp is). Chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving. Serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Thaw the shrimp thoroughly and dry them well before adding to the dressing. Extra moisture is the enemy of skagenröra as it can create a watery dressing. Take care to eliminate as much moisture from the shrimp as possible prior to tossing them with the dressing.
  • Squeeze lemon wedges over the top rather than adding lemon juice to the dressing. This will also help keep you dressing as moisture free and creamy as possible.
Variations:
  • Lemon:  Add a half teaspoon of lemon zest to the dressing.
  • Spicy:  Add Tabasco sauce, freshly grated horseradish or prepared horseradish to the dressing to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

If you loved this recipe, give it a star review! Also, snap a picture of your skagenröra and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #truenorthkitchen and tagging me @true_north_kitchen.

More Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes

  • Shrimp smørrebrød on a wooden surface.
    How to Make Smørrebrød (Danish Open Faced Sandwiches) at Home
  • Featured image for Cardamom French Toast.
    Easy Cardamom French Toast
  • Featured image of Quick Pickled Shallots.
    Quick Pickled Shallots
  • Crackers topped with Vegetarian Mushroom Pâtë and pickled shallots and mustard seeds.
    Vegetarian Mushroom Pâté

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristi

    August 02, 2022 at 4:02 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy classic Swedish recipe!

    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.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

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

SEARCH RECIPES:

The cover for Scandinavian Baking Favorites e-book

Enter your email below and receive a copy of my free ebook, Scandinavian Baking Favorites!



Scandi Breakfast Ideas

Close up of a glass of overnight oats topped wit bananas, blueberries and strawberries next to raw oats and a spoon.

Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon

Toast with sliced egg, avocado and pickled beets on a plate

Nordic Avocado Toast with Pickled Beets and Egg

Baked oat and rye porridge with blueberries and almonds in a pan

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

Oatmeal in a bowl with a spoon on a napkin

Simple Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Cream

Close up of Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts.

Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts

Close up of a bowl of Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge with a spoon.

Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge

Top Posts

Stack of flatbreads on a plate next to herbs and a spiked rolling pin.

Soft Swedish Flatbreads with Garden Herbs (Tunnbröd med Trädgårds Örter)

Sliced rye bread on a marble surface.

Easy Overnight Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers in a jar next to peppercorns and fresh dill sprigs.

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers

Slice of bundt cake on a plate with a fork.

Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)

Sliced Swedish Almond Cake on a marble plate

Simple Swedish Almond Cake

Swedish pancakes on a plate drizzled with lingonberries.

Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries

Crispbread and a rolling pin and kitchen towel

Easy Sourdough Rye Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

Rye bread slices on a plate next to a loaf of rye bread and a wooden knife with butter

Sourdough Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Categories

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 © 2023 True North Kitchen