Creamy Skagenröra - The Best Swedish Shrimp Salad

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Cool, creamy, and packed with fresh shrimp flavor, Skagenröra (Swedish Shrimp Salad) is a Scandinavian classic that’s as delicious as it is versatile. Whether you’re making the famous Toast Skagen or looking for a quick and elegant topping for crackers, sandwiches, or even these Swedish hot dogs (yes, really), this easy shrimp salad belongs in your recipe collection.

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

A beloved dish in Sweden, Skagenröra is often enjoyed during festive gatherings, summer celebrations, and special occasions. It’s a staple of Midsummer feasts, a favorite at kräftskiva (crayfish parties), and a popular appetizer during the warmer months when fresh seafood is at its best. However, its creamy, luxurious taste makes it just as welcome on a holiday smorgasbord or as a light yet indulgent dish year-round.

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Ingredients
Variations
How to Make Skagenröra
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
Serving Ideas for Skagenröra
Related Recipes
Recipe

Ingredients

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.
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.
Fresh lemon juice - squeezed over the top just before enjoying adds welcome brightness.

Variations

Shellfish Combination - Add a combination of shellfish rather than using all shrimp.
Lemon Zest - Add some lemon zest to the dressing to give it a little extra lemony zing.
Spicy - add some fresh or prepared horseradish or a dash or two of Tabasco sauce for a little heat.

How to Make Skagenröra

Small cooked shrimp on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.

Step 1: 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.

Creamy dill dressing in a glass bowl with a whisk.

Step 2: Whisk the creme fraiche , mayonnaise, dijon mustard, shallot and dill together in a medium bowl.

Skagenröra in a glass bowl with a rubber spatula.

Step 3: 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.

Step 4: 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.

Recipe FAQs

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.

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 Swedish Hot Dogs (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.

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

If you tried this Creamy Skagenröra - The Best Swedish Shrimp Salad recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

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