Danish classic

Smørrebrød

Smørrebrød is the heart of the Danish lunch table: dark, moist rye bread, generously topped and lovingly arranged. We show three classics that are easy to prepare ahead – with egg and prawns, with roast beef and with potatoes.

Three pieces of smørrebrød with salmon and egg, herring and roast beef on a blue-patterned plate
Photo: Thomas Angermann / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Preparation
30 min
Cooking/baking time
15 min
Servings
4 people (12 pieces)
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

Base

Æg og rejer – egg and prawns

Roast beef

Kartoffelmad – potato

Method

  1. Boil the eggs for 9 minutes, cool them in cold water, peel and slice. Slice the potatoes thinly.
  2. Spread the rye bread thinly but right to the edges with butter – the butter stops the bread from going soggy.
  3. Æg og rejer: lay egg slices on four slices of bread, pile on plenty of prawns and finish with a dollop of mayonnaise, dill and a lemon wedge.
  4. Roast beef: arrange the meat loosely folded on four slices of bread, add remoulade and garnish with fried onions, horseradish and gherkin slices.
  5. Kartoffelmad: overlap the potato slices on the remaining bread, season with salt and pepper and top with mayonnaise, chives and radish slices.
  6. Serve immediately. Traditionally smørrebrød is eaten with a knife and fork – and in a particular order: fish first, then meat, cheese last.

The story behind the dish

“Smørrebrød” literally means “buttered bread” – originally slices spread with butter or dripping that people took with them as a meal away from home. In the late 19th century small smørrebrød restaurants opened in Copenhagen, and with them came the lavishly topped, artfully garnished festive smørrebrød. It was one of the first dishes of Danish cuisine to become known beyond the country's borders.

Enjoy it at Dansk Cottage

After a morning on the beach or on the bike, smørrebrød is our perfect lunch on the terrace. Rye bread, eggs and toppings are available at the supermarket in Søby – all you need then is a big table and a little time.

The cottage kitchen · Discover Søby · Experience Ærø

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