Make Your Own (vegan) Scandinavian Food

These vegan Swedish meatballs (The Veg Space) are a cut above IKEA! Made with protein-rich chickpeas and dairy-free cream, they are cheesy-flavoured, thanks to nutritional yeast.

Before cooking, read our post on food safety for people and pets (many foods are unsafe near animal friends). It’s best to just bin allium scraps (onion, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) as like tomato/citrus/rhubarb scraps, acids could harm compost creatures. 

For tinned ingredients, pop lids inside cans (or pop ring-pulls back over holes) to avoid wildlife getting trapped).

Homemade Vegan Meatballs (made with black beans)

Try these black bean meatballs (Ela Vegan) served alongside a tasty spicy gravy.

Tofoo Meatballs in Italian Sauce

Try these Tofoo meatballs in a Mediterranean Sauce. This tofu brand is organic and made in Yorkshire (recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins, if your kerbside does not recycle).

Spaghetti with Homemade Vegan Meatballs

This recipe for spaghetti with homemade vegan meatballs (Wallflower Kitchen) makes an ideal filling dinner, and is far better for you than meaty meatballs (and tastier and more filling than IKEA ones).

This recipe is packed with goodies – beans, mushrooms, rice and herbs. Unlike meaty meatballs, this recipe is full of fibre. So will keep you full for longer (and keep you regular! – good to help prevent heart disease and cancer).

They are also as easy to make as burgers. Just mix and mash, then smush into shapes, before baking. You can even cook them in an air-fryer, if you have one. The recipe contains yeast extract for extra flavour (don’t sub with miso if pregnant/nursing or weak immunity, due to being unpasteurised).

These beanballs ‘come together’ with oats as a binder. That’s more fibre – these are like heart medication in a pasta bowl! Then serve with your favourite pasta (or if you wish, go for the full Swedish dish with mashed potato and vegan gravy)

More Plant-Based Swedish Recipes

If you’re feeling ambitious, try this recipe for vegan herring in a mustard sauce (Planticize). The recipe creator is an American, who has lived and cooked in Sweden, for several years.

Swedish Princess Cakes (Zucker & Jagdwurst) were indeed named after a princess, who enjoyed eating them. They are little sponge cakes filled with vegan cream and marzipan, with raspberry jam (add a little beetroot powder, to make them pink).

Everyone in most of Scandinavia enjoys these, often served with coffee in restaurants and other eateries. These blueberry Semlor Buns are made with oat milk and vegan butter and yeast (keep fresh dough away from young children and pets).

Naturally Sweet Vegan Treats (from Sweden)

Learning to cook your own food is empowering, as you no longer have to rely on expensive plastic-wrapped ready-meals and takeaways. Master your favourite cuisines at home, using wholesome easy-to-find ingredients you can find in any grocery store.

Naturally Sweet Vegan Treats is a stunning book of desserts that are all naturally sweetened from ‘Miss Marzipan’ of Stockholm! Many are based around seasonal produce, and others inspired by travels in Europe.

To avoid palm oil, make your own pastry (keep fresh dough away from children and pets). 

Learn to make desserts both free of artificial sweeteners, yet low in natural sugars (sweetened instead with maple syrup, coconut sugar or fresh and dried fruits).

Recipes include:

• Roasted Peach & Banana Pancakes
• Vegan Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake
• Blueberry Cupcakes
• Figgy Energy Bars
• Banana ‘Kladdkaka’
• Lemon Scones
• Pumpkin & Candied Pecan Hand Pies
• Chocolate Cake Batter Waffles
• Chocolate Celebration Cake
• Veggie Patch Brownies

Marisa’s recipes are amongst the best I’ve come across. Easy to follow yet wholesome and absolutely delicious. You can’t go wrong with this book. Kim-Julie Hansen

Marisa’s book is one of the very few that uses only wholesome and nutrient-dense ingredients, and turns them into sweet treats that taste amazing. Julia Lette (naturopath and nutritionist)

Marisa Alvarsson (aka Miss Marzipan) is a chef and photographer, who has been nominated for a Saveur Award. She lives in Sweden.

Link above to her Instagram account to find more recipes for her naturally sweet vegan treats (not in the book) like this oat yoghurt cake and apple strudel.

DAUNS (Scandinavian vegan food in Spitalfields)

Dauns is an affordable vegan café, deli and bar in London’s Spitalfields, offering up Scandinavian-inspired food that reviewers say is some of the best food they have ever tasted. It also offers catering services, including for weddings and other special occasions.

Founded by a man from Sweden, he grew up watching his mother make and bake delicious food, often with ingredients from their garden. After moving to London, he went vegan for his health, and was soon hosting supper clubs and serving up foods at a local market.

The closest tube station is Aldgate East. Booking ahead is advised, as spaces are limited.  The place is dog-friendly (but it is a small place, so be aware of this). Check site for details.

Sample menus:

• Sourdough Toast with Danish Blackcurrant Jam
• Scrambled Tofu with Harissa Mayo and Seitan Sausage
• Vegan Croissants with Jam or Vegan Ham & Brie
• Classic Organic Scandinavian Open Sandwiches
• Beetroot Salad and Swedish ‘Meatballs’
• Swedish Hot Dogs and Mash
• Vegan Cheeseboard with Gooseberry Jam
• Classic Cinnamon Buns
• Pumpkin Spice Coffee