Food culture shock is one thing that foreigners moving to any country have to find a way of dealing with. So many expats arriving in Norway must have received the question about what foods are eaten in the country more than any other concern. You know being a newcomer comes with the need for openness to new ways of life from food, dressing, language, friendships and everything else in between. In Norway, a seafood diet should be top on the list of food expectations of foreigners. If you’re someone not used to eating seafood, some of which you may be seeing for the first time, others with strange appearance, Norway will be a great training ground.
Eating seafood in Norway is a common thing from way back in history
Not so many people coming to Norway have their home countries by the seashore. This means that the diet may not consist of seafood. The closest they may have come is eating freshwater fish. But in Norway, seafood in their various forms, shape and colour make it to the dining table among the delicacies for locals. As a foreigner, some of these foods may appear strange on the first few days but sooner or later, you’ll open up and start with a bite, then a bigger bite and before you notice it, molluscs, shellfish, prawn, carp and the rest will be a favourite meal.
Norwegians heavily relied on fishing industry and so many of the older generation around will tell you how they would venture into the high seas and return home with plenty of seafood Today, the presence of trawlers make it even much easier for catching seafood in Norway and the seafood diet in the country has immensely grown.
If you observe keenly, you will occasionally see locals lining up by the sea or rivers in Norway to harvest seafood, especially fish. This happens in other Scandinavian countries too and tells how much the people cherish food from the oceans.
Seafoods to expect in your diet in Norway
They say that once in Rome, be ready to do as the Romans do. This stake net makes much sense when it comes to embracing a seafood diet in Norway. Yes you may try so much eating those funny looking sea creatures on your menu at the hotel or when visiting with friends or in a party. But four, ten incidents, you’ll come to terms with the reality that those are to be your food in Norway. The sooner you embrace them, the better for your enzymes…haha- un intended!
A random check on some of the restaurants in Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen or Stavanger will give an idea about the so many edible seafood in the country. To say the least, a diet without seafood isn’t so much a thing for Norwegians. Foreigners who have lived in the country for a while also know as much.
In order to avoid the confusion that comes with having to eat new foods in Norway, we here list some of the seafood which will commonly feature on the table or menu at a restaurant. Of course some will appear strange, others funny or scary. Yet the fish may be served fried, smoked, boiled, soaked in juices or other different cooking styles. For you seafood in Norway, expect the following.
- Langoustine. -salmon
- Crabs. -Trout
- Herring
- Cod(torsk)
- Haddock
- Burbot
Salmon as the most cherished fish in Norway
Maybe you studied something about Salmon in your Geography or fisheries class and just thought its some random fish. To the Norwegians and Scandinavians at large, this fish represents the best of delicacies. To emphasize the point here, Norwegian salmon is always preferred worldwide.
If you have some phobia for seafood and live in Norway, probably the best way to induct yourself into seafood eating is tasting a finely cooked salmon. Bet you me, you’ll have a change of mind about what seafood is. It’s tasty and precious. In case you decide to be keen on why Norwegian salmon really means well for your nutritional needs, they have rich potassium, selenium, Omega 3 and finally vitamin A, B and C.
Eat Torsk (cod), the Norwegians’ favourite
The Norwegians call cod , torsk. So should you walk into a party, restaurant or visiting friends, just be sure that cod may be probably in the meal. This fish has a great history with the Norwegians mainly in Trondheim and Bergen. You will get cod first dried and then cooked in different ways. Trying it out may just be the best way to get a feel of what Norwegians really cherish on their diet.
It’s also easy to get frozen cod. The fish comes fresh and tasty if you really know the best ways to prepare it. Wondering how it is served? You eat cod with potatoes and use the fork to carefully slice the juicy white meat.
Try eating herring in Norway
Herring has literally been a life saver among Norwegians and Scandinavians as a whole. You will likely find it on the supermarket freezers in Norway or on a meal somewhere during your stay. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “red herring” used to mean something distractive that is not the reality. But in Norway, you get to eat the red herring which has a reddish colour on the scale or skin but is very tasty when properly cooked.
You’ll notice that herring is nutritious, tasty and appealing in texture. It can be prepared in many different ways including boiled , fried, smoked, dried and even grilled. In it you get vitamin B12, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Taste the brown crab served with love in Norway
Although there are bigger edible crabs in the seas surrounding Norway, the brown crab is the largest one that occurs naturally. Both the red king crab and the snow crab were both introduced by humans. The brown crab is found in large numbers along the Norwegian coast, providing delicious meat to those who seek it.
There exist different types of dishes prepared out of crabs they including premium Norwegian white meat, cluster crab meat, handpicked crab claws meat and dressed crab shell. Preparing crabs takes a lot of time that’s why many people prefer going to restaurant or cafes to taste the delicacy of crabs.
Bottom line on seafood diet in Norway
There are many seafoods in Norway you can explore as a first timer or visitor to Norway. The list is so long that we only highlighted the common and delicious species of seafood in Norway. Sit down at a restaurant or feel at ease visiting and writing with friends. You can als check out the menu of seafood served at restaurants. All these can be found on the websites of restaurants that provide best made seafood all available in Norway .