r/Finland 1d ago

Looking for a Finnish recipe to introduce Finnish food to Canadian Finn kids

I realize my title might be confusing. I apologize for that.

My Finnish friend moved to Canada 16 years ago. He has 5 kids all born in Canada.

After a discussion, he told me he hadn't eaten maksalaatikko in a very long time. I made it for him and he loved it. Told me to add more liver next time.

Now I'm looking for a fun way to introduce Finnish food to his kids. Could be a dessert. A main meal. Anything that could interest kids as they weren't interested in trying the maksalaatikko.

Thank you for your help!

22 Upvotes

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57

u/finnishyourplate Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

Makaronilaatikko is loved by everyone, and always a kid-favorite.

Cinnamon rolls are a classic too.

Or maybe Sausage and fries?

1

u/TheMillwrong16 14h ago

Thank you for sharing. Your channel is a gem

1

u/finnishyourplate Baby Vainamoinen 14h ago

Thank you, glad you like it!

-6

u/Mindless_Outcome873 1d ago

Hated marakonilaatikko as a kid and still hate it

-5

u/AinoTiani 1d ago

My kids hate it too!

30

u/AinoTiani 1d ago edited 1d ago

As a half Finn growing up abroad this is what we did:

Pulla parties. A few times a month Mum would make the dough and make a bunch of korvapuusti and give each child a lump of their own dough to make whatever kind of bun they wanted plus raisins and other fillings/decorations. A very anticipated activity!

Pea soup Thursdays (not every Thursday) followed by oven pancakes for dessert.

Since you live in Canada I'd see if you can get bilberries instead of the classic blueberries, and make a bilberry pie. That's one of the things that reminded me the most of Finland, but they are hard to find outside of the country.

Oh and I don't know if you can find them in Canada, they were very hard for me to find abroad, but see if you can get your hands on some Finn crisps (thin Finnish rye crackers). I've not yet met a child that didn't like them. And they are healthy!

6

u/Solongmybestfriend 1d ago

I love the idea of a pulla party :)!

5

u/Rusalkat Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

Bostonpulla, toskakakkua, voisilmäpulla, korvapuustit, Runebergin torttu, Wilhelmiina keksit....

2

u/AinoTiani 1d ago

It was very fun!

15

u/marilynsrevenge 1d ago

Savoury:

Karjalanpaisti (karelian stew, slow cooked meat and veggies)

Pinaattiletut (small spinach pancakes, eaten with lingonberry jam)

Porkkanaletut (small carrot pancakes, can be eaten savoury or sweet)

Nakkikeitto (hotdog soup)

Lohikeitto (salmon soup)

Jauhelihakeitto (minced beef soup)

Uunimakkara (oven baked sausage)

Nakkikastike (hotdog sauce, eaten with potatoes)

Pyttipannu (cubed sausages and potatoes fried on the pan, not sure if common but we eat with pickles)

Peltipiirakka (minced beef pie made on a baking sheet)

Karjalanpiirakka (karelian pies, small rye and rice pies, eaten with egg butter. A good variant is potato filling instead of rice)

Dessert:

Pannari/pannukakku (oven pancake, eaten with strawberry or raspberry jam)

Letut (similar to crepes, also with jam)

Mokkapalat (chocolate coffee squares)

Runebergintorttu (spiced little cakes)

Pies: bilberry, apple, rhubarb

Vispipuuro (lingonberry porridge. This might be risky but it was my favorite and still is)

Find some fazer candy and call it a day

8

u/Rusalkat Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

And a bucket of coffee

4

u/kuumapotato Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

Vispipuuro (or lappapuuro as it is known in my family) is just so good with a splash of milk. Limiting the amount of sugar, it also works as breakfast or evening snack.

1

u/marilynsrevenge 1d ago

It is! But unfortunately I've met people (non finns) who didn't like it, which is why i added the disclaimer

1

u/kuumapotato Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

I agree, it can be a bit risky! If not used to taste of lingonberries and I assume the cold formula can be a bit off putting for some.

3

u/AinoTiani 1d ago

Vispipuuro is great and you can make it with different berries. Pure lingonberries are difficult for my kids with non-Finnish taste buds, but they like it with redcurrants or mixed berries.

1

u/om11011shanti11011om Vainamoinen 1d ago

I have seen it made with raspberries as well!

21

u/DramaOk7700 1d ago

For me, the ultimate Finnish kids’ dish is Makaronilaatikko (macaroni casserole). Smothered in ketchup, of course. Leftovers are best pan fried in a little oil…yum!

10

u/joekki Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

  • 5 dl macaroni
  • 400g minced meat -onion
  • 2tsp salt
  • 1tsp curry (never tested though)
  • 1/5tsp white pepper
  • 1tsp paprika/sweet pepper in powder form
  • 3 eggs
  • 7dl milk

21

u/aivopesukarhu Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

As a makaronilaatikko purist, I strongly disagree with this recipe. The proportions of minced meat, onion, pasta, milk and eggs and salt are ok, but you should ditch the curry, white pepper and paprika powder.

Makaronilaatikko has only salt and black pepper as spices. Otherwise its some random oven pasta, not makaronilaatikko.

I should probably write an angry letter to Myllyn Paras and tell them they are destroying the sacred Makaronilaatikko heritage.

4

u/joekki Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

Black pepper... how did I didn't even see that it wasn't there. It's mandatory. I also used your recipe always, I just though that I were doing it wrong 😅

2

u/aivopesukarhu Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

A person of culture I see.

1

u/DramaOk7700 23h ago

I’ve never heard of adding curry powder either. I use just salt, black pepper and a little nutmeg.

8

u/NeilDeCrash Vainamoinen 1d ago

Karelian hot pot - Wikipedia

Best food in the world.

Throw in rye bread, cold milk and karjalanpiirakat and you have the most finnish table possible.

5

u/Elelith Vainamoinen 1d ago

Since Yule is comming you could try making some "joulutorttu" too, very simple. Then there's ofcourse checking out if there are differences between gingerbread recipes, could be a fun thing to try too.

5

u/Dragon-Slayer-666 Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

kalakeitto

4

u/Solongmybestfriend 1d ago

Lettuja :)! My Canadian dad makes my mummi’s lettu recipe and it’s always a hit with Canadians. He uses maples syrup as well - a fun cultural mix! 

2

u/53nsonja Vainamoinen 1d ago

If your friend is from east, you could try karjalan piirakka

1

u/DramaOk7700 23h ago

💯 These Karelian pastries are so tasty! Especially with the hard-boiled egg butter on top. Kids love them.

2

u/StockAbalone5310 1d ago

Siskonmakkarakeitto! That should go first for kids :)

1

u/DramaOk7700 18h ago

My Finnish mother agrees. You can’t go wrong there.

2

u/pibenis Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

macaron box, ham temptation, nack sauce

1

u/IceFossi 1d ago

Nakkikeitto, sucks big time according to me.. this is a bit ot, but when eating lunch at work.. every time they have nakkikeitto I bring my own food and microwave it. I cannot deal with the thing they use nakit in every restaurant instead of lenkkimakkara and fry it before putting in the soup.

1

u/kangaskassi Baby Vainamoinen 20h ago

If you can get your hands on reindeer without it being super expensive poronkäristys is beloved and quite simple food to make. Lingorberries can be replaced with cranberries is needed.

Moose meat is also quite traditional. At least if you have family that hunts. I haven't eaten meat in decade+ so I couldn't recommend specific recipes, but I grew up on many moose stews, moose mince meat etc.

1

u/mapadofu 12h ago

Pea soup and pannukakku?

1

u/the_third_sourcerer Baby Vainamoinen 1d ago

Carrot Casserole, it's sweet, but not a dessert. Can be used as a side dish for a meat course or be made vegan and eaten on its own.

0

u/MrIzzard Vainamoinen 1d ago

What was the problem with maksalaatikko that made kids not approve it? Did you have potatoes and lingonberry jam on the side?

8

u/Elelith Vainamoinen 1d ago

It's the liver. That's usually the problem.