Finnbiff
(Sautéed reindeer, Báistebiđus, Finnbiff, Renskav)
Poronkäristys is the traditional dish of Sámi people in Finland, Norway and Sweden, prepared by sautéing reindeer meat. The dish originates from the Arctic Lapland where the semi-nomadic, indigenous people called Sámi have been herding reindeers for a very long time.
Thin slices of reindeer meat are usually sautéed in butter, with or without onions, and slowly simmered in beer or stock until they develop a tender and succulent texture. The most common and traditional accompaniments for the dish include creamy mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam, but it can also be accompanied by pasta or rice.
Although the dish can often be found in restaurants throughout Scandinavia, frozen meat can also be bought in most supermarkets. According to recent studies, along with being extremely tasty, reindeer meat is one the healthiest foods, high in B-12, omega-3, and omega-6, a possible reason why poronkäristys is consumed throughout the year.
Serve with
Lingonberry Jam
Lingonberry jam is a staple in every Swedish household. Made with bright-red, tangy lingonberries, which are abundant in Swedish forests, the jam has been produced and ... Read more
WHERE TO EAT The best Finnbiff in the world (according to food experts)
"Log-cabin interior cladding, a stone fireplace, hefty timber tables and staff in traditional Sámi dress create an atmospheric backdrop for dining on authentic Lappish specialities such as a game platter for two (€68) with braised reindeer."
"Located in downtown Rovaniemi, Nili Restaurant’s interior transports you into the wilderness, and its menu is full of tasty and very stylish Lappish and Finnish cuisine. All year long, you can try the local favorite, sautéed reindeer."
"For dinner, stop by this dark, nautical-themed restaurant to sample a bounty of traditional Finnish foods. Be sure to take a spoonful of reindeer. Yes, we understand if you return for seconds."
"There are good sober-me-up meals, served into the wee hours - a mash-up of various traditional plates, such as the local delicacy, a supple reindeer stew sided with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Consummately Finnish."
"There's something slightly kitsch in the decor (think birch bark, Shaman drums, and antlers), but the Lappish food here is authentic. Try reindeer."
"Well off the tourist trail, this unpretentious local in Kruununhaka offers no-frills Finnish dishes such as sautéed reindeer in a fabulously retro dining area – with stained-glass windows, jade-green carpeting and a curvilinear timber bar – that hasn't changed since the 1950s."
