Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe - Christmas.Food.com (2024)

2

Submitted by Mamas Kitchen Hope

"This is the best Lefse you will ever taste! I have such wonderful memories of learning how to make lefse at my Aunt Gwen's. She makes this with authentic, hand made Norwegian rolling pins and lefse sticks made by her father and handed down to her by her mother. Do not fear though! Lefse can be made with regular kitchen equipment like a rolling pin and thin spatula. Traditionally this is served warm with butter or for a treat with cinnamon, sugar or jam. My family always enjoys their lefse with Lutefisk on Christmas Eve. I hate Lutefisk but LOVE lefse! Here is a great site with step by step pictures and instructions http://www.britta.com/smorgabritta/lefse/index.html. OR BETTER YET here is a video I found on the web that will explain the process much better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTmUuSoZShY *NOTE:* If making more than one batch make sure to keep them separate. ONLY MIX ONE BATCH AT A TIME as mixture will become too sticky to work with. Time does not include cooling and resting time."

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Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe - Christmas.Food.com (2) Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe - Christmas.Food.com (3)

photo by Tinkerbell Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe - Christmas.Food.com (4)

Ready In:
1hr

Ingredients:
6
Serves:

20

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ingredients

  • 2 lbs russet potatoes
  • salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter, use real butter not margarine
  • 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 12 teaspoons sugar

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directions

  • Peel and cut potatoes. Boil in well salted water until soft. Use more salt than you normally would. You do not want to add salt once they are cooked as it will not dissolve as well.
  • Drain well and return to pot. Steam for a few minutes to ensure all water has been evaporated.
  • Measure out 4 cups of potatoes, packed well. Rice potatoes now while potatoes are still hot. You may have potatoes left over.
  • Place riced potatoes in a plastic bowl with a good sealing lid. Add butter and milk and mash with a HAND masher. Do NOT use an electric mixer as it will get sticky.
  • Allow to cool on the counter until potatoes are at room temperature then place several paper towels on top, seal tightly with the lid and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Next day: Much easier to work with. Mix in flour and sugar and form into small balls. Now roll them out thin and flat using a rolling pin, preferably one with grooves and covered with a sock. You can just cut an old CLEAN sock and slide it over the rolling pin.
  • Using a lefse stick or a long flat stick or long thin spatula roll the raw lefse around the stick and then unroll onto a HOT griddle (450 degrees) Flip once the first side starts to form bubbles and is lightly browned or freckled. Cook other side just until lightly browned.
  • Using stick again remove lefse from griddle to a towel and place a towel on top to keep them warm and pliable.
  • Eat warm or store in the refrigerator in a well sealed container lined with more paper towels. Can also be frozen with waxed paper between each lefse.

Questions & Replies

Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe - Christmas.Food.com (5)

  1. Have you ever heard of the potato lefse recipe made with lard rather than heavy cram or butter or whatever? My grandmother came to America in the 1880's with such a recipe and I make it once a year around Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. It is fantastic and a lot healthier than most think. I usually give most of it away as I always make a 10 pound batch. Gordy

    gordyswf3

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Reviews

  1. Tastes just like I was taught by Gramma when I was a teen, although I've never used evaporated milk before this. I had totally forgotten about steaming out the extra moisture so thanks for putting that step in your instructions, Hope!

    Tinkerbell

  2. FINALLY a lefse recipe that is actually a lefse recipe rather than a tortilla recipe. except for the "flatbread" in your title it's right on. norwegian flatbread is a crisp thin cracker and contains rye or graham flour.

    eesews_7476349

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Mamas Kitchen Hope

Brenham, Texas

  • 333 Followers
  • 399 Recipes
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Proud Zaar original member! Very disappointed with the new site.

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Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread Recipe  - Christmas.Food.com (2024)

FAQs

What is Norwegian lefse made of? ›

Lefse (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈlɛ́fsə̌]) is a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread. It is made with riced potatoes, can include all purpose (wheat) flour, and includes butter, and milk, cream, or lard. It is cooked on a large, flat griddle.

How do you keep lefse from drying out? ›

Lefse should be refrigerated or frozen. Our lefse is made with no preservatives, so it can take a week or so in the fridge. In the refrigerator, it needs to stay in its sealed package or it will dry out. If you don't plan on eating it right away, toss it in the freezer.

What is the traditional way to eat lefse? ›

Spead softened butter over a lefse (be generous with the butter). Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and roll lefse to eat. This is the traditional Norwegian way to serve and enjoy lefse.

Can I use a tortilla press for lefse? ›

You can use regular flour too. Add in enough flour until it is the consistency for rolling out. I use a tortilla press to make the lefse. It is so much easier than hand rolling with a rolling pin.

What does lefse mean in English? ›

ˈlefsə plural lefsen. -sən. or lefses. : a large thin potato pancake served buttered and folded.

What do Norwegians eat with lefse? ›

Lefse is a type of Norwegian flatbread that is often (but not always) made with potatoes, flour, butter, and milk. It has a similar texture to a thin pancake and is often eaten with butter, sugar, cinnamon or brown cheese on. Norwegian-American variations may add peanut butter, corn syrup or ham and eggs.

What do you eat with lefse? ›

Norwegians would also often eat lefse rolled up with butter, with many also adding cinnamon and sugar. Many people would also add different types of jam, cheese or other ingredients to make their preferred lefse. A lot of people eat lefse with savoury foods like ham, cheese, beef and much more, rolling it up as a wrap.

Can you leave lefse out overnight? ›

Caring for and Preparing Lefse

We recommend refrigeration for no longer than 2 weeks. When defrosting Freddy's, it's best to let it thaw overnight at room temperature.

Can I use a regular rolling pin for lefse? ›

If you don't use a pastry cloth, the lefse will stick, and you will wonder why you ever tried this ! @#$ project. Corrugated rolling pin, preferably with cloth cover. If you try a regular rolling pin, your lefse will stick, and again you'll wonder why !

Do Norwegians still eat lefse? ›

Lefse is only one of many popular flat pastries to try in Norway. Here, we never ride a ferry without buying a svele, and neither should you. Sveler are Norway's version of American pancakes. They are eaten as a snack, often with coffee, and served with butter and jam, sugar or brown cheese.

What is the most popular cookie in Norway? ›

Favorite Norwegian Cookie Survey Results
  • 74.54% – Krumkaker / Krumkake / Norwegian cone cookies (1,300)
  • 4.24% – Fattigmann / Poor man's cookies (74)
  • 3.84% – Sandkaker / Sandbakkels (67)
  • 3.1% – Rosetter / Rosettes (54)
  • 3.1% – Smultringer / Doughnuts (54)
  • 2.98% – Kransekake / Almond ring cake (52)
Jan 12, 2023

How healthy is lefse? ›

On to the proteins, Lefse offers 4.37g per 100g, essential for building and repairing tissues in the body. It also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. With 172.0mg of sodium, it supports electrolyte balance and nerve function, while the 271.0mg of potassium can contribute to cardiovascular health.

What can you use as a substitute for a lefse stick? ›

Lefse Stick (substitute long wooden handle of spoon or even better, an unused wooden paint can stirrer). Grooved Lefse Rolling Pin (regular pin can work).

What else can you use a lefse griddle for? ›

This grill makes great lefse but also can make pancakes, grilled sandwiches or fry a burger.

How long can you keep lefse in the refrigerator? ›

WHAT IS THE SHELF-LIFE OF THE LEFSE? Our lefse does not contain a lot of preservatives. Once thawed out, it will stay fresh in the refrigerator about 7 days, less if not refrigerated.

Is lefse just a tortilla? ›

The tradition dates back to the Vikings and their brauðiskr (bread plate), and flatbrød consists of water, whole-wheat flour and a pinch of salt. Lefse is a soft version of flatbrød, often made with a few more ingredients, like milk and butter. We use it to wrap all the goodies together – just like a tortilla.

Why do Norwegians eat lefse? ›

The story of lefse is intertwined with Norwegian history. Just as the Norwegian flatbread was developed as a way to store food over the harsh winter months, lefse served a similar purpose. During the 19th century, the lefse was a popular way to store wheat or potato, which would otherwise be unusable.

Why is lefse important to Norway? ›

It's hard to say when lefse originated. Maybe the Norse God Odin first had it served to the souls of the slain warriors who occupy Valhalla as a way to fortify them for their final battle. That's probably just a folk tale given the fact that the potato was introduced to Norway a little over 250 years ago.

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