Sámi cuisine is the cuisine of peoples from theSápmi territory of theSámi people, which spansNorway,Sweden,Finland andRussia. Its traditionalcuisine of each area has individual traits.
Traditionally, the cuisine of Sápmi has been based on local materials, likefish,game,reindeer andberries.[1]Berries have been important food, because other kinds of fruits or vegetables were not available during the long winters. Nowadays berries are parts of delicate sauces and desserts. The most valued berry of Sápmi is thecloudberry.Milk consumption varied among groups of Sámi, but was not very common in general.[2]
In eastern parts of Sápmi,reindeer herding became a way of life in the 19th century and, before that, people werehunters andfishers. These days reindeer is essential for Sámi cuisine, but game, fish and wild birds are also important. The cuisine ofSápmi consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate.
Reindeer, fish and game meats arestaple foods,[3] with thousands of recipes and flavors, although spices other than salt are very rare. The local cuisine varies a lot, depending on access to food. Sápmi's history with its many cultural influences has led to an array of dishes. Most dishes are made of reindeer meat, although some also are made of moose or sheep.Smoking anddrying have historically been used to preserve meat and fish.
Fishes in the mountains and forest areas of Sápmi includesalmon,common whitefish,perch,roach, andchar. Fishes of the coastal areas of Sápmi includecod.[citation needed]
In the last decades, new influences have been introduced in traditional Sámi cooking. A well-known dish of this cross-cooking is the Suovaskebab, which consists of sliced suovasbierggo, cucumber, salad and garlic dressing in apita bread. The Suovaskebab can be found at festivals and fairs in northern Scandinavia. These days the old food culture is evolving and adapting.Fast food restaurants in Sápmi can have reindeer hamburger on their menus.[citation needed]
