This version of Lefse’s history was submitted by Jim Berg from Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Now Den, vot you know bout dat….
Did you know that lefsa was invented by the norweigen Vikings…
Von day, dey vent and was going to raid Ireland…..
Vell they got over der, but they couldn’t suprise dem
Irish people cause they were making too much noise coming across
the Nort Sea from Norway.
When they got to the shores of Ireland, they tried to land
But couldn’t. You see the Irish heard them coming and began
throwing their potatoes at
them darn vikings so dat the cud not land. Vel by golly,
do you know vat. They load that ship with all the potatoes
dat got trowed at dem, pulled out their oars and finally got back
to Norway. When they got there they played aroung with those
potatoes and came up with a bread, and called it LEFSA.
They had a big party that night, day got out that old foul smelling
fish and put it on Lefsa and that is where the Lutefisk Supper vas
born………..My Grate, Grate, Grate, Grate, Granfodder was on that
ship that raided Ireland.
I’m sure glad they brought it to America other wise we would not have
Lutefisk Suppers Today.
My Lena makes the best darn lefsa in Minnesota. Corse I have to help
otherwise she’d eat it all up while she was cooking it and we would not have
any for supper that evening….
I’m sure glad they have Lutefisk Suppers around Thanksgiving and Christmas every year.
My mother Palma, made all the lefsa by herself. They wern’t very round,
but then she always said you could not taste the round……
Your Friend………. Ole
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FAQs
Lefse has its roots in Viking food traditions. Norwegian flatbread was the precursor to lefse, and Vikings commonly ate a version of this flatbread. They called it brauðiskr, which means “bread plate”.
What does lefse mean in Norwegian? ›
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.
How healthy is lefse? ›
Moreover, Lefse is a source of essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, copper, and iron, supporting various body functions from bone health to red blood cell production. Its vitamin content is equally impressive, with vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, E, and K1 present.
Why is Norwegian bread so good? ›
Filled with wholesome, nutritious, and flavorful ingredients like rye, whole wheat flour, oats, wheat bran, and various seeds like sunflower, sesame, and flax seeds, this is exactly the kind of whole grain bread you'll want to eat.
What bread do Norwegians eat? ›
She points out that even though Norwegians like to try out new trends, we often go back to what we know and love: healthy and nutritious 'everyday bread' filled with grain. In addition to our beloved grovbrød (wholegrain bread), we also eat a lot of kneippbrød, landbrød (country bread) and rye bread.
What did Norwegians eat before potatoes? ›
In Scandinavia, which is nearly as potato-heavy as Ireland, turnips were a primary staple crop before the potato came around, so much so that in much of the world the rutabaga, a large version of the turnip, is known as a "swede".
Do you eat lefse warm or cold? ›
Serve lefse warm or at room temperature, spread with softened butter and rolled into a cylinder or folded into quarters. Add sugar or cinnamon sugar for a sweet treat.
Do Norwegians still eat lefse? ›
In Fjord Norway, the Vestlandslefse (lefse from Western Norway) is very popular. This is the sweet version with sugar and cinnamon. “A similar version is the tjukklefse (thick lefse), which also has a sweet filling,” Karlsen says. Another popular treat is the krinalefse.
Is lefse just a tortilla? ›
Lefse is a Norwegian flatbread that is a lot like a tortilla, but more delicate. After from intense research (Wikipedia), I found out that lefse is traditionally served with lutefisk, whitefish meat (often cod) and lye.
What is the best way to eat lefse? ›
The typical way of eating lefse is with a spread of butter, sugar and sometimes cinnamon. But did you know that during Christmas, some Norwegians eat their lefse with meat in it? This tradition is especially strong in the eastern parts of Norway, in the region today called Viken.
1.1 Breakfast (frokost) 1.2 Lunch (lunsj) 1.3 Dinner (middag) 1.4 Evening meal (kveldsmat)
What is the background of lefse? ›
What is Lefse? Lefse is a Norwegian original. Colorful stories carry it back to the time of the Vikings, but history shows potatoes first appearing in Norway some 250 years ago. On the traditional Norwegian homestead, enough lefse would be made at one time to last for up to a year.
Is lefse still eaten in Norway? ›
In Fjord Norway, the Vestlandslefse (lefse from Western Norway) is very popular. This is the sweet version with sugar and cinnamon. “A similar version is the tjukklefse (thick lefse), which also has a sweet filling,” Karlsen says. Another popular treat is the krinalefse.
What is the history of the potato in Norway? ›
The potato arrived to Norway in the 15th century, where the coastline communities (mainly priests and military officials) began growing it in their fields along with Danish potatoes. Priests would often move from district to district, and with them spread their knowledge about potatoes and how to cultivate them.
