Best 7 Norwegian Potato Flatbread Lefse Recipes

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Norwegian potato flatbread lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made with mashed potatoes, flour, and butter. It is a popular dish served at special occasions, such as Christmas and weddings. Lefse can be made with a variety of toppings, such as butter, sugar, cinnamon, or jam. It is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In this article, we will explore the best recipes for making Norwegian potato flatbread lefse, providing step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure a perfect result every time.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BASIC LEFSE: NORWEGIAN POTATO FLATBREAD



Basic Lefse: Norwegian Potato Flatbread image

Perhaps no food is more beloved by Norwegians than potato lefse. Try this basic recipe for this paper-thin Norwegian potato flatbread.

Provided by Kari Diehl

Categories     Side Dish     Bread

Time 9h10m

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds Idaho russet potatoes , about 5 large potatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream , or evaporated milk
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour​, plus more for dusting
For Serving:
Butter, to taste
Sugar, to taste

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • Preheat the oven to 175 F. Peel the potatoes, making sure that no peels or eyes remain. Coarsely chop them into 1-inch pieces.
  • In a stockpot, bring water to a boil and add the potatoes. Boil them until they are fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Drain the boiled potatoes well. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bring them into the hot oven for 15 minutes to dry them further.
  • Remove the potatoes from the oven and pass them through a ricer . You need them to be finely riced, so twice through the ricer might give you a better texture. You should have at least 4 cups of riced potatoes.
  • Mix in the heavy cream, butter, sugar, and salt.
  • Mix well and place the potato dough in the refrigerator, covered, to chill overnight.
  • Preheat a lefse griddle or your skillet of choice to 425 F. You need a very hot surface to properly cook the lefse. Use a pastry blender to cut the flour into the chilled potatoes, or vigorously knead the flour in until you have a smooth dough.
  • With the help of an ice cream scoop, divide the dough into 16 to 20 biscuit-sized balls.
  • Generously flour a pastry cloth or board and a rolling pin. Roll out each piece of dough into a 12-inch circle, dusting with more flour as needed.
  • Carefully lift the circle with a lefse stick or the handle of a flat wooden spatula. Transfer it quickly to the griddle.
  • Cook the lefse on the griddle until brown spots begin to appear.
  • Flip and cook the other side.
  • Remove the cooked lefse to a plate lined with a damp clean cloth to cool. Cover with another damp cloth. Continue to cook the remaining dough balls until you've used all of the dough.
  • Serve the lefse smeared with butter to taste and a sprinkle or two of sugar.
  • Enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 181 kcal, Carbohydrate 31 g, Cholesterol 13 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 235 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 5 g, ServingSize 16 to 20 pieces, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

NORWEGIAN POTATO FLATBREAD (LEFSE)



Norwegian Potato Flatbread (Lefse) image

This is my take on Norwegian flatbread. Without really knowing what I was doing, these came out delightfully tender, supple, almost fabric-like in texture, and tasting deliciously like something between a crepe and a potato pancake. They're traditionally served with butter and a sprinkle of sugar, but I also enjoy them with some smoked salmon, sour cream, and fresh dill. My other favorite topping combo is butter and some kind of berry jam and sour cream.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Bread     Quick Bread Recipes

Time 4h55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 large russet potato
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon white sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
1 cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an oven-safe skillet or baking pan with aluminum foil.
  • Poke the potato skin all over with a knife and place on the prepared pan.
  • Roast in the preheated oven until very tender and easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let sit until cool enough to handle but still very warm.
  • Scoop potato flesh out into a bowl. Mash smooth with the back of a spatula until there are no lumps left. You can also use a potato ricer. Add the butter and mix until it disappears. Add the salt, sugar, and cream; mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
  • Mix in flour in several additions until the dough is able to be kneaded by hand. Add enough flour to form a soft, but not too sticky, dough. You need to be able to roll it out fairly thin without it falling apart.
  • Wrap dough with plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Divide dough into 8 portions. Dust each with flour and roll out onto a well-floured kitchen towel to 1/8-inch thick, or thinner.
  • Heat a very lightly buttered nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook the lefse in the hot pan, poking the surface lightly with a fork, until golden brown blisters form, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Stack on a plate as they're cooked and keep covered with a towel. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139.2 calories, Carbohydrate 20.7 g, Cholesterol 15.9 mg, Fat 5.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 296.9 mg, Sugar 0.9 g

NORWEGIAN POTATO LEFSA



Norwegian Potato Lefsa image

Traditional Norwegian Potato Lefsa that's usually reserved for holiday meals. NOTE: It is important that dough balls stay cold till they are rolled out.

Provided by Thomas

Categories     Side Dish     Potato Side Dish Recipes

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

18 baking potatoes, scrubbed
½ cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup butter
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Peel potatoes and place them in a large pot with a large amount of water. Bring water to a boil, and let the potatoes boil until soft. Drain and mash well.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 cups mashed potatoes, cream, butter, salt, and sugar. Cover potatoes and refrigerate over night.
  • Mix flour into the mashed potatoes and roll the mixture into balls about the size of tennis balls, or smaller depending on preference. Keep balls of dough on plate in the refrigerator.
  • Taking one ball out of the refrigerator at a time, roll dough balls out on a floured board. To keep the dough from sticking while rolling it out, it helps to have a rolling pin with a cotton rolling pin covers.
  • Fry the lefsa in a grill or in an iron skillet at very high heat. If lefsa brown too much, turn the heat down. After cooking each piece of lefsa place on a dishtowel. Fold towel over lefsa to keep warm. Stack lefsa on top of each other and keep covered to keep from drying out.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 755.6 calories, Carbohydrate 133.4 g, Cholesterol 50.9 mg, Fat 18.1 g, Fiber 12.2 g, Protein 16.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 989.4 mg, Sugar 5.5 g

NORWEGIAN POTATO AND RYE PANCAKE FLATBREADS - LEFSE



Norwegian Potato and Rye Pancake Flatbreads - Lefse image

These famous Norwegian Potato Pancakes are more like flatbreads; they are traditionally eaten with butter and cream as a dessert, or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar as an accompaniment to coffee. I think these would be wonderful eaten with fried bacon and mushrooms, for a delicious brunch and breakfast idea. The Norwegians will also eat these with local goat's cheese, snofrisk, or with dried/smoked reindeer meat.

Provided by French Tart

Categories     Dessert

Time 40m

Yield 12-16 Lefse, 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

500 g boiled potatoes, mashed
100 g rye flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
fat (for cooking)

Steps:

  • Put the mashed potatoes into a large bowl and add the flour, sugar and salt - mix well.
  • Add some water - bit by bit, kneading well so it makes a pliable dough.
  • Take little balls from the dough - the size of a small egg and roll them out thinly on a well floured surface.
  • Heat up a flat griddle, hotplate or skillet and cook the Lefse with a little fat until the dough bubbles.
  • Turn them over and cook the other side.
  • When the Lefse have been cooked - they should be smooth and soft.
  • Eat them as I have suggested in the Introduction!
  • For Vegetarian make sure the Fat is from a Vegetable product such as vegetable oil not from an animal product such as lard.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 133.4, Fat 0.4, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 392.2, Carbohydrate 30.3, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 1.6, Protein 3

LEFSE- NORWEGIAN FLAT BREAD



Lefse- Norwegian Flat Bread image

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.

Provided by Mamas Kitchen Hope

Categories     Breads

Time 1h

Yield 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

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

Steps:

  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 76.3, Fat 1.9, SaturatedFat 1.2, Cholesterol 5, Sodium 19.7, Carbohydrate 13.2, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 0.7, Protein 1.7

LEFSE - SCANDINAVIAN POTATO FLATBREAD



Lefse - Scandinavian Potato Flatbread image

The idea with this flatbread is to use as little flour as possible and handle quickly and lightly. From the Minnesota Scandinavian chapter of the United States Regional Cookbook, Culinary Arts Institute of Chicago, 1947.

Provided by Molly53

Categories     Quick Breads

Time 25m

Yield 12 lefse

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 cups potatoes, cooked and mashed with
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup flour (amount is approximate)

Steps:

  • When potatoes are cool enough to handle, add salt and butter; mash.
  • Chill.
  • Mix baking powder with a small amount of flour and add to potatoes.
  • Add enough flour so that the dough can be rolled very thinly on a floured board.
  • Roll only a small portion at a time.
  • Cut into quarters and bake on a hot (400F), lightly greased griddle, browning lightly on both sides.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 94, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 8, Sodium 136.2, Carbohydrate 14.7, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 0.3, Protein 1.9

NORWEGIAN POTATO FLATBREAD (LEFSE)



Norwegian Potato Flatbread (Lefse) image

This is my take on Norwegian flatbread. Without really knowing what I was doing, these came out delightfully tender, supple, almost fabric-like in texture, and tasting deliciously like something between a crepe and a potato pancake. They're traditionally served with butter and a sprinkle of sugar, but I also enjoy them with some smoked salmon, sour cream, and fresh dill. My other favorite topping combo is butter and some kind of berry jam and sour cream.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Quick Bread

Time 4h55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 large russet potato
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon white sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
1 cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an oven-safe skillet or baking pan with aluminum foil.
  • Poke the potato skin all over with a knife and place on the prepared pan.
  • Roast in the preheated oven until very tender and easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let sit until cool enough to handle but still very warm.
  • Scoop potato flesh out into a bowl. Mash smooth with the back of a spatula until there are no lumps left. You can also use a potato ricer. Add the butter and mix until it disappears. Add the salt, sugar, and cream; mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
  • Mix in flour in several additions until the dough is able to be kneaded by hand. Add enough flour to form a soft, but not too sticky, dough. You need to be able to roll it out fairly thin without it falling apart.
  • Wrap dough with plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Divide dough into 8 portions. Dust each with flour and roll out onto a well-floured kitchen towel to 1/8-inch thick, or thinner.
  • Heat a very lightly buttered nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook the lefse in the hot pan, poking the surface lightly with a fork, until golden brown blisters form, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Stack on a plate as they're cooked and keep covered with a towel. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139.2 calories, Carbohydrate 20.7 g, Cholesterol 15.9 mg, Fat 5.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 296.9 mg, Sugar 0.9 g

Tips:

  • Make sure your potatoes are properly cooked and mashed until smooth. Lumpy potatoes will result in a less smooth flatbread.
  • Use a potato ricer to get the smoothest mashed potatoes possible. This will help create a more delicate flatbread.
  • Be careful not to overwork the dough. Overworking will make the flatbread tough.
  • Roll out the dough thinly. The thinner the dough, the crispier the flatbread will be.
  • Cook the flatbread over medium heat. Cooking over too high heat will burn the flatbread.
  • Serve the flatbread warm with your favorite toppings. Lefse can be topped with butter, sugar, cinnamon, or any other desired topping.

Conclusion:

Norwegian potato flatbread, or lefse, is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is easy to make and can be customized with a variety of toppings. Whether you are a fan of traditional Norwegian cuisine or are simply looking for a new and exciting bread to try, lefse is sure to please.

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