Danish Smørrebrød Recipe (Open Sandwich)

Smørrebrød is a type of open-faced sandwich from Denmark, typically made by topping sliced rye bread with a variety of cured and smoked meats, cheeses, pickled vegetables, sauces, and fresh herbs. This dish is often eaten as a lunch or an on-the-go snack. 

While the most common Smørrebrød recipes usually call for smoked salmon or cured beef as their main topping, the flexibility of this dish allows one to adjust the recipe to their cravings. It has become increasingly common both within and outside of Denmark to add toppings such as shrimp, egg, potato, ham, and liver pate. 

Although the sandwich-like look can trick people into thinking this dish is finger food, it is actually enjoyed with a knife and fork in Denmark. It is also important to use rye bread, or a similarly stiff slice of bread, that can hold the weight of the toppings and will not get soggy too quickly.

Origin & Cultural Significance

Smørrebrød, literally meaning “buttered bread,” was popularized in the 1800s by the Danish working class. It can be made quickly, with little mess, and is also easy to transport, making it the perfect solution for laborers who needed a filling meal with little time to create it.

Smoked and cured meat meant that the workers could keep the meals without refrigeration until lunch without the threat of spoiling, and the thickness of the Dutch rye kept the sandwiches from getting soggy. 

While the original smørrebrød was made of minimal ingredients to fit this need, the dish has gained fame and has thus been the subject of changing modern cuisine. 

Now, smørrebrød is marketed as a must-try for tourists visiting Denmark, and restaurants have stepped up to this role. You can find warm mørbradbø, a smørrebrød made with pork tenderloins, sauteed onions, and a mushroom sauce at a nice restaurant, or a lighter sommersalat with mackerel, peeled shrimp, and pickled onions at a streetside cafe.

Many of these are similarly easy to make at home and can be served right away or packed for your next meal.

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