Scandinavian · bread
Lefse
Lefse reads richness 7.2, sweetness 5.3 and salinity 3.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian bread, about 1 hr 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.8 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.4 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 0.6 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.4 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 2.6 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 7.2 · Sweetness 5.3 · Salinity 3.6 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Floral 1.2 · Umami 1.2 · Nutty 0.9
What's in it (8)
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter (for serving)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon for serving
Time & effort: about 1 hr 30 min (30 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 217.8 kcal, 3.1 g protein, 12.3 g fat, 24.4 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Mix cold mashed potatoes with butter, cream, salt, and enough flour to form a soft, pliable dough, then refrigerate for several hours.
- Roll each portion paper-thin on a floured board using a grooved rolling pin.
- Cook on a dry griddle over medium-high heat until brown spots appear on both sides.
- Serve warm spread with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, then fold or roll.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Hot Water Cornbread — Soul Food
- Melktert — South African · Boerekos
- Queijadas de Sintra — Portuguese
- Pretzel (Laugenbrezel) — German
- Hard Dough Bread — Jamaican
Keep reading: what richness, sweetness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.