Scandinavian · appetizer

Smørrebrød

Name: Smørrebrød
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Scandinavian
Ingredients: 8 slices dense dark rye bread (rugbrød); 4 tbsp butter; toppings such as 4 oz pickled herring; 4 oz smoked salmon; 4 oz roast beef; 2 boiled eggs; 3 tbsp remoulade; 2 tbsp capers; fresh dill sprigs; 4 radishes, sliced; 1/2 cucumber, sliced; 2 tbsp chives, chopped

Smørrebrød reads richness 5.7, umami 5.5 and salinity 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian appetizer, about 20 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 6.5 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 1.5 / 10
Sour & Bright — 4.4 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 3.1 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 5.7 · Umami 5.5 · Salinity 5.0 · Sourness 4.1 · Marine & Briny 3.3 · Herbaceous 3.0 · Nutty 2.3 · Funk & Ferment 2.0 · Earthy 1.6 · Sweetness 1.4 · Bitterness 1.1 · Citrus 1.1 · Allium 1.0 · Floral 0.6 · Fruity 0.5 · Smoke 0.5

What's in it (12)

8 slices dense dark rye bread (rugbrød)
4 tbsp butter
toppings such as 4 oz pickled herring
4 oz smoked salmon
4 oz roast beef
2 boiled eggs
3 tbsp remoulade
2 tbsp capers
fresh dill sprigs
4 radishes, sliced
1/2 cucumber, sliced
2 tbsp chives, chopped

Time & effort: about 20 min · effort: easy

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 136.8 kcal, 7.4 g protein, 7.6 g fat, 9.7 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Spread a thick layer of butter on a slice of dense rye bread.
Layer on chosen toppings — classic combinations include pickled herring with onion and capers, or shrimp with lemon and mayonnaise.
Garnish neatly with fresh herbs or roe and serve open-faced with cutlery.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Wurstsalat (Sausage Salad) — German
Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) — Cuban
Media Noche Sandwich — Cuban
Haemul Pajeon (해물파전) — Korean
Kitfo (Ethiopian Steak Tartare) — Ethiopian

Keep reading: what richness, umami, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →

Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.