




[Salmon Soup]
Salmon soup is a local Finnish dish. I have never forgotten the taste of the salmon soup I had at a market stall in Helsinki, and I always want to eat it again in winter.
It is called “lohikeitto” in Finland, where “lohi” means salmon and “keitto” means soup. Salmon is eaten not only in Finland but also in many Nordic countries such as Norway and Denmark. Norwegian salmon, which is often found in Japan, is characterized by its thick meat and bright salmon pink flesh. Salmon farms in Norway, Canada, and Chile are called “Atlantic salmon,” but salmon raised in Norway's special environment are called “Norwegian salmon” and are considered sweeter and more fatty.
The waters off the coast of Norway, where salmon are farmed, are fed by the Gulf Stream, the world's largest ocean current along with the Kuroshio Current, which keeps the water temperature at an optimum level for salmon growth without freezing in winter. In addition, young salmon grow up in meltwater from the Norwegian mountains, and the meltwater pours directly into the fjord, creating the optimum salinity for salmon growth. Furthermore, because few people live around the fjords, there is very little wastewater, and the environment is kept very clean.
Salmon soup is the main ingredient in this delicious, everyday dish for the people of Scandinavia. The first thing I tasted when I arrived in Finland was salmon soup from a food stall in the “market square (Kauppatori)” near the harbor. It was a hearty salmon soup with potatoes, carrots, onions, and dill on top. The soup was creamy, lighter than expected, but rich, with a refreshing dill accent that did not disappoint. It is an exotic yet comforting taste that every Japanese person loves. It is also very healthy for the body.
Basically, when I go abroad, I like to try as many different kinds of food as possible on a limited schedule, but I couldn't help but repeat the salmon soup. I ordered the salmon soup at a café in the Helsinki Central Library, and to my surprise, they offered free refills. I enjoyed it to my heart's content, dipping it in buttered bread. It is a simple dish, and fortunately salmon is readily available in Japan, so I would like to try making it at home with the right ingredients.
Kauppatori
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cwRb4WpiJxDEJSg99
Helsinki Central Library
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sWrJoSPEisxrHR9s9
References
https://www.meiji.co.jp/meiji-shokuiku/worldculture/recipe/finland1/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%92%E3%82%B1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%83%E3%83%88
https://delishkitchen.tv/articles/2235#contents5