Smørrebrød is Denmark’s classic lunch dish. Although it literally means ‘sandwich’, in practice the Smørrebrød is so much more. The Danes take their ingredients very seriously, which results in delicious bite-size combinations.
Classic smørrebrød begins with a slice of fresh bread with a layer of butter. Next comes a varied menu of pålæg: meat, fish, cheese, all kinds of condiments and raw vegetables. The Danes vary their toppings endlessly, with liver pâté and sild, pickled herring with sauce, being especially popular. The type of bun is very important: salmon and shrimp go on white bread, while tartar is best suited for dark rye bread – preferably tastefully decorated with an egg yolk and some horseradish. There are plenty of places in Copenhagen, ranging from simple to exclusive, where you can taste these traditional open sandwiches.