Swedish Cardamon Bread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why do Swedes love cardamom? ›

In Scandinavian culture, cardamom often represents comfort and home and family and holiday treats–similar to how we in the U.S. view cinnamon, perhaps. (Of course, cinnamon is also of South Asian origin!)

Many Indian and Indian-inspired dishes call for cardamom, including curry dishes, Kheer (Indian rice pudding), and chai. Indian spice blends such as garam masala also feature cardamom. You'll also find cardamom adds warmth and depth to baked goods such as cookies, bread pudding, and even cheesecake.

Pulla is also common in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Ontario, areas in the United States and Canada which have large Finnish populations. There it is also commonly known as nisu, an old Finnish word still in use with the same meaning in some dialects, despite originally simply meaning 'wheat'.

Cardamom buns, kardemummabullar in Swedish, have a long history in Sweden and are a popular pastry enjoyed throughout the country. The exact origin of cardamom buns in Sweden is unclear, but it is believed that they were introduced by German bakers who came to Sweden in the 17th century.

1. Saffron. Saffron is derived from the stigmas of the crocus flower and is known for its intense, earthy flavor. It is also the most expensive spice in the world, with a pound of saffron costing thousands of dollars.

Cardamom seed intake may have an influence on the level of hormones in females, it may have potential action as an endocrine disruptor (causes damage to hormone-secreting glands).

Potential Risks of Cardamom

People with gallstones should not take cardamom except to flavor food. We also need more research to determine the effects of large amounts of cardamom on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if you're considering taking cardamom as a supplement.

Owing to its aphrodisiac properties, cardamom is believed to eliminate problems like premature ejacul*tion and impotency. The unique aromatic and substance composition of cardamom makes it an ideal, low-risk option to treat problems relating to sexual shortcomings.

7. Blood Thinning. Cardamom may increase the risk of bleeding in people who take anticoagulant medications because it appears to have blood-thinning properties, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Examples of anticoagulants include warfarin, clopidogrel, and aspirin.

Limppu. Traditional Eastern Finnish rye bread is called limppu. The closest translation to English would be "loaf" (although limppu is always round and bulbous, while rectangular loaves are available). This bread is dark, sour in taste, dense, heavy and comparatively dry.

Where did cardamom bread originate? ›

Cardamom bread in Scandinavia

Cardamom is a typical spice found in southern Indian cooking and curries, but over the centuries of spice trade it made its way to Scandinavia and is the star ingredient in Finnish and Swedish baking.

Zopf (plaited bread)

Zopf bread is a plaited yeast loaf which is traditionally baked in Switzerland, Austria and the south of Germany. Unlike Hefezopf, another type of plaited yeast loaf, it is not sweetened. Zopf bread dough contains butter and milk and can be kept for several days.

Culinary archaeologist Daniel Serra, who co-wrote the book An Early Meal – a Viking Age Cookbook and Culinary Odyssey, believes that cardamom first became of interest in Scandinavia in the 13th Century for both its medicinal and culinary use, as documented in the old cookbook Libellus de Arte Coquinaria.

Kavring is a classic Swedish bread that started by traveling through the Nordic countries. It originated as a crisp rye bread in Norway, and then, in the late 1800s, it evolved into a slightly sweet, tender, and fragrant loaf in southern Sweden.

Swedes are known for having a sweet tooth and the 'fika' culture has given the country an incredibly high patisserie standard. World-famous pastries like the cinnamon bun and the Swedish 'semla' even have their own day.

Today cardamom is cultivated in Sri Lanka and Guatemala in addition to India and is the third most costly spice globally, after saffron and vanilla. Outside of India, it's primarily used in Arab, Iranian, and North African cuisines, tracing spice trade routes that connected these areas in ancient times.

Guatemala is the leading supplier of cardamom in the world, producing approximately 23,000 MTs annually. Guatemala exports the majority of its production to the Middle East, with small amounts to the EU.

Cardamom is an herb that is often used as a spice in foods. The seeds and the oil from the seeds are sometimes used to make medicine. Cardamom contains chemicals that might kill some bacteria, reduce swelling, and help the immune system.