A creamy, rich and traditional stew made with reindeer meat, inspired by Sami cuisine and perfect for cold winter days.
Ingredients
- 500 g thinly sliced reindeer meat (or venison)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 200 g mushrooms, sliced
- 300 ml heavy cream
- 100 ml milk
- 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tsp crushed juniper berries
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Optional: A splash of brown cheese or lingonberry jam for a sweet twist
Instructions
- Brown the meat: In a large pot, melt butter and brown the reindeer slices in batches over high heat. Set aside.
- Sauté the veggies: In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, and mushrooms until soft and golden.
- Combine: Return meat to the pot. Add cream, milk, crushed juniper berries, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 30–40 minutes until the meat is tender
- Optional thickening: If you like it thicker, mix a tablespoon of flour with cold milk and stir into the stew.
- Serve hot with mashed potatoes, lingonberries, and flatbread. Cozy sweater not included.
Notes
🦌 Finnbiff: Creamy Reindeer Stew from the Arctic Wilds of Norway 🇳🇴❄️
When the northern winds howl and the snow blankets the Norwegian tundra, one dish stands as the ultimate comfort food of the Arctic: Finnbiff. This hearty reindeer stew, with its buttery cream sauce and deep wild flavor, isn’t just food—it’s a warm hug from the icy North 🧣🔥.🦌 What Is Finnbiff?
Finnbiff (also known as reinsdyrgryte) is a traditional Sami and Northern Norwegian stew made from thinly sliced reindeer meat, browned and simmered in a creamy, buttery sauce, usually enriched with mushrooms and a touch of juniper. It’s the perfect dish to fuel up after a day of herding reindeer… or, more realistically, shoveling snow off your driveway while dreaming of Lapland 🛷😄.🌲 The Sami Legacy: More Than Just a Stew
Finnbiff originates from the Sami people, the Indigenous reindeer herders of Northern Scandinavia. For centuries, they’ve turned the Arctic’s challenges into culinary brilliance — using every part of the reindeer to survive the long, cold winters. Think of Finnbiff as the Northern version of a luxurious stroganoff — except instead of beef and mushrooms, you get reindeer and juniper berries, dancing together in a Nordic flavor ballet 🩰🌌.🍽️ How Is Finnbiff Served?
Traditionally, Finnbiff is served piping hot, with:- 🥔 Mashed or boiled potatoes – because creamy sauce deserves a sponge!
- 🍇 Lingonberry jam or sugared lingonberries – to cut through the richness with a tart punch
- 🥖 Lefse or flatbread – roll it up and soak every drop of that velvety sauce
😂 Fun Fact
If you ever feel fancy while eating Finnbiff, remember — you’re technically eating Rudolph’s cousin. But don’t worry, he wasn’t scheduled for Christmas duties this year. 🎅🦌💔🧭 The Taste of Arctic Autumn
In autumn, when game season opens across Norway, restaurants everywhere go wild — literally — with dishes like:- 🦌 Tender reindeer medallions
- 🐦 Roasted grouse
- 🥩 Moose steak
