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Lutefisk

Name: Lutefisk
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 lb prepared lutefisk (ready-to-cook); 4 cups cold water; 2 tsp salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted, for serving; 2 tbsp butter, for the sauce; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups whole milk; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp salt, for the sauce; 2 cups cooked green peas, for serving; 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Snow-white cod transformed by lye and water into a trembling, translucent fillet, served with melted butter, peas, and bacon.

⏱ 10 minPrep time

🔥 35 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

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Lutefisk is Scandinavian comfort food with a dramatic backstory: dried whitefish rehydrated in lye, then soaked back to a mild, delicate state and gently baked. The result is translucent, tender fish with a clean, subtle flavor and a famously gelatinous texture.

It is a cherished Christmas tradition in Norway and Sweden, served with melted butter, white sauce, green peas and boiled potatoes. Love it or tease it, lutefisk is a holiday ritual that brings families together — best tackled with a sense of humor and plenty of butter.

Scandinavian recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Heat the oven to 350°F and butter a shallow baking dish.
Rinse the lutefisk, place it in the dish in a single layer, sprinkle with the 2 tsp salt, and add the cold water.
Cover with foil and bake 25-35 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes gently; do not overcook.
Meanwhile, melt the 2 tbsp butter, whisk in the flour, then the milk, and simmer until thickened; season with nutmeg and salt.
Drain the lutefisk well, transfer to a platter, and pour over the melted butter.
Serve with the white sauce, peas and parsley alongside.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Handle cooked lutefisk gently — it is delicate. Serve it very hot with lots of butter; that is how Scandinavians have always made it palatable.

Recipe details

Prep10 min

Cook35 min

Servings6

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Lutefisk

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Lutefisk

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