The Norwegian Glossary of Cooking and Food
Note: the Norwegian Glossary of Cooking and Food is under construction. New pages and images are being added daily.
The complete Glossary is found in Flavors of the Fjords
Numerals: A B D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- B -
Norwegian Americans share a very special legacy in their family ties to a beautiful country, and in the delicious recipes developed over the years. This is especially true of Norwegian Holiday cooking and recipes.
The following words, terms, and phrases are excerpts from nearly 2,000 entries in Flavors of the Fjords selected based on their use in cooking, food preparation, household living, and family relationships.
We hope they may be of some help to those of you who wish to translate family recipes or letters.
Feel free to recommend additional terms for inclusion in future editions.
To assist readers translating family recipes, we have included various phrases and terms excerpted from manuscript cookbooks. These are italicized (in quotes) and retain their original spelling.
If you have a word or term from a Norwegian manuscript cookbook or similar document that you cannot translate, why not share it with our Editors and readers. Simply forward your query to: belleairepress@earthlink.net
You should keep in mind that although Norway has two official languages, we have used only one of them in this Glossary, namely "rikesmål." The other official langauge is called "nynorsk" (new Norwegian), which is an artificial language created from various dialects spoken in different parts of Norway.
Church at Bjerke, Norway
bacon og egg - Bacon and eggs.
badstue - Small building or room for hot steam baths (sauna).
bær - Wild berries.
bakebrett - Baking sheet.
bakefjel - Bread or pastry board.
bakepulver - Baking powder.
bakeri - Bakery or bakeshop.
bakerovn - Baking oven. "Varmt som i en bakerovn," warm as a baking oven, hot as blazes.
bakstehelle - Griddle for flatbrød or lefse.
banan - Banana.
bankebiff - Tenderized beef. Served similar to Swiss steak.
barnemeny - Children’s menu.
benløs - Boned or boneless.
benmel - Bone meal.
berberiss - Barberry.
berlinerkrans - Berlin crowns or rings, a type of butter cookie.
besk - Bitter, sharp tasting.
bestGood.
bestefar - Grandfather.
besteforeldre - Grandparents.
bestemor - Grandmother.
"bestrøes med Sukker og bakes brune" - Sprinkle with sugar and bake until brown.
bestestue - The “best room,” the parlor.
betasuppe - Meat, marrow, and vegetable soup.
bie - Wait. “Denne maten er ikke mye å bie på,” this food won’t hold you long.
biffstek - Beaf steak.
bismak - Off taste, a taste that’s not supposed to be present.
bisp - Hot drink made with claret and sugar.
bit - Bite, or a mouthful.
bjørnbær - Blackberry.
blåbær - Blueberry, huckleberry, bilberry. Lit. blue berry. Det er bare blåbær for ham. It’s as easy as pie for him.
bladselleri - Celery.
blande - Mix or mixture. "Olje og vann lar seg ikke blande," oil and water don’t mix.
bland i en - Blend in a...
blande - Mix or mixture. “Olje og vann lar seg ikke blande,” oil and water don’t blend.
blandebolle - Mixing bowl.
bland sammen i en kjele - Blend together in a sauce pan.
blanding av oppskårne epler, rosiner - Mincemeat. Lit. a blending or mixture of cut, chopped, sliced apples, raisins.
blings - A thick slice or chunk of bread.
blomkål - Cauliflower.
blomkålsuppe - Cauliflower soup.
blomsterkrans - Flower wreath.
bløt - Wet or soft.
bløtekake - Wet cake or soaked layer cake. Milk is spooned over the layers, then covered with whipped cream.
bløtkoke - Soft-boil.
Author Bjørn Fladvad baked this beautiful, tasty “soaked cake” or bløtekake. The tart berries on top he hand picked and flash froze until needed
bløtkokte egg - Soft-boiled egg.
bløtelegge - Soak. “Legge i bløt,” put to soak.
bokk - Strong, dark beer.
bokseåpner - Can opener.
bolle - A sweet bun, roll, or (fish or meat) ball.
bønner - Beans.
bord - Table. "Dekke bordet," set the table. "Ta av bordet," clear the table.
bordbønn - Grace, blessing
bordduk - Table cloth.
bordet - The table.
bordkniv - Table knife.
bøsse - A small container, e.g. for salt. A cellarette.
botsam - Useful, wholesome, or invigorating.
brann - Fire.
brett - Board, as in for rolling out dough. Baking sheet, tray.
bringebær - Raspberry.
brød - Bread.
brød med smør på - Bread and butter.
Broderi - Embroidery. Also prydsøm.
brødleiv - A piece of sliced bread.
brødskive - Slice of bread.
brordatter - Niece. Lit. brother’s daughter.
brorsønn - Nephew. Lit. brother’s son.
bryllupskake - Wedding cake.
Author Faith R. Connors wearing her Norwegian national dress or bunad.
bunad - Norwegian national costume.
bunnskrape - Scrape the bottom or empty
butterdeig - Flaky pastry. Lit. butter dough.
bygg - Barley.
bygning - Farm house, residence. Also, hus or gård.