Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread that is typically made from potatoes, flour, butter, and milk. It is a staple food in Norway, and it is usually eaten during the holiday season. There are many ways to eat lefse, and it can be served plain or with a variety of toppings.
This post makes me kind of sad looking at the pictures of my Grandma since she is no longer living. I miss her, especially around this time of year when she would always make this. 🙁
Do you love recipes from the Midwest region? Try my How to Make Norwegian Lefse, Knoephla Soup Recipe or Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Walleye recipe.
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What is Lefse?
Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from cooked potatoes. Up in the Midwest, we like to serve the lefse with softened butter. If you want to get really fancy spread the butter on top of the lefse and sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar. It's so delicious and makes a good dessert after eating all the turkey on Thanksgiving day.
Best Potatoes for Lefse
Russet potatoes are the best type of potatoes to use for making lefse. Do not overcook them.
How to make Lefse (Step by Step)
We all took turns rolling out the dough and then it gets cooked on a big lefse skillet. Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made with cooked potatoes and it gets cooked on a large flat griddle. If you don't have a special lefse making griddle any griddle will work just as well.
This is the part where you have the dough combined and it's ready to be cooked on the griddle. Making lefse is very similar to the process of making pancakes or any other type of flatbread.
You need a rolling pin with a fancy cloth attached to it. See link above. This cloth gives the lefse that famous texture. A circular rolling board to roll out the flour, lots of flour, and a lefse griddle.
Form into ball shape with your hands
Press into patties on the tray
Pick the lefse dough out with these fancy sticks. Sometimes the dough will stick to the board to transfer it to the griddle, that is why a lot of flour is required.
This is my grandma below and Uncle Mark above with his awesome ninja skills. Lefse is just like making a pancake. The edges start to bubble when it is ready to flip on a flat griddle. You also use those fancy sticks to flip the lefse on the grill.
This is the final product. Transfer it to some parchment paper and let it cool off. Usually, we like lefse with lots of butter and sugar. Some people like to stuff leftovers from Thanksgiving inside and fold it up like a burrito. Those people are weird. J/k. 🙂
Tools needed to make Lefse
Amazon has all the tools you need to make lefse. If you click on the link below and purchase a product from one of the links, I may earn a small commission from them. There's even a lefse making kit that comes complete with all the tools you need. If you try to make lefse without any of these tools it will be a disaster the first time. 🙂
- Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Ricer
- 20 in pastry board and cloth set
- Lefse Griddle - A flat griddle will also work for this
- Lefse Rolling Pin -
- Lefse Making Kit
Recipe FAQs
To freeze the lefse, lay out flat on top of parchment or wax paper in layers. Store in freezer bags large enough to store the lefse. The lefse lasts up to 3 months in the freezer. Wrapping the bags in foil can also help prevent freezer burn flavor. When you are ready to use the frozen lefse, thaw in fridge.
Lefse is just like a pancake or flatbread. You can do whatever you like or add whatever you like to it. Lefse also makes a good wrap or burrito for any Thanksgiving leftovers.
If you don't have a potato ricer try one of these handy kitchen tools.
Food Mill. This is best for light and fluffy mashed potatoes. ...
Food Processor
Fork
Hand Masher.
Hand Mixer
Stand Mixer
Some traditional toppings for lefse include butter, cinnamon, sugar, and lingonberry jam. Many people also enjoy lefse with savory toppings such as meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Ultimately, the choice of toppings for lefse is up to personal preference, and there are many delicious ways to enjoy this traditional Norwegian treat.
Other Recipes To Try
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How to make Lefse
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 - 10 min
- Total Time: 36 minute
- Yield: 42 flatbreads 1x
- Category: Medium
- Method: Combine
- Cuisine: American
Description
Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from cooked potatoes. Up in the Midwest, we like to serve the lefse with softened butter.
Ingredients
- 7 cups of potatoes, peeled
- ¼ cup cream
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups of flour
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes; drain.
- Run hot potatoes through a potato ricer into a large bowl. Beat butter, cream, salt, and sugar into riced potatoes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Stir flour into potato mixture to form a soft dough. Pull off pieces of dough and form into walnut-sized balls. Lightly flour a clean cloth and roll out lefse balls to ⅛-inch thick.
- Heat a griddle over high heat.
- Cook lefse on the hot griddle until brown blisters form, about 1 minute per side. Place cooked lefse on a damp towel to cool slightly. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking them on top of each other as they're cooked; cover until ready to serve
Jenna says
Thank you! It's my Grandma's recipe. 🙂
Judy says
Made lefse using your recipe, but no special equipment. They turned out great.
Jenna says
yes
Ellen says
Is it 7 cups of the riced potatoes?