The famous Scandinavian shrimp sandwich with homemade mayonnaise

Level: Easy
Total Time: 20 minutes + time to make homemade white bread

There are few dishes that have the same effect on me as the Scandinavian Shrimp Sandwich. It is sufficient to see the nordic shrimps (Pandalus Borealis) in a shop to bring me straight down memory lane. There have been so many cosy moments with friends and family around a Scandinavian Shrimp Sandwich buffet table. The nordic shrimps are not easy to find in France so whenever I come across any I stock up in the freezer. Picard sells them occasionally, and so does Metro if you are able to get access. This shrimp sort also exists in Canada and it should be widely available in North America. You might wonder why the fuss when there are tropical farm shrimps sold everywhere? Well, it simply is not the same. It is like comparing two fish sorts: they might be similar, but they are still quite different. The nordic shrimps are smaller with a sweet and salty taste and they have a firmer texture compared to the tropical shrimps.

A Scandinavian shrimp party is probably the easiest party you’ll ever prepare, so it’s the perfect menu for when you have a lot of people for lunch or dinner (for when the world finally opens up and we are allowed to…). Place baskets of sliced white bread, salade, mayonnaise, fresh dill, avocado, lemon, and several big bowls with nordic shrimps on the table. Let everyone peel the shrimps and make their own open sandwiches. This cozy meal can last for hours:-). I usually serve it with homemade mayonnaise and white bread, both are easily prepared in advance. Are you ready to try it out?

THE TIPS TO SUCCEED

1: I recommend making homemade white bread for a fully authentic experience.

2: This is the no-stress meal by excellence, so relax, let everyone help themselves, lean back, and enjoy 🙂

Let’s get started

Ingredients

To serve 4 people you need:

• 2 kg Nordic Shrimps
• 8 slices off white bread (If you serve ready prepared sandwiches. Count 1 bread per 4 people if they prepare their own sandwiches as people tend to put fewer shrimps on each slice)
• 8 Salade leaves (Iceberg, Romain, Batavia…)
• ½ bunch Fresh Dill
• 1 pcs Lemon
• 2 pcs Avocado
• 2 pcs Egg yolk
• 1 tsp Strong Mustard (I use Tarragon mustard, but you can also use Dijon or whole grain)
• 200 ml Neutral oil (I use sunflower oil)
• ½-1 tsp Salt
• Pepper to taste
• Cucumber slice for decoration (Optional)

How to do it?

If frozen, let the shrimps defrost in the fridge if you have time, or in room temperature or cold water if you are in a hurry.

Add the egg yolks, salt, and mustard in a high, narrow container. Mix well. I use the hand mixer whisk, but you can also do this by hand in a wider bowl.

While mixing add the oil, little by little. It is important to add the oil very slowly to give the egg yolks time to absorb the oil and for the mixture to thicken. Start with a few drops and then slowly add more.

Add lemon juice and ground pepper to taste. It is important to add the lemon at the end. If added at the beginning it can be difficult to get a thick texture. If the mayonnaise becomes too thick then add a bit of lukewarm water. You can use a piping bag or a spoon when preparing the sandwich. Store the mayonnaise in the fridge.

Peel the shrimps, cut the avocado and lemon.

Prepare the sandwich with all the layers: Bread, salade, mayonnaise, avocado, shrimps, ground pepper, lemon/cucumber, and dill.

How to serve the Scandinavian shrimp sandwich?

You can either serve ready-made sandwiches as presented in the photo or place all the ingredients on the table for a shrimp party. Serves well with a cold, dry white wine…