Some dishes are souvenirs of your childhood, and in Finland, Nakkikastike is one of the sacred classics that can occasionally transport you back to the memories of your childhood. It is nothing fancy or complex, but rather this is precisely its appeal. Savoury sausage sauce scooped over mashed potatoes is almost like getting a warm, homelike hug on a cold day. Each Finn has his/her own recollection of this dish: Well, every Wednesday, mom used to whip up this in a hurry, during a snowy evening
The dish is an epitome of daily Finnish home-cooking: wholesome, rustic and plain. And it may not be beautiful, as it were, but it does win hands down on flavour and childhood memories
A brief background A little background
Nakkikastike is translated as sausage sauce, and this is what it is: a creamy sauce to which sliced sausages, onion and a mild and velvety gravy are added. The recipe is regarded as a very traditional home-cooked recipe in Finland and is enjoyed by kids and adults. Mashed potatoes are the most popular accompaniment, but not everyone does not gets it with boiled potatoes or rice
The sausages used are traditionally Finnish nakkimakkara – petite, slender links similar to frankfurters but with a milder taste profile. This is convenient to prepare as well, since they can be cut into coins and cooked in no time, making this dish as convenient as it is satisfying.
Ingredients
- Sausages (nakkimakkara or frankfurter-type) -approximately 400g
Substitute: Any mild sausages of pork or chicken, even vegetarian sausages, to lighten it up.
- Butter- 2 tbsp
Substitute: But margarine or vegetable oil.
- All-purpose flour- 2tbsp (to thicken)
- Alternative: Cornstarch slurry when you require it to be gluten-free.
- Milk- 2 cups
Substitutions: Dairy-free, such as oat milk or other plant milks not with added sweetener or sugar.
- Onion- 1 medium in finely chopped form
Alternative: Leeks or shallots for a mild flavour
- 1 beef or chicken stock cube (for richer sauce flavour)
Substitute: Vegetable stock(vegetarian version)
- Salt and pepper – to taste
Optional: Mustard or pinch of nutmeg- to add depth in flavour
Instructions
Step 1: Cut the sausages into pieces as coins. Set aside
Step 2: Take a frying pan and melt the butter in it, and saute the chopped onion until tender and lightly golden brown. This lays the foundation flavour
Step 3: Put the sausage slices in the pan and fry them for a few minutes until they begin to turn a bit of colour
Step 4: Sprinkle flour lightly over the sausage and onion mixture. Stir until it is covered. Continue cooking 1-2 more minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste
Step 5 : Gradually add the milk, in a small amount at a time, whisking continuously in between until you eventually get a smooth mixture, free of lumps. Stir the sauce until it is thick and creamy smooth adding in the stock cube
Step 6: Season with salt and pepper to taste. For extra flavour, add a spoonful of mustard if desired, along with a pinch of nutmeg
Step 7: Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together
Serving Tips
- Classic style: Serve hot, on top of a big mash of potatoes. It is a creamy sauce and this feels throughout the mash, offering it the final comfort bite
- Variation: Serve it with boiled potatoes or rice or even with pasta, who knows, you may want to be an experimental person
- Side dish: An elementary and effortless cucumber salad or a pickled beetroot is simply the right combination
Precautions
- When preparing the roux, do not burn the flour, keep the heat low and keep on stirring as it takes a long time to burn
- Pour the milk gradually to prevent its lumping. If lumps form, whisking the sauce vigorously should smooth it out
- Sausages can be salty, test to make sure before adding more salt
- In case of reheating, put some milk to make the sauce loose
More About Nakkikastike
Nakkikastike is not the most glamorous thing on the planet but it becomes its charm. It is a not-so-sophisticated recipe, it is just reliably good to toast a cup up in every mouthful and make at home. It will take you back in time or impress you as something new but no matter what, you are sure to get impressed with its simplicity
So when you feel like having a comfort bite next time, go ahead and read no more complex recipes, just cut some sausages and make this creamy sauce, and you are having a real hug on a plate (proven to be Finnish ).
