Midsummer in Sweden is like one big embrace of sunshine, flowers, and the magic of long summer evenings. It’s a tradition where the Swedish heart beats a little faster for herring, potatoes, dancing frogs, and an abundance of strawberries. But what if we added a touch of Italian food joy to this celebration? Not to challenge traditions, but to enrich them. A midsummer without herring is unthinkable, but a midsummer with a well-made, homemade lasagna using Swedish ingredients? Now, that might be worth a try.
I remember the first time I was invited to a real Midsummer celebration. As an Italian, I was used to celebrating summer with long outdoor dinners filled with warmth, laughter, and dishes built around what the season had to offer. I thought I was prepared, but nothing could have readied me for the Midsummer games. I was thrown into ring dances, the famous frog dance, and suddenly found myself with a flower crown on my head, laughing until my stomach hurt. I had never experienced anything like it—a festivity where both children and adults jumped around in the grass, sang traditional songs, and embraced the endless daylight.
But what fascinated me the most was the food. A table overflowing with small dishes: herring in every possible variation, freshly boiled potatoes with dill, sour cream, and chives, creamy Västerbotten pies, and an endless stream of strawberries with whipped cream. Everything was prepared with love and with ingredients from Swedish fields, lakes, and forests. I quickly realized that Midsummer was much more than just a party—it was a celebration of Swedish summer, the land, and the food that brings people together.
But my Italian heart couldn’t help but wonder about one thing: Where was the pasta? Where was that dish that gathers everyone around the table, that is prepared with time and care, and that is meant to be shared? And so, the idea was born—why not a Midsummer lasagna?
Imagine a lasagna made with Swedish ingredients, a fusion of Italian and Swedish flavors. Thin pasta sheets layered with a smooth béchamel sauce, filled with freshly harvested summer vegetables: green peas, fresh spinach, sweet cherry tomatoes, and maybe even some thinly sliced new potatoes for an unexpected Swedish twist. Topped with a generous layer of aged Prästost or Västerbotten cheese, melting perfectly into the creamy layers.
Lasagna, at its core, is both comfort food and husmanskost, just like traditional Midsummer dishes. It’s prepared with care, built in layers of flavors, and meant to be shared with friends and family. And just imagine serving it on the Midsummer buffet—right next to the herring, the pies, and the strawberries. A little Italian guest at the Swedish feast.
In Italy, we’re used to bringing food to parties. A lasagna is the perfect takeaway Stockholm dish for Midsummer. It can be prepared in advance, brought in a dish, and easily reheated if needed. Just like Swedish smörgåstårta or Västerbotten pies, it’s easy to share and perfect for a picnic or a long outdoor dinner under the bright summer sky.
And for those who prefer vegan food or vegetarian food? No problem. A vegan-friendly version with silken tofu, toasted almonds, and Swedish summer vegetables can be just as delightful. Or a gluten-free version, where the pasta layers are replaced with thinly sliced zucchini or eggplant. Because lasagna is not a dish that excludes—it’s a dish that brings people together.
My friend Johan, a true Midsummer traditionalist, was skeptical when I told him about my idea. “Lasagna for Midsummer?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “That just doesn’t work.” But curiosity won him over, and he agreed to try. I whipped up a version with grilled zucchini, Swedish chanterelles, and a rich cheese sauce. We served it warm at the Midsummer table, and after the first bite, Johan nodded approvingly. “Okay, I admit it. This actually works.”
Maybe that’s what Midsummer is all about—celebrating traditions while daring to welcome new flavors. Combining the familiar with the unexpected. Letting food be a way to unite cultures, to create memories around a table filled with happy people and good food.
And really, if we can sing about little frogs, dance around a flower-covered pole, and laugh our way through the night, then surely we can welcome a homemade food lasagna to the celebration as well?
What’s your favorite Midsummer dish? Have you ever tried bringing a lasagna to a Swedish summer party? And if you were to make a Midsummer lasagna, what Swedish ingredients would you use?
Summer brings out the best flavors we have—locally sourced asparagus sautéed in butter, sun-ripened tomatoes, garden-fresh herbs, and the first Swedish ingredients of the season. Imagine a Midsummer lasagna with grilled summer vegetables, a light tomato sauce with garlic and basil, layered with a creamy cheese blend and homemade pasta. Maybe even a hint of lemon to capture the freshness of Swedish summer evenings.
When the sun never really sets and the evening fades into a golden dusk, when laughter echoes between the birch trees and the last strawberries are dipped in whipped cream, we know that summer is truly here. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to let lasagna become a part of the Midsummer table.
