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Smörgåstårta
Smörgåstårta: Swedish savoury sandwich cake with egg, cheese and vegetable layers
Smörgåstårta is what Swedes bring out for christenings, graduations and big birthdays: a 'sandwich cake' of soft bread layers filled with creamy egg, cheese and vegetable fillings, frosted with cream cheese and smetana and decorated as lavishly as a gateau with cucumber, radish, tomato and dill. In Stockholm bakeries the classic is layered with prawns and smoked salmon; this version keeps it vegetarian with egg mayonnaise, herby cheese and avocado. A common mistake is using fresh, very soft bread, which turns soggy; slightly firm sandwich bread holds the layers. Chef's tip: assemble it the night before and chill it under cling film; it firms up and slices neatly, then decorate just before serving.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the layers
- 1 white sandwich loaf, unslicedcut lengthways into 4 slices, crusts removed
- 1 ¾ oz soft butter
For the egg filling
- 6 eggshard-boiled and chopped
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- ⅓ oz fresh chiveschopped
- ½ tsp salt
For the cheese filling
- 7 oz cream cheese
- 3 ½ oz mature hard cheesefinely grated; choose a vegetarian one
- ½ oz fresh dillchopped
For the avocado filling
- 2 ripe avocadosmashed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
For the frosting and decoration
- 10 ½ oz cream cheese
- ¾ cup smetana or soured cream
- 1 cucumberthinly sliced
- 6 radishesthinly sliced
- 8 cherry tomatoeshalved
- ⅓ oz fresh dill sprigs
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 6 eggs, 4 tbsp mayonnaise, ⅓ oz fresh chives and ½ tsp salt. Beat 7 oz cream cheese with 3 ½ oz mature hard cheese and ½ oz fresh dill. Mash 2 ripe avocados with 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Step 2: Butter one side of each 1 white sandwich loaf, unsliced slice thinly with 1 ¾ oz soft butter. Lay the first on a long board, butter side up.
Step 3: Spread with the egg filling, top with a second slice, then the cheese filling, then the third slice, then the avocado, and finish with the last slice, butter side down. Press gently. Common mistake: very soft fresh bread; it goes soggy.
Step 4: Wrap and chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
Step 5: Beat 10 ½ oz cream cheese with ¾ cup smetana or soured cream until smooth and spread over the top and sides.
Step 6: Decorate with 1 cucumber, 6 radishes, 8 cherry tomatoes and ⅓ oz fresh dill sprigs. Slice with a sharp knife wiped between cuts.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does smörgåstårta take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of soft butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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