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The Little Explorers' Journal
Flavours of Finland
Cooking Lohikeitto, a delicious creamy salmon soup, with Archie and Ian, a local boy Archie met during his adventure in Lapland.
Ian led Archie to a cozy little wooden house, painted red and white. The roof was so steep and covered in snow that it looked like someone had put a big, pointy, white hat on top.
"Welcome to our home, Archie," Ian’s mom said as she opened the door. "So, I hear you want to learn how to make Lohikeitto?"
"Yeah! Ian told me it’s a traditional soup from Lapland, made with salmon and vegetables," Archie said. "I want to surprise my mom when I get back to Sydney. She loves salmon!"
"That’s a great idea! And don’t worry, the recipe is super easy. I’m sure you two will do great. I’ve already set out all the ingredients on the kitchen table."
They took off their shoes near the front door, right next to a wooden staircase that led up to the bedrooms under the slanted roof. Then, they walked through a big, warm, and comfy living room. Two huge couches with colorful blankets faced a crackling fireplace. The walls, where they weren’t covered in wooden logs, were lined with tons of books. At the far end of the room was the kitchen.
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Archie washed his hands and put on the black and gray striped apron that Ian handed him.
They checked out the ingredients on the table:
1 thick fillet of fresh
Skinless salmon (500g)
The white part and the start of the green part of 3 leeks
400g of small firm potatoes
3 carrots
½ liter of fish broth
200ml of fresh cream
1 lemon and 1 bunch of dill
Butter or olive oil
"So, where do we start?" Archie asked. The walk from the forest to Ian’s house had made him hungry, and he was eager to begin.
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"With the veggies! You slice the leeks into thin strips while I peel the carrots," Ian said.
Archie grabbed a knife.
"How thin?"
Ian showed him.
"Like this. If they’re too thick, they’ll take forever to cook."
Archie nodded and started cutting.
"By the way, Ian, I wanted to ask you—why are all the houses here red? I noticed that when I arrived."
Ian, who was peeling a carrot, grinned.
"Oh yeah, most are painted with ‘Falu red.’ It’s a natural pigment made from copper. It originally came from the Falun mines in Sweden and was used to protect wood from moisture and bugs. It became super popular all over Scandinavia."
"Wait, so it’s not just to make things look nice when the sky is all gray?" Archie asked.
Ian laughed.
"Nope! But it does add a nice splash of colour!"
Once the carrots were sliced into rounds and the potatoes cut into cubes, Ian said,
"Alright, now we heat some butter in the pot and cook the leeks and carrots."
Archie grabbed a wooden spoon and started stirring. Then, he poured in the broth and watched the vegetables simmer.
"Time to add the potatoes and fish stock," Ian said."How long do we wait now?"
Archie asked. His stomach growled.
"Fifteen minutes. The potatoes need to be nice and soft."
While waiting, they sipped on Glögi, a hot blueberry drink Ian’s mom had made earlier.
Then, they chopped the dill and cut the salmon into big chunks. As Archie finished slicing the last piece, he said,
"I read that Finns eat over 14 kilos of salmon per year! Is that true?"
Ian nodded.
"Yep, especially salmon and herring. My grandpa always says a real Finn eats fish almost every day."
Archie laughed.
"My mom would totally get along with your grandpa!"
Ten minutes before the soup was done, Ian added the salmon and cream."That smells amazing," Archie said, leaning over the pot.
Ian nodded.
"That’s the secret of Lohikeitto—simple but packed with flavor! But be careful! Turn down the heat. If the cream boils, it’ll curdle, and that’s a total disaster."
Archie quickly lowered the heat.
"Phew, crisis avoided!
"He placed the lid on the pot. Five minutes later, Ian sprinkled freshly chopped dill over the steaming soup. "And… done!"
Archie grabbed a spoon, scooped up some soup, and blew on it before taking a cautious bite. His eyes widened."Whoa… this is so good!"
"Hyvää ruokahaluaa, Archie!" Ian said proudly."
Cheers, Chef!" Archie grinned.
Wanna make it yourself?
Here’s how:
1. Slice the leeks into thin strips and wash them well.
2. Peel and cut the carrots into rounds and the potatoes into cubes.
3. Cut the salmon into large chunks.
4. Chop the dill finely.
5. In a big pot, heat some butter or olive oil.
6. Sauté the leeks and carrots.
7. When the leeks have softened, add the potatoes and fish broth—season with salt and black pepper. Let simmer for 15 minutes on medium heat until the potatoes are soft.
8. Ten minutes before serving, add the salmon and cream. Cook on medium heat for 3–5 minutes until the salmon is done. Don’t let the cream boil! Cover the pot and wait another 5 minutes.
9. Sprinkle fresh dill on top.
10. Serve in a bowl and add more dill, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice if you like.
Bon appétit! Or as they say in Finnish, Hyvää ruokahaluaa!
Oh, and if you want to learn more about Finland, I’ve got a surprise for you!
Check out this mystery-packed adventure: The Intrepid Explorers and the Legend of Tanerko!
A hidden medallion. A wolf-shaped rock. A centuries-old secret.
Archie and Violette thought they were in for a magical Christmas in Lapland. But when they find an ancient medallion hidden in an abandoned cabin, their trip takes a wild turn. With their new friend Roméo, they set off on the trail of a lost sacred site… unaware that someone is watching them. In the depths of the snowy forest, the Intrepid Explorers must solve an old riddle, escape wild predators, and outsmart a dangerous enemy.
The night is falling. The cold is biting. And someone is hunting them.
Out here in the freezing wilderness, one wrong move could be their last…
Click below to read the story for FREE!
