Smalahove
Norway's pre-Christmas smoked sheep's head
Think of it as: Like a holiday ham, if the ham had a face
Dinner is staring back at you.
What does it taste like?
Smoky and salty, with very rich, fatty bites.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureGelatinous and rich
What is it?
A sheep's head with the wool singed off, salted, smoked and dried, then boiled. It's a western Norwegian tradition eaten before Christmas. The ear and eye are said to be best eaten first.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Each person gets half a head, served with mashed rutabaga, potatoes and aquavit.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇳🇴Norway
CapitalOslo
Populationabout 5.65 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesOil and natural gas, Fishing and salmon farming, Shipping
Common surnamesHansen, Johansen, OlsenFrom national statistics and surname surveys; rankings vary by source
Famous peopleEdvard MunchThe painter of The Scream
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CurrencyNorwegian krone
And JapanMuch of the salmon eaten in Japan comes from Norway
Fun factThe Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in the capital, Oslo
The flag🇳🇴 A Nordic cross in red, white and blue, colors seen as symbols of freedom.
From Tokyoabout 8,410 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Oslo
Getting thereabout 16 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeJune to August for the fjords, October to March for the northern lights. Also trySalmon dishesFårikålBrown cheese More from here🍮 Lutefisk🧀 Brunost
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeJune to August for the fjords, October to March for the northern lights. Also trySalmon dishesFårikålBrown cheese More from here🍮 Lutefisk🧀 Brunost
🇳🇴 Sounds & life in Norway
HeiHello（Hei）
Latin alphabet
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Right now…
Anthem"Yes, We Love This Country" (Ja, vi elsker dette landet)
MusicSynth-pop '80s pop sparkling with synthesizers
SportSoccer (cross-country skiing in winter)
Erling Haaland (soccer; a striker who scores goal after goal) World HeritageWest Norwegian Fjords and more FestivalConstitution Day (May 17, with children's parades)
MusicSynth-pop '80s pop sparkling with synthesizers
SportSoccer (cross-country skiing in winter)
Erling Haaland (soccer; a striker who scores goal after goal) World HeritageWest Norwegian Fjords and more FestivalConstitution Day (May 17, with children's parades)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cured and smoked sheep's head
- 3 potatoes
- 1 rutabaga
- 30 g butter
- Salt
How to make it (one way)
- Singe the wool off the sheep's head
- Split it, salt it, smoke it and let it dry
- Soak, then boil for about 3 hours
- Boil the rutabaga and mash with butter
- Serve the head whole with potatoes and rutabaga
⚠️ Visually intense, and the prep takes specialist skill.