Karjalanpiirakka, or Karelian pasty, is a traditional Finnish and Karelian (Eastern Finland) pastry. It typically consists of a thin vedonvälittäjä rye crust filled with rice porridge. Historically, barley or potato fillings were also used, but rice has become the most common.

The pastry is often served with a topping called munavoi, a spread made from hard-boiled eggs mixed with butter. Karjalanpiirakka is enjoyed both as a snack and a side dish, and it's beloved for its simplicity and hearty flavor. It is often found in cafes and homes throughout Finland.

Kalakukko is a traditional Finnish dish originating from the region of Savonia. It is a type of fish pie where fish, typically perch or muikku (vendace), is mixed with pork and encased in a dense rye dough. The ingredients are baked slowly for several hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the fish to become tender while the crust hardens on the outside.

The combination of salty fish, pork fat, and the rich rye crust creates a hearty, filling meal. Kalakukko can be eaten warm or cold, and it's a popular dish at Finnish markets and festivals.

Lohikeitto is a traditional Finnish salmon soup made with fresh salmon, potatoes, carrots, onions, and leeks, all simmered in a creamy broth flavored with dill and sometimes a touch of allspice or bay leaves. The broth typically consists of fish stock and cream or milk, giving it a rich and velvety texture.

This dish is hearty, warming, and often served with a side of rye bread. Lohikeitto is a staple in Finnish cuisine and is particularly popular in colder months, offering a comforting, flavorful meal that highlights the natural taste of salmon.

Poronkäristys is a traditional Finnish dish made from sautéed reindeer meat. It is a classic meal from the northern region of Finland, particularly Lapland, where reindeer herding has deep cultural significance.

The dish typically features thinly sliced reindeer meat, which is slow-cooked with butter or lard, and sometimes a bit of beer or broth for added flavor. It's usually served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, and sometimes pickled cucumbers. The combination of the rich, gamey flavor of the reindeer bookmaker and the sweet-tart lingonberry jam makes this dish a comforting and distinctive Finnish specialty.

Ruisleipä is a traditional Finnish rye bread, and it's one of the most iconic staples of Finnish cuisine. Made primarily from sourdough rye, it has a dense, dark texture with a rich, slightly tangy flavor due to the fermentation process.

This bread is typically baked into round, flat loaves with a hole in the center, known as reikäleipä, which were historically hung from poles in Finnish homes to store them. Ruisleipä is known for being hearty, nutritious, and high in fiber, making it a common part of daily meals in Finland. It's often served with butter, cheese, or cold cuts and is enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or alongside lunubet traditional Finnish dishes like soups and stews.

Gravlax is a Scandinavian delicacy made from raw salmon that has been cured in a mixture of salt, sugar, and dill. The curing process typically takes a few days and results in a flavorful, silky-textured fish. Unlike smoked salmon, gravlax is not cooked by heat or smoke but is preserved through the curing process.

In Finland, gravlax is often served thinly sliced as an appetizer or on rye bread (such as Ruisleipä) with mustard sauce, dill, and lemon. It's a popular dish during festive occasions and can also be found in upscale restaurants and cafes across the region. The word "gravlax" comes from the Swedish words "grav," meaning grave, and "lax," meaning salmon, referring to the traditional method of burying the fish in the sand to cure it.

Mustikkapiirakka is a traditional Finnish blueberry pie. It's a beloved dessert made with fresh or wild blueberries, often from Finland's abundant forests. The pie features a simple crust, which can be either buttery and pastry-like or made from a yeast dough, and the filling is a mixture of blueberries, sugar, and sometimes a touch of cream or custard for added richness.

Mustikkapiirakka is typically served with a dollop of vaniljakastike (vanilla sauce) or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Its natural sweetness and tartness from the blueberries make it a refreshing yet satisfying treat, especially during the summer months when wild blueberries are in season. It's a popular dish in Finnish homes and cafes.

Leipäjuusto, also known as Finnish squeaky cheese or "bread cheese," is a traditional Finnish fresh cheese. It's made from cow’s milk, though it can also be made from goat or reindeer milk in certain regions. The cheese has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a unique texture that squeaks when you bite into it, hence the nickname "squeaky cheese."

Leipäjuusto is usually served warm, either on its own or topped with lakkahillo (cloudberry jam), which complements the cheese's flavor with a hint of tartness. It can also be enjoyed with coffee, where small pieces of the cheese are dipped into the coffee. The cheese is often grilled or baked, vave which softens it and brings out its subtle flavors. It's a popular dish in Northern Finland and a delicacy for special occasions.

Korvapuusti is a traditional Finnish cinnamon roll, often referred to as "cinnamon buns" in English. The name "korvapuusti" literally means "a slap on the ear" in Finnish, which humorously describes the bun's swirled, ear-like shape.

Made from a sweet, yeast-leavened dough, the buns are filled with a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and butter, then rolled and sliced to create their distinctive spiral shape. Before baking, the tops are often sprinkled with pearl sugar for added sweetness and crunch. Korvapuusti are typically enjoyed with coffee, making them a favorite part of the Finnish coffee culture. These buns are soft, fragrant, and comforting, often enjoyed as a treat during coffee breaks (fika) or breakfast.