Poronkäristys (Finnish Sautéed Reindeer with Mash)
In short: Thin slices of reindeer browned in butter with onion, simmered until tender and served over mashed potatoes with lingonberries. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 550 kcal
Poronkäristys is the signature dish of Finnish Lapland. Thin slices of reindeer are browned in butter, simmered gently with onion and allspice until tender, and piled onto mashed potatoes with a spoonful of tart lingonberries. Reindeer is lean and mild, so the long simmer is what makes it soft. Venison or beef are good substitutes when reindeer is hard to find.
Instructions
- Slice the meat across the grain into slices about 3 mm (1/8 in) thick. It is easiest to do this when the meat is half frozen.
- Melt the 2 tbsp butter in a wide heavy pan over high heat. Brown the meat in two batches for about 2 minutes each, without crowding the pan. Return all of it to the pan.
- Add the onion and allspice and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the water, cover and simmer on low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the meat is tender, adding a splash of water if the pan dries.
- Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in salted water for 20 minutes until soft. Drain, mash with the butter, hot milk and salt until smooth.
- Season the meat with the salt and pepper, and stir in the cream if you like. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Spoon the mash onto plates, top with the sautéed meat and its juices, and serve with lingonberry jam and pickled cucumbers.
Tips
- Reindeer is lean, so it needs the slow simmer. If you use beef sirloin, cut the simmering time to 20 to 25 minutes so the slices stay tender.
- Brown the meat in batches. A crowded pan steams the slices instead of browning them, and the dish loses its deeper flavor.
Questions and answers
Can I use beef instead of reindeer?
Yes. Use thinly sliced beef sirloin and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Venison is the closest match in flavor.
What do you serve with poronkäristys?
Mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. The tart berries cut through the rich meat.
Why slice the meat while partly frozen?
Firm meat is much easier to cut into thin, even slices. Put it in the freezer for 30 to 40 minutes before slicing.
How long does it take to make Poronkäristys (Finnish Sautéed Reindeer with Mash)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Poronkäristys (Finnish Sautéed Reindeer with Mash)?
About 550 kcal per serving, with 31 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 25 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 550 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 25 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 950 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
