Mämmi

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Similar to a porridge or a pudding, mämmi is a traditional dish prepared with a combination of rye flour, rye malt, and water. After it has been soaked, it is typically seasoned with dark molasses syrup, and the mixture is then baked in the oven until it develops a thick consistency and a dark-brown color. Despite its unusually sweet taste, mämmi has been a beloved Finnish dish for centuries, usually associated with Easter and consumed during Lent. Today, it appears in numerous flavors such as chocolate or vanilla, but in the past it was prepared in its most basic variety, when it was only occasionally spiced with bitter orange zest. Traditionally, a dollop of mämmi is sprinkled with sugar and served with whipped cream, milk, or a thin vanilla sauce on the side. Apart from Finland, this satisfying dish is also popular in Sweden, where it is known as memma .