Local food map Helsinki (Finland)
Helsinki guides
Recipes 11
Pick a recipe
All Helsinki recipes
Karelian Pasties — traditional dish from Karelia, Finland
Snack Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥250kcal
💪5gProtein
🌾45gCarbs
🥑8gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten 🥛 Dairy

Also served in

Karelian Pasties

How to order / say it
Say it Karjalanpiirakat — [KAHR-yah-lahn-pee-rah-kaht]
Order I'd like the Karelian pasties, please.
Locally Haluaisin karjalanpiirakoita, kiitos.
Say locally

Traditional Finnish pastries filled with rice porridge.

Why try it?

Karjalanpiirakat are a crucial part of Finnish cuisine, representing the resourceful nature of Finnish cooking. They are a symbol of Finnish hospitality and are often found at celebrations and gatherings.

How it tastes

These pastries boast a thin, crunchy rye crust encasing a soft, creamy filling of rice porridge. The subtle sweetness of the rice balances well with the savory crust, often enjoyed with a dollop of egg butter.

Origin & History — first documented: 1700

Originating from the Karelia region, these pasties have been a part of Finnish cuisine since the 17th century. They were initially a convenient way to carry and preserve food. They gained nationwide popularity in the 19th century, especially after the wars displaced many Karelians.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🌾 200 g rye flour
  • 100 ml water
  • 🌾 150 g rice
  • 🥛 300 ml milk
  • 🥛 30 g butter
  • 🧂 to taste salt

Method

  1. 1 Mix rye flour and water to form a dough, roll out thin rounds.
  2. 2 Cook rice in milk to make a thick porridge.
  3. 3 Place porridge in center of dough rounds, fold and crimp edges.
  4. 4 Bake until edges are crispy, serve with butter.

More from Karelia

🌱
Bread Vegan

Rievä

REE-eh-vah

A rustic, slightly sour barley-rich flatbread associated with Tampere and Pirkanmaa.

Creamy Mushroom Stew
Main course Vegetarian

Creamy Mushroom Stew

Sienikastike
SEE-eh-nee-KAS-tee-keh

A hearty stew made with wild mushrooms and cream.

Helsinki Style Roast Salmon © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Helsinki Style Roast Salmon

Loimulohi
LOY-moo-loh-hee

A traditional Finnish dish of flame-roasted salmon served with potatoes.

Baltic Herring © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Baltic Herring

Silakka
SEE-lahk-kah

Marinated Baltic herring, a popular fish dish from Finnish coastal areas.

🌿
Side dish Vegetarian

Mashed Potatoes with Lingonberry

Perunamuusi puolukkahillolla
PEH-ru-nah-moo-see POO-oh-loo-kah-hill-oh-lah

Creamy mashed potatoes served with tangy lingonberry jam.

Meat Stew © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Meat Stew

Karjalanpaisti
KAR-yah-lahn-PYE-stee

A slow-cooked meat stew made with various meats and root vegetables.

Pyynikin munkki
Dessert Vegetarian

Pyynikin munkki

POO-nee-keen MOONK-kee

A sugar-coated cardamom doughnut famous from Pyynikki observation tower.

Cabbage Casserole © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Cabbage Casserole

Kaalilaatikko
KAH-lee-lah-tik-koh

A hearty casserole made with cabbage, rice, and ground meat.

Sautéed Reindeer © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Sautéed Reindeer

Poronkäristys
POH-ron-kar-ris-tus

Thinly sliced reindeer meat sautéed with butter and onions, served with mashed potatoes.

Finnish Meatballs © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Finnish Meatballs

Lihapullat
LEE-ha-pool-laht

Tender meatballs typically served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries.

All Europe recipes — Finland — Helsinki — Karelian Pasties
keyboard_arrow_up