Ragnar Lodbrok Day
Celebrate Ragnar Lodbrok Day with a Viking Meal
You may not want to celebrate Paris burning, but that's history for you, full of unpleasant things that you'd rather not dwell on.
What you can do however, is prepare a Viking style meal for Ragnar Lodbrok Day on 28 March and, what's more, have an enjoyable time with your family and friends.
Invite the gang to come over in costume, and to share a good dinner of soup, lamb and sweet dessert. Heap platters with barley bread or rye and serve ale, black beer or mead.
The Siege and Sacking of Paris
After the attack on Lindisfarne in 793, the Vikings were named in the Christian West as evil plunderers, ravages and murderers although they weren't very much different from anyone else at that time. It was a brutal age although our modern age isn't really much of an improvement.
In 845, a fleet of Viking longships invaded the country of the West Franks and laid siege to Paris.
Over Easter they occupied the city, plundered it and withdrew only on payment of 7,000 French livres - about 3 kilogrammes of silver and gold, a colossal sum in the 9th century.
Who was this Ragnar Lodbrok?
The great hero of the Vikings, Ragnar was an absolute nightmare for France and England.
In the 9th century his raiders attacked France many times, using the rivers to make their bloody way inland, and sacked Paris in 843. He then turned his attention to England
I'll make a Viking dinner but what did they eat?
Contemporary sources (such as Ibn Fadlan) tell us that the Vikings were tall men, strong, hefty fellows, so they must have eaten well since childhood. We know they ate meat, grain, dairy food, mushrooms and berries.
Unfortunately, they didn't write cookbooks, but don't let that stop you, we can easily whip up a tasty dinner that's a close copy of a Viking meal. No special ingredients necessary.
Recipes for Colder Days - Eat up, Winter is coming
Do you need a fire pit?
Where I live, it's perfectly feasible to dig a pit in the back yard and light a fire over it in March. The weather is at its best at this time of year. Depending on where you live of course, March may not have pleasant temperatures, or you may not want to dig a pit, or possibly you have no back yard at all..
Luckily we have stoves in the 21st century, so these recipes are compiled with modern cooking appliances in mind.
One more thing, I'm not sure if the Vikings used salt or pepper. If that's an anachronism, I'm prepared to commit it in order to season my food.
Roast Meat and Poultry
You can't go wrong with a roast leg of lamb, and a tray of baked chicken thighs but, if you want something which looks authentic, try these old recipes from Denmark and Norway
What beer should I use?
You can use any beer, but dark beer looks more authentic and tastes better when simmered. Stout would be fine in this recipe.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Serves: Small Gang (4 -6) of Vikings
Ingredients
- 1 chicken,
- 3 -4 carrots
- 3 yellow onions
- 1 turnip
- 1 -1/2 teaspoon salt
- Dash black pepper
- Thyme
- 2 bottles (large bottles) of dark beer
Instructions
- Chop the chicken into pieces.
- Peel and cut the vegetables into pieces.
- Brown the chicken in a little butter, then season with salt and pepper and place in a pot.
- Pour in the beer
- Add the vegetables and thyme
- Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for an hour
Cook Time
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes approx
Serves: Medium size Gang of Vikings
Lamb Stew - Kettle of Skause
- Kilo (2 lbs) Stewing Lamb - (neck, shank, forequarter chops)
- 4 large onions
- 2 carrots
- turnip
Instructions
- You can chop the lamb into bite size pieces or, depending which portion you're using, just trim the fat to your liking
- Chop all vegetables into bite size pieces
- Dust the lamb with flour, season with salt and pepper and brown
- Place everything in a large pot, cover with water and slowly bring to the boil
- Simmer for a good 2 hours, stirring now and then and adding more liquid when necessary
Cook Time
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: Small Gang (4 -6) of Vikings
Fruit Kissel
- Kilo of berries, raspberries, blackberries or whatever you prefer
- Large bottle of cider
- 2 tablespoons of honey
Instructions
- Put the cider and honey in a pan and bring to the boil.
- Cook on medium-low heat for about 5-10 minutes, until reduced by about a third.
- Turn the heat down very low and add the fruit
- Gently simmer until the berries are tender
- Serve with yoghurt
Want to try some Mead?
Have you ever thought of making some mead? I've been thinking of trying this, it doesn't look at all complicated.
I found this Easy Mead Recipe when I was searching for breadmaking instructions and it really does look easy. Everyday ingredients from the supermarket placed into a plastic jug with a balloon!
I bookmarked it for the future. The future is breathing down my neck and I'll try my hand at mead in readiness for Ragnar Lodbrok Day.
(The chap with the authentic horn cup doesn't look too happy with his drink, perhaps it's not mead, but warm milk).
We know what the Vikings of York had on the menu
From 866 to 1066, York was a thriving Viking city.
In the excavations beneath the modern city, archaeologists found evidence of how the people ate - including 5 tons of animal bones and vast quantities of oyster shells.
Are you brave enough for traditional Icelandic food?
Are you brave enough for traditional Icelandic food?
The Unusual Celebration of Thorrablot
You just can't beat a good Celebration - the anticipation, the gift- giving, the music and the mouth- watering traditional foods to mark the special occasion.
Thorrablot is no exception. The Icelandic Midwinter festival extends from 19 - 25 January. Want to put in your calendar?
Scandinavian Cooking
There are some tempting, tasty meals from the North.
Here's a selection
As it says, Everything Nordic
How do you dress like a Viking?
For Men : Baggy trousers and boots, vests over bare chests, small rugs or blankets for capes. Lots of arm rings.
For Women : Baggy trousers and boots or long skirts of rougher fabric (not silk), tunic tops and shawls. Lots of arm rings.
You know the Vikings didn't really wear horned helmets, but everyone enjoys a bit of fun
What will you do on 28 March?
Do you celebrate Ragnar Lodbrok Day?
© 2014 Susanna Duffy
