Det finska köket

Finland slår tillbaka i matkriget (SvD)

Kalakukko is traditional Savonian food made out of fish baked inside a bread. Cornish pastry in Cornwall has the same basic idea of packed lunch.

Traditionally, Kalakukko is prepared with rye flour, although wheat is often added to make the dough more pliable. The filling consists of fish, pork and green bacon, and is flavoured with dill and salt (unless the pork is already salted). After being baked for several hours, kalakukko looks much like a large loaf of rye bread, although the name implies that it is somehow supposed to look like a rooster. If prepared correctly, kalakukko will keep for a long time. The appropriate drink to accompany kalakukko is buttermilk or piimä.

The modern society finds the name somewhat amusing, as "Kala" is Finnish for "fish" and "kukko" is Finnish for "rooster". However, the old meaning for Kukko is also connected to hiding things, as in 'kukkaro' (purse).