Finnish New Year's Franks & Potato Salad

Suomalainen Nakit ja Perunasalaatti

Festive doesn’t have to mean fussy—or even pretty—just downright delicious. Please join my husband and me to ring in the new year—we'll celebrate Finnish-style with Finland's beloved New Year's combo of juicy franks and a creamy potato salad spiked with sour pickles and apple. The food is fun and festive and decidedly unfussy. Pair it with bubbly beverages and maybe we make it to midnight?!

Hyvää Uutta Vuotta! Happy New Year!

An Approachable, Memorable New Year's Menu, a Long-Time Tradition in Finland. Budget Friendly. Potluck & Party Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free. So Good!!

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Funny Story. Embarrassing Story. True Story.

I was a senior in high school and a wicked-good speller. The TV station in the "big town" nearby produced a popular spelling-bee type show pitting four-person teams from schools across the state.

I was a shoe-in. And I was the reason my team lost.

My spelling nemesis was a synonym for hot dog, sausage, knackwurst, frankfurter, brat, etc.

I even knew I had trouble with the word. I even knew the "i before e except after c" rule.

It was the final round. The last word would clinch our win or predicate our loss.

And it was my turn.

The show's host presented me with the word. I blanched. I groaned. I wracked my brain.

And I began to spell.

W.

So far, so good.

I paused, knowing the next letter was crucial. I began to sweat. I searched my memory banks.

E.

I rushed to the end. I. N. E. R.

The buzzer blurted. "I'm sorry, said the host. That is incorrect."

The other team chortled, a sure win in hand. One of them spelled out the word with clear but careful confidence. "W.I.E.N.E.R."

To this day, I still can't spell that word. I have to look it up, every single damn time.

And I know in my heart of hearts, that the correct spelling is really W.E.I.N.E.R. and that the rest of the world gets it wrong.

And that, my friends, is why this recipe is called "Franks & Potato Salad" instead of Weiners Wieners & Potato Salad.

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Some Foods Just Don't Translate:
The New Potatoes, the Rye Flour & the Nakki.

My Finnish is almost 50-years rusty: those who speak the Suomen kieli, please forgive any errors in grammar. The words come from deep inside my brain heart but anymore, I'm unsure if they are right or not.

Finns in the diaspora bewail the impossibility of finding substitutes for iconic Finnish foods in the U.S., Canada, Australia and elsewhere.

There are three biggies. New potatoes. Rye bread. And nakki.

• After returning from Finland the last time, I wrote an Ode to Finnish Potatoes, see Finnish Summer Potato Salad. They're a specific variety and they grow in a northern climate with a special terroir.
• If you've ever had Finnish rye bread, you'll realize you've never really tasted real rye bread before. Why? The rye flour itself, a northern variety grown in a northern climate with a special terroir.
• In Finland, good frankfurters (aka wieners or hot dogs) are in every corner shop. In the U.S., not so much. A regular grocery store will likely have only mass-produced hot dogs. Trader Joe's sausages are ok but not special. If you've ever tasted a Finnish nakki, you'll wonder why in the world, literally, that other hot dogs can't taste so good.

Because nakit (yes, plural for nakki) are just, um, wieners, just mild pork sausage and entirely different than makkarat (plural for makkara) that are sausages, especially the special sausages grilled after going to sauna.

What to Substitute for Finnish Nakki

So what's someone to do, especially someone who's never tasted nakki? or hasn't tasted nakki in a long, long while?

• First, don't stress. This is supposed to be a fun, easy meal for New Year's. Just find something that's hot dog-ish that you like. Tofu dogs, anyone?
• Second, but do avoid plain ol' American hot dogs — unless you have a source for hot dogs you really love.
• Third, if it sounds fun, seek out local old-style sausage makers who might make or import European sausages. In my home city of St. Louis, that means a trek to Piekutowski's or G&W Sausage Company. Good news, both will ship! G&W is especially fun to visit in person: imagine crossing the threshold and being tossed a beer!
• Fourth, or get creative. The meat doesn't have to be shaped like a you-know-what. One year, we grilled housemade salami from a local institution in St. Louis, Gioia's Deli. Twas perfect! Good news! They ship!

Decide Once.

The holidays are fraught with decisions. When should we put up the tree? Gem-stained colored lights or sparkly whites? Are we doing Christmas cards this year? Arrrgh, all those presents to decide on and buy and wrap. How many cookies are enough? Is everybody well enough for family gatherings? Is so-n-so coming this year? Who's hosting Christmas Eve? And on. And on. And ON.

Are we alike this way? By the time New Year's is approaching in a hot minute, I'm just done. I cannot make one more decision. I cannot. You too?

If you, too, suffer from decision fatigue, then let me suggest adopting this New Year's food tradition from Finland, one that we adopted four years ago and intend to keep f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

The basic premise is simple: good hot dogs and potato salad for New Year's, maybe served New Year's Eve, maybe New Year's Day.

It's easy to keep simple for a quiet meal. It's easy to glam up a bit for something more festive: just add some appetizers and maybe a dessert.

It requires very little cooking. Heck, the cook might even take the night off because hey, it's easy to buy some good wieners and potato salad, right?

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Recipe Overview: Finnish New Year's Franks & Potato Salad

• This sausage and potato salad combination is the traditional New Year's meal in Finland, either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Finnish revelers easily pick up the franks and potato salad from local shops. For those of us who don't live in the Land of 188,000 Lakes, we must muster a little creativity about the franks and probably (though not exclusively) make homemade potato salad.

• The potato salad recipe I'm sharing here is quite captivating. The potatoes are steamed; the apple adds welcome crunch plus a touch of sweetness; the pickles add texture contrast and a touch of sourness. It all just works!
• Distinctive Ingredients (Potato Salad) = Yukon Gold Potatoes + Kosher Dill Pickles + Apple
• Ingredient List = all the above + red onion + capers + sour cream + mayonnaise + garlic + mustard + sugar + salt
• For Garnish, Optional = fresh dill
• Kitchen Tools = steamer basket + large bowl + sharp knife + spatula
• It takes up to an hour to make the potato salad, most of that time is dicing the potatoes, the onion, the pickles and the apple, especially since they're all chopped quite small.
• The Potato Salad should be made at least 12 hours ahead of time, allowing time for the flavors to meld. This is true for most if not all potato salads.
• The Potato Salad is mayo-based so is quite white in color although bits of red apple do peek through.
• One special technique is used, steaming the diced potatoes. I love using this potato-cooking method for potato salad because the potatoes cook quickly without becoming soggy. This means the potato salad itself never turns watery, even after several days.
• This is pantry-friendly recipe, the ingredients may well already be in your pantry and fridge.
• As written, the recipe makes a full 10 cups. But it's easily scaled down, just cut it in half or even in a quarter.
• This recipe works well for those Cooking for One or Two, just cut it in half or more.
• So good! I hope you love it!


• For a vegan, no-mayo potato salad, check out my Finnish Summer Potato Salad. Finns do love their potatoes!
• Not quite what you're looking for? Check out my other recipe ideas for New Year's.

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For Best Results

For my weekly column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, I interviewed chefs and translated their restaurant recipes for home kitchens. The most illuminating question? "How can a home cook ensure the same results?" So now I ask that question of myself, too, for my own recipes. Have another question? Ask away, I'll do my best to answer!

Make the Potato Salad Ahead of Time It needs at least 12 hours for the flavors to meld and become something special. Can't make it ahead of time? Buy it!

How to Celebrate New Year's Like a Finn

I've celebrated New Year's in Finland twice, I remember both occasions as if, well, yesterday.

• During the day, meet a friend for a glass of glögi, hot mulled red wine.
• Walk through the dark forest to meet up with friends for a casual supper, snow falling, footsteps muffled by a snow-laden path, emerging to the sight of a brightly lit home standing in moon shadows.
• Food-wise, you've got this, franks and potato salad!
• Predict the new year by melting small pieces of tin (or wax) called uudenvuoden tina, then dropping them into snow or a bucket of cold water. Now "read" the re-solidified shapes that emerge to learn what the new year shall bring.
• Go to sauna. Insider tip: here's the language! Finns don't "take a sauna". Finns "go to sauna". Oh! And sauna is pronounced SOW-nuh, not SAW-nuh. See? You'll be eating Finnish food and speaking Finnish in no time!
• At midnight, step outside into the falling snow to ooooo and ahhhh as fireworks light up the skies.
• Toast the new year!

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More Iconic Finnish Delicacies

~ Sima (mead, a fermented beverage for May Day) ~
~ Hot Red Mulled Wine (Finnish Glögi) ~
~ Leipäjuusto (squeaky cheese, fresh curds) ~
~ Ruisleipä (Finnish rye bread) ~
~ Graavilohi (gravlax, Finnish cured salmon) ~
~ Lohikeitto (Finnish Salmon Soup) ~
~ Hernekeitto (Scandinavian Split-Pea Soup) ~
~ Kesäkeitto (Finnish Summer Soup) ~
~ Sinappi (Homemade Finnish Mustard) ~
~ Karelian Piirakka (rye hand pies filled with rice, topped with egg butter) ~
~ Lihapyorykoita (Finnish Meatballs) ~
~ Salmiakki (salty black licorice) ~
~ Mustikkapiirakka (Finnish Blueberry Tart) ~
~ Täytekakku (Finnish Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake) ~
~ Joulutorttu (Finnish Christmas Stars) ~
~ Pulla (braided cardamom bread & pastries) ~
~ Korvapuusti (Cinnamon Buns) ~
~ Piparkakut (Finnish gingerbread cookies) ~

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Why I Love This Recipe & You Might Too

• ... it's a relief not to have to "think up" an entire new menu for New Year's
• ... isn't potato salad a bit unexpected in the winter?
• ... the salad itself is wholly familiar but a bit different, with apple, pickles and capers
• ... it's just so easy to sit down to with some good franks, casual, hearty, fun
• Ready to get started? Here's your recipe!

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FINNISH NEW YEAR'S FRANKS & POTATO SALAD

Hands-on time: 50 minutes (for potato salad only)
Time-to-table: 12 - 24 hours (for potato salad)
Makes about 10 cups (potato salad) but easily halved

Do make the potato salad ahead of time, the flavors truly meld into something special.

POTATO SALAD
• 2 pounds (900g) Yukon gold potatoes, skins on, diced small
• 1 cup (112g) finely diced red onion
• 1-1/2 cups (300g) diced kosher dill pickles, drained
• 1 3.5-ounce jar capers, drained (about 6 tablespoons drained)
• 2 large red crisp apples, diced small (about 400g)

THE SAUCE
• 1 cup (8oz/225g) sour cream
• 1/2 cup (112g) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon grated or finely minced fresh garlic
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt (assumes Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, use others to taste)

TO SERVE
• Good frankfurters (aka franks aka wieners aka hot dogs), grilled or browned in a skillet
• Good mustard, store-bought or Homemade Finnish Mustard
• Pickled beets, store-bought or Refrigerator Pickled Beets
• Good rye bread with salted butter, optional but delicious
• Potato Salad

STEAM THE POTATOES Arrange the diced potatoes evenly across a steamer basket and steam over boiling water until done, about 20 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the heat and let cool a bit; if you're in a rush spread the potatoes across a baking sheet, releasing the heat and allowing the potatoes to cool more quickly. The warmer the potatoes, the more they'll soak up the sauce. The goal is to stir them into the Sauce while they're warm but not hot.

[I usually mix the Sauce now, that saves a dish since all the remaining potato salad ingredients may be dropped right in.]

PREP THE VEGETABLES Meanwhile, dice the onion, chop the pickles, drain the capers and dice the apples, dropping into the Sauce if it's mixed, just setting aside if not.

MIX THE SAUCE In a bowl large enough to hold all the potato salad, mix all the Sauce ingredients.

FINISH Stir the warm (not hot) diced potatoes into the salad, then all the remaining Potato Salad ingredients (onion, etc.) if not already in. Stir well, distributing the Sauce evenly throughout.

REFRIGERATE Transfer the potato salad to a covered container and refrigerate for 12 - 24 hours, allowing the flavors to meld.

TO SERVE FINNISH-STYLE Serve casually, a platter of franks, a bowl of pickled beets, slices of rye bread and a big bowl of potato salad. Hyvää Ruoka! (That's bon appétit in Finnish!)

ALANNA's TIPS Leftover potato salad keeps for several days. Apple is an unusual ingredient in American potato salads but the crunch and sweetness are much appreciated, especially in contrast with the soft sourness of the pickles and capers. I go back and forth with the onion, but think it belongs, especially when it's diced so small it almost disappears into the potato salad. If someone is sensitive to onion, consider dicing the onion, then briefly soaking it in ice water, do drain it well before stirring into the potato salad.

FOR MORE INFO If you "skipped straight to the recipe," please scroll back to the top of this page for ingredient information, ingredient substitutions, tips and more. If you print this recipe, you'll want to check the recipe online for even more tips and extra information about ingredient substitutions, best results and more. See https://www.kitchenparade.com/2024/12/finnish-new-years-franks-potato-salad.html .

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Seasonal Eating: As the Year Draws to a Close

KITCHEN PARADE
Savory Roasted Pecans Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Salad Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Soup Black Pepper Almonds Smoked Turkey Chowder Mini Crab Bites Finnish Glögi (Hot Red Mulled Wine) Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Mini Tiramisu Cups with Pralines Smoked Salmon Spread Sautéed Collard Greens with Bacon
~ more Recent Recipes ~

A VEGGIE VENTURE
New Year's Turnip Greens Cabbage & White Bean Stew Hoppin' John Soup New Year's Soup with Black-eyed Peas & Collard Greens Hot Corn Dip Cabbage & Pepper Chakchoukah aka OogaChaka Eggs
~ more Recent Recipes

If you like Kitchen Parade's recipes, you'll love A Veggie Venture, my food blog about vegetables with more from-scratch recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, home to the famous Alphabet of Vegetables and vegetables in every course, seasonal to staples, savory to sweet, salads to sides, soups to supper, simple to special.

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More Finnish Recipe Ideas

more
~ Finnish recipes ~

• THE RECIPE Karelian Borscht (Finnish - Russian Beet Borscht Soup) Rich beet color, big earthy flavor, either meaty or vegetarian. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Borscht Beets Roasted beets tossed with sour cream and horseradish.

• THE RECIPE Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) Finland's "soul food," fish and potatoes in a creamy chowder broth. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Scandinavian Split-Pea Soup Traditional on Thursdays, without fail. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Finnish Meatballs Light and flavorful meatballs, perfect for make-ahead entertaining. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TRADITION Homemade Swedish Potato Sausage A picture essay of a grandmother passing along a family recipe.
• & ANOTHER How to Make Norwegian Lefse Video by expert lefse maker LeAnne Kruger.

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Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ scroll down for hot dogs ~
~ potato recipes ~
~ apples ~
~ capers ~
~ sour cream recipes ~

~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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