Book Review: Cook Anna and Elsa’s favorites from the official Frozen cookbook
Have you ever wanted to sip Olaf’s summer drink or shove chocolate in your face like Anna? A new Frozen cookbook has those recipes – and many more – to celebrate the Scandinavian culture from the movies.
The Tastes of Arendelle: The Official Frozen Cookbook
For the first time in forever, fans of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf can find out what it’s like to dine in the kingdom of Arendelle, with The Tastes of Arendelle: The Official Frozen Cookbook featuring more than 55 Scandinavian recipes inspired by “Frozen” and “Frozen 2.”
With the help of my son and his girlfriend (both chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants), we tried six recipes. The step-by-step instructions and full-color photos made it just as easy for me (a home cook) as the professionals to be successful, and an explanation of each recipe’s connection to the films brings Arendelle to your dining table.
Here’s what we made:
“Hot Soup and Glogg in the Great Hall” Yellow Pea Soup
When Anna leaves Hans in charge of Arendelle, he promises the castle will help the citizens stave off the cold of Anna’s magical winter with soup and hot glogg. This hearty soup filled with root vegetables would definitely be similar to what the royal chefs would have served.
Not-Quite Lutefisk Pan-Seared Cod with Cream Sauce and Blackberries
Wandering Oaken throws in a quart of lutefisk with Anna’s order, and while we’re not in a hurry to try traditional Norwegian lye-soaked codfish, this seared cod with a fresh cucumber salad, berries, and a creamy dill sauce gets a hearty hoo-hoo from us.
NOTE: The salad could use a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to balance the oil.
A Thousand Reasons Meatballs
In “Frozen 2,” Elsa counts a thousand reasons to ignore the voices in her head, but being busy making these delicious Swedish-style meatballs is an excellent one. Although it’s a bit labor-intensive, the results are worth the effort (and making a thousand meatballs is a fun way to get kids involved in cooking).
NOTE: We couldn’t find ground veal, so substituted ground turkey and we had to order the Lingonberry jam online because our local grocery stores didn’t carry it.
Are Reindeers Better Than People? Glazed Carrots with Orange and Parsley
This sweet side dish, named in honor of Kristoff’s best friend Sven, was the perfect accompaniment to the rich meatballs. While the recipe calls for roasting the carrots in the oven, it could also be made on the stovetop.
“What’s That Amazing Smell?” Chocolate Torte
It’s no secret that Anna and Elsa love chocolate (and so do we), so we couldn’t miss the chance to make this chocolaty dessert – and, of course, the chefs couldn’t resist showing off their pastry decorating skills (with an assist from YouTube).
NOTE: We followed the timing from the recipe, but our cake was a bit under cooked, so it’s probably a good idea to test with a toothpick since ovens and pans can vary.
Summer Sipper
The refreshing and fruity drink would be perfect on a summer day, but since we made it in the fall—when strawberries aren’t at their peak—it could have used a dash of sugar. Otherwise, Olaf would approve.
NOTE: We ordered non-alcoholic bitters online since the recipe calls for them, but this drink could also be made as a cocktail.
All six recipes we tried were easy to make and very delicious, and we encourage “Frozen” fans to make their own Arendelle-inspired meals.
Click here to order The Tastes of Arendelle: The Official Frozen Cookbook.
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