Tunnbröd facts for kids
Two varieties of Swedish Tunnbröd. Left is a modern version that contains rye, wheat and yeast, on the right is a traditional version made with milk and barley
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| Type | Flatbread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Sweden |
| Main ingredients | Wheat, barley or rye flour |
Tunnbröd (say "TOON-brood") is a special type of flatbread from Sweden. Its name means "thin bread" because it is usually very thin. People in northern Sweden have made it for a long time. Tunnbröd can be soft and flexible, like a tortilla, or crisp and crunchy, like a cracker.
It comes in many different types. The type depends on the grains used and how it is made. Bakers might use wheat, barley, oat, or rye flour. They might also add things to make it rise, like yeast.
What is Tunnbröd?
Tunnbröd is a traditional Swedish bread. It is a type of flatbread, which means it is made without much rising. This bread is very popular in northern Sweden. Many families used to share a common bakery to make it.
The dough for tunnbröd can be made from different flours. These include wheat, barley, oat, and rye. Sometimes, bakers add a special ingredient called a leavening agent. This helps the bread become light. Yeast or ammonium carbonate can be used for this.
Soft Tunnbröd
Soft tunnbröd is flexible and can be rolled up. People often use it like a crêpe or tortilla. It is perfect for wrapping other foods.
A very popular fast food dish is called tunnbrödsrulle. This is a soft tunnbröd rolled around tasty fillings. It often includes mashed potatoes, a hot dog, and vegetables. People also add ketchup, mustard, and shrimp salad.
Another old way to eat soft tunnbröd is with mashed potatoes and roasted herring. This is similar to a burrito.
Traditionally, soft tunnbröd is also eaten with a special Swedish dish. This dish is called surströmming, which is fermented herring. Another tradition is dopp i grytan, which means "dip in the pot". For this, a spiced soft tunnbröd is used. The bread is dipped into the tasty liquid left after cooking a Christmas ham.
Crisp Tunnbröd
Crisp tunnbröd is thin and crunchy. It is different from another Swedish bread called knäckebröd. Crisp tunnbröd is usually thinner and more solid. It has fewer air bubbles inside.
The way tunnbröd tastes and feels can change a lot. This is because different bakeries use different recipes. In the past, housewives often kept their tunnbröd recipes secret. They would only share them with their family members.
