In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!) 

Many people in Minnesota come from a Norwegian background, and lutefisk is a traditional Scandinavian food! Whether you enjoy it or prefer to pass (it’s a no thank you from me!), it’s definitely interesting to read about the history of the dish!

The Last Word on Lutefisk: True Tales of Cod and Tradition by Gary Legwold “The Last Word on Lutefisk provides you with the most comprehensive collection of facts, fiction, and folklore surrounding this simple fish with the unforgettable scent.”

Real Norwegians Eat Lutefisk by Rose Marie MeuWissen
“Lutefisk is known through the United States and Scandinavia as an old traditional food of our Scandinavian forefathers. Real Norwegians Eat Lutefisk provides a Lutefisk recipe with an enticing and humorous story about a young boy’s first acquaintance with this strange type of Cod fish.”

Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land by Kathleen Stoker
“This title brings home the stories of Christmas in both Norway and the United States. The author describe and traces the developments of folkways on both sides of the ocean, from their origins to their practice in 2000.” The MN Historical Society Press has this excerpt of the book that talks specifically about the history of lutefisk.

The Lutefisk Ghetto: Life in a Norwegian American Town by Art Lee “The Lutefisk Ghetto is a funny, enlightening account of life in 1945 Scandinavia, Wisconsin.”