Jansson's Temptation
In its own language: Janssons frestelse
Swedish casserole of potatoes, onions, pickled sprats and cream
Jansson's Temptation is a Swedish casserole made with potatoes, onions, pickled sprats and cream. It is often served late at night after parties, and is now a staple on Swedish Christmas and Easter buffet tables. The dish is also found in Finland, where it is called janssoninkiusaus.
- Made with potatoes, onions, pickled sprats and cream
- Served hot as a casserole
- A staple on Swedish Christmas and Easter buffets
- Also popular in Finland as janssoninkiusaus
- Sprats, not anchovies, are the traditional fish used
What is Jansson's Temptation?
Jansson's Temptation is a creamy baked casserole from Sweden. It is made by layering thin strips of potato with chopped onions and pickled sprats, then covering everything with cream. The dish is seasoned with salt and pepper. Once baked, it has a golden top and a soft, rich interior. The sprats add a mild, savory fish flavor that blends with the sweetness of the onions and the richness of the cream. It is usually served hot and cut into squares or spooned onto plates.
Where does Jansson's Temptation come from?
The name Jansson's Temptation is sometimes linked to the opera singer Per Adolf "Pelle" Janzon, but this connection is considered unlikely. Another story suggests the name came from a 1928 film called Janssons frestelse, chosen by a hostess and her cook for a dinner party, after which it spread to other households and cookbooks. The dish itself did not become a regular part of Swedish Christmas dinners until the 1970s. In Finland, it is also popular under the name janssoninkiusaus.
How is Jansson's Temptation made?
To prepare Jansson's Temptation, potatoes are peeled and cut into thin strips. These are layered in a roasting tin with chopped onions and pieces of pickled sprats. Each layer is seasoned with salt and pepper. Cream is poured over the layers until it nearly covers them. The casserole is then baked in the oven until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden. Sometimes, small herrings are used instead of sprats.
How and when is Jansson's Temptation eaten?
Jansson's Temptation is often served as a late-night meal at parties, just before guests leave. It is now a common feature on the Swedish julbord, the Christmas buffet, and also appears at the lighter Easter buffet. In Finland, it is eaten in similar settings. The dish is typically served hot, straight from the oven, and can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger spread.
Kinds of Jansson's Temptation
While the classic version uses pickled sprats, small herrings may be used in their place. In Finland, the dish is known as janssoninkiusaus but follows the same basic method. The confusion between sprats and anchovies in English translations is common, as Swedish 'ansjovis' refers to spiced sprats, not true anchovies.
What Jansson's Temptation means
Jansson's Temptation holds a place on the Swedish julbord, the festive Christmas buffet, and is also served at Easter. Its association with Christmas only became widespread in the 1970s. The dish is also well-known in Finland. The name has inspired stories and some confusion about its origins, but it remains a familiar comfort food in both countries.
When Jansson's Temptation is on the table
Questions people ask about Jansson's Temptation
What is Jansson's Temptation made of?
It is made from thinly sliced potatoes, chopped onions, pickled sprats and cream, all layered and baked together.
Where does Jansson's Temptation come from?
Jansson's Temptation is a traditional Swedish dish, and it is also common in Finland under the name janssoninkiusaus.
Is Jansson's Temptation vegetarian?
No, it contains pickled sprats, which are a type of fish, so it is not vegetarian.
When is Jansson's Temptation usually eaten?
It is often served late at night after parties and is a regular part of Swedish Christmas and Easter buffets.
What kind of fish is used in Jansson's Temptation?
The dish uses pickled sprats, which are sometimes confused with anchovies, but are a different fish.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Jansson’s Temptation (Creamy Potato Casserole)The New York Times, Recipe
- Jansson's temptation on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Jansson's temptation", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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