Finnish Christmas Carrot Casserole (Porkkanalaatikko)
Carrot Casserole (Porkkanalaatikko) is a classic holiday side dish made with sweet carrots, soft rice, and gentle spices. It’s creamy, comforting, and easy to prepare ahead, perfect for busy Christmas cooking. This traditional Finnish casserole pairs beautifully with ham, turkey, or a full Nordic Christmas spread, bringing authentic Scandinavian holiday flavor to your table.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the carrot mixture
- 1 kg peeled carrots cut into cubes (about 2.2 lbs)
- Water for boiling
- ½-1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
For the rice
- 2 dl puuroriisi / short-grain rice about ¾ cup
- 5 dl water about 2 cups, more if needed.
Seasoning & binding
- 1 tbsp butter added to the carrot & rice mixture when still hot
- ½-1 tsp ground ginger
- ¼-1/2 white pepper
- ¾-1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1-2 tbsp dark syrup light molasses
- 1 dl cream about ½ cup
- 1 egg (large or 2 small ones) room temperature
For the topping
- Breadcrumbs
- Butter pats
Instructions
Cook the carrots
- Add the carrot cubes to a pot.
- Cover with water, add sugar and salt. Boil until soft.
- Drain well and purée until smooth.
Cook the rice
- Boil 5 dl (2 cups) water
- Add rice and salt.
- Simmer until the rice is very soft. Stir a few times during cooking. If too dry, add more water.
- When done, drain any excess water so the rice stays fluffy before mixing.
Combine the mixture
- In a large bowl, combine the carrot purée, cooked rice, and 1 tbsp butter.
- Season with ginger, white pepper, salt, and syrup.
- Stir in the cream.
- Let the mixture cool until lukewarm.
- Add the egg and mix well.
Assemble
- Pour into a greased baking dish.
- Pattern the surface with the back of a spoon or a fork (traditional).
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and dot with small pieces of butter.
Bake
- Bake at 150°C (300°F) for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until golden and set.