Northern Europe – Coastal Fishing Cultures
For thousands of years, people living along the cold coasts of Northern Europe—places like Norway, Sweden, Scotland, and Finland—relied on salmon as a main food. Salmon swam from the ocean into rivers every year, making them easy to catch and incredibly important to coastal villages.
Long before modern kitchens, families cooked salmon simply over fire, in clay ovens, or wrapped in leaves. Lemon (or sour berries before lemons arrived) and herbs were used to brighten the flavor without covering up the taste of the fresh fish. This simple baked version keeps that tradition alive: fresh fish, gentle heat, and just a few ingredients.