Norwegian Lefse (Potato Tortillas)

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A high altitude tested recipe for Norwegian lefse (potato tortillas). The potato dough is rolled thinly then cooked in a hot dry skillet until browned. These Norwegian flat breads are traditionally served rolled up with butter, sugar and cinnamon, but savory fillings are also delicious.

You might also love these recipes for homemade soft flour tortillas, Julekake (Norwegian Christmas bread), and homemade pita bread.

Norwegian lefse rolled up on a baking sheet.

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What is Lefse?

Norwegian lefse is a traditional potato flatbread. It’s soft and thin like a tortilla, but besides flour, the dough also contains mashed potatoes, butter and milk. My husband is from North Dakota, and his grandmas and aunts often made lefse around the holidays. They usually spread the tortillas with butter and cinnamon sugar to make a sweet snack, but there are endless sweet and savory filling options.

While traditional recipes may call for special cooking pans and sticks for turning the dough, today’s recipe needs nothing more than a large skillet. The cooking process is time consuming, as the tortillas need to be cooked one at a time in a hot skillet.

Norwegian lefse rolled up like tortillas.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

Potatoes. I recommend using gold potatoes (not russets), which are smoother and creamier when mashed.
Butter.
Salt.
Milk.
Flour. You’ll be adding flour to the mashed potatoes to make a dough, but you’ll need plenty of flour for rolling the tortillas out, too. I can’t stress enough that you need to be generous with the flour when rolling the tortillas, or they will stick to everything.

Instructions

Peel the potatoes, then cut the potatoes into large chunks or slices. Place the potatoes in a stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and boil gently until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the water.
In a large bowl, combine the boiled potatoes, butter and salt. Mash the potatoes until smooth. If you have a potato ricer, use it, otherwise, mash by hand, trying to get rid of most of the potato lumps. Stir in the milk.
Set the bowl in the refrigerator, uncovered, and chill for about 3 hours, until cool.

Step 1 for making Norwegian lefse - bowl of gold potatoes.

Step 2 for making Norwegian lefse - gold potatoes in boiling water.

Add 1 cup of the flour, then gradually add the remaining cup of flour, kneading the dough by hand for several minutes to incorporate all the flour.
Divide the dough into 16 equal portions, then shape each portion into a ball.

Step 5 for making Norwegian lefse - flour added to mashed potatoes.

Step 6 for making Norwegian lefse - potato dough.

Heat a 10 or 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat until hot. Do not add any oil or cooking spray to the skillet; you’ll be cooking the tortillas over dry heat.
Generously flour a clean work surface and roll out one of the balls of dough thinly, to about 8 inches in diameter. You need to use plenty of flour underneath and on top of the dough, or it will stick terribly and you won’t be able to transfer the tortilla to the skillet.
The uncooked dough tears easily, so gently transfer the tortilla to the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes until browned. If the tortilla browns too quickly before the dough is cooked through, lower the heat a little.
Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate, and brush the excess flour off the tortilla and out of the skillet.
Repeat the last few steps until you’ve cooked all the lefse.

Step 11 for making Norwegian lefse - dough rolled out thinly.

Step 12 for making Norwegian lefse - cooking in a skillet.

Filling Ideas

butter and cinnamon sugar
chocolate hazelnut spread
cream cheese, smoked salmon and chives
sauerkraut and sausage
scrambled eggs, hash browns and bacon (breakfast burritos)

Be sure to read all of my BAKING FAQs where I discuss ingredients, substitutions and common baking questions, so that you can be successful in your own baking!

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store lefse?

Store leftover lefse in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. Reheat the lefse in a hot dry skillet or in the microwave.

What kind of potatoes should I use when making lefse?

When making lefse, choose a “boiling” potato (lower starch varieties such as gold potatoes) for a smoother, creamier texture when mashed. Do not use “baking” potatoes (higher starch varieties such as russet potatoes), which are drier and fluffier when mashed.

Stack of roasted garlic naan in a copper pan. — Garlic Naan

Pita bread wrapped in a linen cloth. — Garlic Naan

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Norwegian Lefse (Potato Tortillas)

Heather Smoke

A high altitude tested recipe for Norwegian lefse (potato tortillas). The potato dough is rolled thinly then cooked in a hot dry skillet until browned. Traditionally served rolled up with butter, sugar and cinnamon, but savory fillings are also delicious.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 2 30

Chill Time 3

Total Time 6

Course Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Norwegian

Servings16

Ingredients

2 ¾ lbs gold potatoes
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 – 1 ½ tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
⅓ cup whole milk
2 cups all-purpose flour, fluffed, spooned and leveled (plus extra for rolling the tortillas)

Instructions

Peel the potatoes, then cut the potatoes into large chunks or slices. Place the potatoes in a stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and boil gently until the potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the water.
In a large bowl, combine the boiled potatoes, butter and salt. Mash the potatoes until smooth. If you have a potato ricer, use it, otherwise, mash by hand, trying to get rid of most of the potato lumps. Stir in the milk.
Set the bowl in the refrigerator, uncovered, and chill for about 3 hours, until cool.
Add 1 cup of the flour, then gradually add the remaining cup of flour, kneading the dough by hand for several minutes to incorporate all the flour.
Divide the dough into 16 equal portions, then shape each portion into a ball.
Heat a 10 or 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat until hot. Do not add any oil or cooking spray to the skillet; you'll be cooking the tortillas over dry heat.
Generously flour a clean work surface and roll out one of the balls of dough thinly, to about 8 inches in diameter. You need to use plenty of flour underneath and on top of the dough, or it will stick terribly and you won't be able to transfer the tortilla to the skillet.
The uncooked dough tears easily, so gently transfer the tortilla to the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes until browned. If the tortilla browns too quickly before the dough is cooked through, lower the heat a little.
Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate, and brush the excess flour off the tortilla and out of the skillet.
Repeat the last few steps until you've cooked all the lefse.

Notes

Store leftover lefse in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3-6 months. If freezing the lefse, I recommend layering each one with wax paper, so you can easily separate them.

Reheat the lefse in a hot dry skillet or in the microwave.

For this recipe, choose a “boiling” potato (lower starch varieties such as gold potatoes) for a smoother, creamier texture when mashed. Do not use “baking” potatoes (higher starch varieties such as russet potatoes), which are drier and fluffier when mashed.

While the uncooked dough is fragile, the cooked lefse are sturdy, and hold up well to a variety of fillings which you can wrap or roll up inside the lefse.

Filling Ideas: