korv

Korv is a generic term for sausage or wiener used in Swedish and several other languages. It refers to a prepared meat product typically made from ground pork, beef, or a mixture, mixed with fat, salt, and flavorings, and stuffed into a casing. After processing, sausages may be sold fresh, cured, smoked, or cooked, and they can be boiled, fried, grilled, or baked depending on the style.

In Sweden, korv includes a number of traditional varieties. Falukorv is a large, mild smoked sausage made with beef and pork and often bound with a binder such as potato starch; it is widely used in everyday meals and in dishes like korv stroganoff. Prinskorv consists of small, cocktail-sized sausages that are typically fried or poached, especially around Christmas. Grillkorv are durable sausages made for grilling and summer barbecues. Internationally, korv also covers many familiar styles such as bratwurst, chorizo, and hot dogs.

Historically, sausages have ancient origins and have served as a method of preserving meat. In Sweden and other parts of Europe, industrial production in the 19th and 20th centuries helped standardize varieties like falukorv and expanded access to ready-made products. Nutritional content and ingredients vary by region, with some products including nitrites or binders and others marketed as all-natural. Korv is commonly served with sides such as potatoes, peas, lingonberry jam, or in a bread roll as a hot dog.