korvatila

Korvatila is a traditional Finnish pub lunch dish, which literally translates to "earload" in English. This characteristic name refers to the fact that, as served, the dish has a shape resembling a pile of rice that resembles an ear.

The main components of korvatila typically include a deep-fried or poached potato pancake topped with a generous serving of warm, creamy mushy peas, coleslaw, and meat or fish, such as salted fish or sausages. In some variations, meat extracts or luncheon meat may be used in place of the traditional ingredients. The potato pancake serves as a base, topped with a heap of ingredients resembling an ear. The peas are served warm and often served with coleslaw and a portion of salad or sometimes boiled potatoes on the side.

Korvatila was a lunch dish specifically tailored to low-income families in Finland as it only required to be cooked once a week and quickly reheated the next day. As such it is often associated with the Finnish welfare state measures of the 1950s. The korvatila remains a common pub dish in Finland, and can still be found on menus in many restaurants across the country.