The winner of the recipe competition!

Pike, cream and dill – this is the tastiest main course in Ostrobothnia!

A dish that combines minced pike, cream and dill with potatoes, among other things, became a winning concept in the recipe competition Ostrobothnia on the plate. The province's tastiest main course is called "Björka's pike mince sauce" and is prepared by Rosita Björk from Jungsund, Korsholm. 
The winner of the recipe competition was crowned on the National Local Food Day on Saturday 7 September at Älvtorget in Veikars, Mustasaari. 
The jury's motivation reads: ''The dish is simple, but represents an ingenious innovation. It is an everyday food that suits all households and can be varied according to your own liking and taste. The recipe highlights an ingredient that would not primarily be characterized as Ostrobothnian, but which in the end still is, the motivation continues.''

The recipe competition was organised in cooperation between ProAgria Lantbrukssällskapet's project Kvarken Plate – Österbotten på tallriken and the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia. 
The basic idea was to engage the people of Ostrobothnia together in innovative local food. Through the competition, the organizers wanted to find a good and festive main course that represents Ostrobothnia and is mostly based on local ingredients.
Entries could be submitted between 20 May and 7 July 2024. The six best entries competed in a final round where the dish was prepared for a taste jury.

Björka's pike mince sauce

(3 persons)
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp cooking oil or butter
• 400 g minced pike
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 fish bouillon cube
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 dl cream
• 1 dl dill
• 1 dl parsley
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp lemon pepper
• salt
 

Chop and fry the yellow onion in the butter until softened, add the minced pike and fry until the water has boiled away and the minced meat is cooked through.
Add the fish broth, lemon juice and cream, simmer for a couple of minutes.
Chop dill and parsley according to your liking, I usually take a big handful or about 1 dl of each, stir it into the sauce.
Season with lemon pepper, white pepper and salt.
Serve with boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes and a fresh salad.