Many Norwegians start off each weekend with a taco, also known as the fredagstaco

Molly Jones

Norwegian American Weekly

When it comes to Friday’s dinner plans, Norwegians seem to have one thing on their minds: tacos! The younger generations in Norway have coined the term “fredagstaco” to describe the cultural phenomenon of starting the weekend off with a serving—or two—of tacos.

According to a VG study in 2012, the taco is by far the most popular dinner on Friday in Norway—even surpassing the infamous frozen Grandiosa pizza! This study determined that 400,000 Norwegians—or 8.2% of the population—eat tacos every single Friday.

And participation in fredagstaco seems to be on the rise. Up to one million Norwegians are enjoying their Mexican fare on any given Friday this year, according to side2.no.

You might be thinking, why tacos? The flavorful Mexican dish seems a far cry from meat and boiled potatoes.

“It is easy, quick, and something the whole family likes. Each family member can put whatever they like in their taco and steer clear of what they don’t like. It is a social dish because one sits at the table longer and makes their own food,” explains Trond Svendgård, chef at Flying Culinary Circus and author of “Taco på uno, dos, tres.”

Many Norwegians are content to stick with the tried-and-true taco each weekend, but the current trend is an emphasis on innovative and nutritious creations.

Just by searching #fredagstaco on Instagram, you’ll find over a thousand posts depicting countless versions of the Norwegian taco.

Here are some of the hot-and-spicy trends among fredagstaco-enthusiasts:

• Make your own guacamole or salsa

• Skip the pre-packaged taco spices and grind your own spices

• Switch out flour tortillas with whole wheat tortillas

• Or even better—make your own tortillas

• Use chicken or salmon instead of ground beef

• Transform the Mexican dish with Asian-inspired flavors

Will you join in the fun and serve up your best tacos this Friday?

This article originally appeared in the Oct. 3, 2014 issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (800) 305-0271.