Weird and wonderful food in Iceland
Ásgeir Fannar Ásgeirsson • Jan 12, 2015
Traditionally, living in a place as remote as it is, Icelanders have had to make do with eating what was around them. This has led to some curious dishes, some good, some not so good…
Hákarl
Iceland enjoys great stocks of fresh fish, but what few try is hákarl – cubes of fermented shark meat with a disturbingly strong taste. It’s one to tick off your bucket list, but those with a weak stomach may want to hold on to that bucket.
Pickled ram’s testicles
A paté with an interesting flavour, or a pressed cake with a curious crunchy texture can be quite nice, as long as you don’t think about the source ingredient. We can’t be sure why someone first tried this, but they were brave.
Boiled sheep’s head
Icelandic people faced tough times over the centuries, so when an animal was to be eaten, every part was used, which has led to this rather unpleasant specialty. If you don’t like being watched while you eat, best not opt for this.
Puffin (Lundi)
Smoked or grilled, these seabirds can be quite tasty, if a little gamey, as long as you don’t feel guilty about munching on the cute creatures. Take comfort in the fact that there are a lot of them, and if you can’t, try the guillemot.
Fish heads
Not all of the traditional dishes are weird
Some are wonderful. Icelandic smoked lamb (hangikjot) is exquisite. As free range as you can get, lamb and sheep roam free all summer, eating grass and herbs to give a deliciously aromatic meat. Smoked with birch wood, the result is a treat.
Skyr
Is it a yoghurt or a cheese? Who cares – this creamy treat tastes as good as it is good for you. Filled with protein, calcium and vitamins, there is nothing about this not to like, and no holiday to Iceland is complete within sampling it.
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