Iceland is famous for its stunning natural beauty, like the Northern Lights and icy landscapes. But not many people know about its tasty food. Icelandic cuisine is all about using local ingredients, such as sheep, dairy, and seafood.
In the past, Icelandic food wasn't known for its bold flavors, but things have changed with modern influences. The best thing about it is that it's pure, with minimal use of GMOs and artificial stuff.
To assist you on your food journey in Iceland, we've curated a list of our top five best dishes in Iceland :
Skyr can be described as a type of yoghurt that is similar to Greek yoghurt and has been an inseparable part of Icelandic cuisine for over 1,000 years. Though Skyr is a soft cheese, it has a texture and consistency similar to yoghurt, which is why it is treated as such. Widely used in smoothies, ice cream and skyrkaka (a form of cheesecake), Skyr can be found all across the nation. It's an essential part of everyday breakfast in Icelandic homes, generally added to milk, fruit or berries.
Due to the popularity of sheep farming in Iceland, smoked lamb has been one of the most consumed dishes in the country for centuries. The preferred way of preserving lamb meat with the added benefit of added flavours was mainly done by smoking the lamb by hanging it up, which is how this dish got named Hangikjot (translates to hung meat). The dish is popular in festive seasons, especially during Christmas when you'll find lots of smoked lamb in grocery stores.
Plokkfiskur, or fish stew, is a popular go-to traditional dish in Iceland, especially when winter temperatures plummet. Apart from being delicious, the vigorous nature of this dish will help you get through those harsh winter nights. Boiled cod or haddock long with mashed potatoes and raw onions with delicious white sauce are some of the Icelandic staples for this fish stew. The dish is one of the most commonly consumed dishes in Icelandic households, with each having its own take on this traditional dish.
Rye bread is one of Iceland's most commonly used ingredients in ice creams and exemplifies a perfect blend of traditional cuisine and modern delicacies. This ice cream consists of crumbled bread mixed with eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and milk. The mixture is then thickened through constant stirring. It is then mixed with fruits, plums or lemons before placing it in the freezer for around 12 hours.
Though not part of daily cuisine anymore, fermented shark is essential to Icelandic heritage. Back in the days when there was no modernisation, people had to find ways to make food last during harsh, bone-chilling winters. That's how the Icelandic shark came into the picture. However, this dish has evolved a lot over time as the shark made in restaurants today is fermented with vinegar and other natural ingredients with a shot of black death (a clear, unsweetened schnapps) on the side.