Food, Glorious Food…Icelandic Style

Harkal

Hakarl, fermented Greenland shark meat, which, to me, has a strange flavour in the mouth. What I remember the most is the fragrance. Imagine putrefied meat, left out to rot further and then, for good measure, leave it for another month!

Dried Fish

I like dried fish (often cod or haddock) for a massive instant protein kick. Found in packs in all the supermarkets, this dried and salted snack is their equivalent of a Dorito! However, if left in your rucksack, people may confuse the odour from the dried fish with a dead mouse inside a mouldy sock.

Sheeps Head

Lamb. OK, so what’s unusual here? Well… why not order a ‘sheep’s head’. You can order one on Google and get Amazon to drop it off at your house. The tastiest part for me is the soft, succulent meat on the cheek(!)

Never throw away the sheep’s head. Boil it up for another 4 hours, let it cool, add gelatine, and you get a nice slab that is perfect with potatoes and turnips on rye bread. The skin and hair are singed off, and the head is then halved. It’s served with a jelly made from the sheep’s head.

Liquorice (as a herb?!)

Liquorice is a herb. Icelanders put this herb in almost everything, from ice cream, chocolate, biscuits, butter and so on. I love it. It’s relatively cheap and an excellent present for granny… as long as she has her own teeth!

Skyr

A popular Icelandic dairy product… now found in the UK shops. Skyr is similar to yoghurt but thicker and creamier. It’s high in protein and often eaten with berries, honey, or granola. Although technically a cheese, it’s consumed as a yoghurt-like treat. I love it!

Icelandic Hot Dog

Now, this is quirky… former President Bill Clinton was on a walkabout in Reykjavik, stopping at a stand and having a hot dog. He announced to the world that it was probably the best hot dog he had ever had. Well, the stall owner achieved world fame immediately. So, as you walk around the city, you can see a long queue of American tourists waiting in line for the delicacy. It is made from a blend of lamb, pork, and beef. It’s served in a bun with crispy fried onions, raw onions, remoulade (a mayonnaise-based sauce), sweet brown mustard, and ketchup.

Kjötsúpa

My favourite Kjötsúpa (Icelandic Meat Soup). A hearty soup made from lamb, root vegetables, and herbs. It’s a popular comfort food, especially during the cold winter months.

Brennivin

And finally….

This is only for the adult Geographers who will lead you around the country…. all of these foods require to be washed down with either water (the best in the world) or Brennivin, a fermented grain and potato alcoholic brew. Please take my word on it… It can put hair on the palm of your hand.

Bon Appetite… Enjoy Iceland!