Icelandic Cuisine and its Specialties

The cuisine of Iceland is not very well known. However, those who have been there know that it is more diverse than one might expect. Iceland has several national dishes. Read on to learn more about the delicious dishes of Iceland.

Regional Characteristics

Due to its location in the North Atlantic and its harsh climate, the traditional Icelandic cuisine was primarily limited to fish and meat dishes—especially lamb. However, the Icelanders consumed whatever was edible on the barren island.

The selection of vegetables and fruits in traditional Icelandic cuisine was limited to cabbage, turnips, rhubarb, and some varieties of mushrooms and berries. Flour was only occasionally imported and was sometimes substituted with moss, considered a luxury product for wealthy Icelanders.

Today, many more varieties of vegetables and fruits, as well as grains, are not only imported but also grown in greenhouses or in the southern part of the island.

Traditional Icelandic Dishes

Many foods were preserved through methods such as curing, smoking, or fermenting to last through the long winters. This applies to both fish and meat.

For example, hákarl, fermented Greenland shark, is still considered a national dish, although its strong ammonia aroma can be an acquired taste. The smoked lamb, known as hangikjöt, is also a classic of Icelandic cuisine.

In restaurants, you can still find pickled lamb heads or boiled sheep heads being served. Lobster is regarded as a delicacy and a typical holiday meal. The small, tender Icelandic lobster is grilled, fried, or baked and served with lemon, garlic butter, and potatoes. The legendary Icelandic lobster soup is also a delight.

To withstand the long winters, Icelanders love warming comfort food like stews and soups, such as the Icelandic lamb stew and the thick Icelandic fish stew.

Desserts and sweet dishes are also very popular. In addition to ice cream, which is available year-round, Icelanders enjoy sweet pastries like kleinur, waffles with thick toppings, cakes like hjónabandssæla, an oatmeal crumble cake with rhubarb jam filling, or the famous chocolate cake with or without licorice.

Pancakes are also eaten in all forms and with various fillings at any time of the day. The yogurt skyr is probably the most famous food from Iceland.

Puffin Meat

The consumption of whale meat and puffins is also part of old eating habits. Before their populations became threatened or nearly extinct, both were abundant on the island. Puffins provided sustenance for some coastal communities that otherwise had little else. Today, puffin breast meat can still be found in some restaurants, where it is almost exclusively served to tourists.

The populations of these colorful birds have now diminished, as some breeding seasons have been weak. However, their numbers are recovering, and today, the issue is more ethical. The adorable little birds have captured the hearts of many, and no one can imagine eating them. And they are truly cute, I can attest to that. 🙂

Controversial: Whale Meat in Iceland

Whales are still traditionally hunted and consumed in small quantities. The preference is for minke and fin whales. These species, along with many others, regularly pass by Iceland on their migratory routes and find plenty of food in the favorable conditions of the waters.

This topic divides opinions, as whaling is nearly banned and frowned upon internationally. It is increasingly seen as outdated. Iceland is one of the few countries that still hunts the endangered species.

However, only a very small portion ends up on Iceland’s plates—only about 2-3%. The rest is exported to Japan. Whale meat can occasionally still be found on a menu, but acceptance, and thus demand, is generally declining.

Modern Icelandic Cuisine

The expanded culinary influences and increased availability of many foods have naturally changed eating habits in Iceland today. Not only imports, but also local cultivation, is playing an increasingly visible role.

The abundant geothermal heat is efficiently used to operate greenhouses where various vegetables and fruits are grown. Nowadays, in addition to variations of fish and meat dishes, burgers of all kinds can often be found on menus. Fish & chips are practically available on every corner.