(Video source:Guide to Iceland,2019)
I am a person who is passionate about food. The food of a place can play a key role in whether I want to travel there.
In the past, resources in Iceland were few and far between; the lack of sunlight severely limited fishing and hunting options, and the island’s isolation under the Arctic Circle made the importation of goods and food items difficult at best. For centuries, therefore, Icelanders maintained a simple diet that reflected the harsh natural circumstances in which they struggled to survive.
The roots of Iceland’s cuisine come from the Scandinavian cuisine after Norse Vikings settled here during the 9th century and onwards.
Iceland is surrounded by ocean, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that fish and seafood is a big part of the Icelandic cuisine. Most of the traditional Icelandic food revolves around fish, dairy, bread, potatoes, and lamb.
Today, food from all over the world is widely available at the restaurants in Reykjavik and other cities. A lot of the restaurants specialize in seafood with an emphasis on quality of products, rather than the traditional ways of cooking.
There are some traditional dishes worth trying in Iceland:
KJÖTSUPA – traditional lamb meat soup
This soup is made from the tougher bits of the lamb and a variety of Icelandic herbs and vegetables. Most Icelanders eat this during the colder months.
ICELANDIC FISH
Fish and seafood, in general, make up a great portion of Icelandic food due to the country’s location in the middle of the ocean. Fishing has been an important way to feed the population throughout history and there are at least 340 species of saltwater fish recorded -Catfish,Capelin,Cod,Dealfish,Greenland shark,Haddock,Halibut,Lumpsucker or lumpfish,Lycodes,Mackerel,Monkfish,Saithe,Pollock etc.
In addition to that, three species of Salmon can be found in rivers and lakes. The fish that’s being served in Iceland’s restaurants are often very fresh, and could even be the catch of the day.
HARÐFISKUR – dried fish jerky
Hardfiskur is considered a delicacy in Iceland, and you can find it everywhere. If you like beef jerky, chances are you will also like the Icelandic version and find this unusual snack quite tasty. It’s best served with some Icelandic butter. The smell spreads quickly though, so make sure to eat it fast!
PYLSUR – hot dog
Hot dogs are pretty common as fast food in Iceland but don’t expect it to be cheap by international standards though. An Icelandic Pylsur could easily go for 7 USD.
SVIÐ – sheep's head
To be fair, this traditional Icelandic food is not being served everywhere or eaten on a daily basis by the majority of the Icelanders, but it still deserves a mention.
Some say that the cheeks of the smoked Sheep’s head are the best meat you can ever eat. If you like to try unique foods while traveling, this definitely one of them.
SKYR
The iconic yogurt of Iceland is called Skyr, and you can find it everywhere, in abundance. It has become so popular that it’s now even being exported to other countries.
It’s a great Icelandic food if you’re traveling on a budget, filled with protein and reasonably priced. It also comes in various flavors,such as pear or berries.
If you go to Iceland at Christmas, you can enjoy the Christmas menu at Icelandic Restaurant. Icelandic Christmas food include:
Creamy Langoustine Soup (Humarsúpa)
Rice pudding (möndlu grautur)
Sounds fantastic! As a seafood fanatic, I believe that my desire for food can be perfectly satisfied in Iceland.
