This episode might be short but it gives you a good overview of Icelandic foods to try while in Iceland. Before I jump into this list, I have to inform you that I have been a plant based eater, usually referred to as vegan, for the last five years. However, I did taste all of these foods before I made the transition. The foods on this list are very much a part of the Icelandic food culture and it would be difficult to talk about Iceland without mentioning them.

I just want all of my vegetarian and vegan listeners to know that there are a lot options for you in Iceland and I am working on putting together a video and podcast episode about those options.

1. Icelandic Hot Dog

   • Iceland’s hot dog has become a must have food while visiting. Most tasters of it agree that is deserving of its reputation.  Its mix of lamb, beef and other sustainably raised meat has become a crowd pleaser. You can top them with fried onions, raw onions, and condiments, such as tomatsosa (ketchup), plysusinnep (a sweet hot dog mustard) and remolaði, which mixes mayo, capers, mustard, and herbs. It is served on a warm bun.  You can buy a quality hot dog in any gas station, but the most popular place to get one is at the famous hot dog stand downtown called Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur.

2. Skyr

   • The next on the list is skyr, which is a cultured dairy product made in Iceland that has the consistency of strained yogurt. Surprisingly, it is classified as cheese but I consider it yogurt. It is packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, and is naturally fat free. Its texture, taste and diet friendly nutrition have made it popular around the world. There is a good chance that Siggi’s skyr or some other Icelandic foods brand is available in your grocery store right now.  When visiting Iceland, you will be able to have some from different brands. The amount of flavors here is pretty incredible.

3. Ice Cream

   • A dairy product that rivals skyr in popularity in Iceland is ice cream. There is no such thing as ice cream season in this country. Even when there is a snow storm outside, people will still head over to the ice cream shop for their favorite ice cream. There are several ways that Icelandic people like to enjoy their ice cream. One is having a swirl of vanilla ice cream on a cone dipped in a warm sauce, such as caramel, chocolate, liquorice and many others. The sauce coats the ice cream and forms a thin hard shell of candy around it.
   • Another way to eat ice cream in Iceland is in a cup mixed with candies of your choice. While they do have different sizes to choose from, I feel like a “small” is huge and would be more than enough for two people or one person who has a big appetite and really loves ice cream. The ice cream stores are called ísbuðin or literally ice cream store. There are plenty of them around and are easy to spot because they usually have an illustration of ice cream on a cone in the window of the store. There are some places that offer vegan ice cream in Iceland but my ultimate favorite is Brynjuís in Kopavogur, a neighborhood in the Reykjavík area. If you are lactose intolerant or a vegan but you still want creamy and delicious ice cream, definitely try their vegan ice cream. You can have it soy or coconut based. The coconut based one is absolutely divine!

4. Lamb

   • Icelandic people have been raising and eating lamb for centuries. Eating lamb is a huge part of their culture and they have eaten it in many different forms. Some of the most notable is slow roasted, in a stew or eating cooked lambs head. Another is pickled lamb’s head but that isn’t something that everyone is willing to taste. Icelandic people normally eat that during Þórrablót, which a festival that I talk about during my Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions episode. This Icelandic foods festival is popular among the natives.

5. Icelandic Candy, Including Liquorice

   • Like ice cream, candy holds a special place in Icelandic people’s hearts and stomach. Many grocery stores have a complete aisle dedicated to candy. On Saturday, loose candy that you scoop into bags yourself are half off in supermarkets. You will see grownups and kids packed in the aisles so they can get scoops of their favorite candy on a Saturday.  While I am not much of a fan of liquorice, there is no denying that it is ridiculously popular here. I am pretty sure Icelandic people would revolt if their precious liquorice was ever taken from them.
   • To me,  liquorice on its own is not bad, but the kind with salty powder on it is too intense for my palate. The powder is called salmiak salt or better known as ammonium chloride. Yes, you heard that right. They put ammonium chloride on their candy and love it! It gives the candy an astringent salty taste that can make your tongue feel like it is numb or sting your mouth. The first time I tried it, I thought I was being poisoned so I spit the candy out immediately. This is not to scare you but I do think you should be aware of what you are eating before putting it in your mouth. Some people who have never had it before love it, so to each their own. 
     • Icelandic people also love their chocolate. Noi Sirius is a popular brand here. I recommend perusing the candy aisle in the grocery store and trying an assortment of things. You will find a mix of Icelandic, North American and Scandinavian varieties to choose from. The supermarkets you will find in Iceland are Bónus, Krónan and Hagkaup.

6. Rúgbrauð

   • Rúgbrauð is an Icelandic rye bread that was traditionally baked in a pot or steamed in a wooden cask that was buried in the ground near a hot spring. When it used to be made with the steam of a hot spring, it was called hverabrauð or hot spring bread. Now, it is made in a baking pan in the oven. It is a dense bread that is very dark and kind of sweet. People spread butter, cheese and different things on it.  This traditional bread is very popular here and is worth a try.

7. Fish

   • Icelandic culture and economy have involved fishing for ages.  It has been a staple in almost all Icelandic people’s diets. There are loads of salt water fish varieties in the Atlantic ocean that surrounds the island and there are many restaurants that specialize in serving these fish dishes. Whether you have a fish stew, a filet, fish steak or whatever, you will most likely be getting a fresh and sustainably caught fish. I say most likely because fish farms have been springing up in Iceland recently.

8. Coffee

   • I know coffee is a beverage but it is such a staple in this country that I have to mention it. Icelandic people pride themselves on drinking coffee and there are a lot of cafes to get a cup or two. If you are a coffee lover, then you will certainly find a lot of coffee options in Iceland. Along with coffee, you can find delicious treats like cinnamon rolls and fresh baked bread in the bakeries here.

9. Harðfiskur

   • In modern times, dried fish or harðfiskur is a usually a snack in Iceland. Back in the settlement times, drying the fish allowed for families to preserve their food longer. It provided vital nutrients and quick food, especially during the winter.  Today, eating harðfiskur is kind of like eating a potato chip, except most people eat it with salted butter. The fish is usually haddock or cod.

10. Fermented Shark

    • The last but certainly not the least is fermented shark or hákarl. I was a little reluctant to put this on the list because it is tastes worse than it sounds, which is pretty bad. I already think that fermented shark sounds terrible. However, Iceland is known for this spoiled dish. One thing that helps to cut the putrid taste is to drink a shot of Brennivín, which is Icelandic Schnapps, right after. I recommend to not touch the shark with your hands to avoid having the lingering smell on your skin. It is hard to believe that this was one of the Icelandic foods that was eaten a decent amount back in the day.

Random fact of the episode

Even though a lot of produce is imported, Icelanders can grow carrots, kale, salad, potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers in greenhouses. A lot of these products can be found in local grocery stores. However, it bugs me that these Icelandic foods are normally wrapped in plastic, while the imported vegetables are not.

The Icelandic word of the episode is:

• Matur – food

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I hope you enjoyed this episode that is chock full of information about food to try in Iceland. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already.

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