Explore the Icelandic food scene, where traditional flavors like lamb and seafood meet creative techniques, making Iceland a top destination for curious and adventurous food lovers.
Iceland is a dream destination for foodies looking to connect with nature. The country’s rugged environment and deep-rooted traditions lead to a close relationship with nature, which is reflected in Icelandic cuisine.
People of Iceland have had to rely on resourcefulness and preservation to create many mouthwatering dishes. Due to the country’s geography and ecology, key dishes often feature lamb, dairy, and seafood that are prepared through various methods, including fermentation, smoking, and drying. Interestingly, the cuisine has undergone many transformations over the years.
Thanks to globalization, Icelandic chefs can now incorporate ingredients from non-native sources into their dishes. Combined with existing recipes and evergreen cooking techniques, they have evolved Iceland into a foodie-favorite vacation spot. And it caters to culinary enthusiasts across the board.
Whether you crave comfort food, want to try experimental dishes, or explore local specialties, there’s something for every palate in Iceland. Some dishes might challenge your taste, while others will surprise you with their flavor and texture.
In this article, let’s look at the Icelandic cuisine to decide what should be on your to-do list in the Arctic North.
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Icelandic Cuisine Is More Than Seafood
There’s a common myth about Iceland that most, if not all, of its cuisine begins and ends with seafood. The myth is more believable because the nation is one of the best destinations for seafood lovers. The geographical location adds even more credibility. The culinary diversity extends far beyond cod, haddock, Arctic char, and langoustine, which are some of the tastiest fish.
Lamb is a staple food in Iceland. Sheep roam freely across the countryside, feeding on the wild herbs and grasses. The animal’s lifestyle lends its meat a distinct taste that sits nicely on the palate and is beneficial to the body.
The culinary diversity extends far beyond cod, haddock, Arctic char, and langoustine, which are some of the tastiest fish. Photo by NanoStockk courtesy of iStock via Getty Images.
Dairy products are also quite special around the country. Skyr — a thick, protein-rich cultured yogurt — is enjoyed daily, often with berries or honey. High-quality butter and cheeses, rich in natural fats, round out this essential food group.
This variety of core ingredients creates a long list of finger-licking good dishes distributed across Iceland. You can travel through the towns and cities to explore the whole cuisine.
An efficient, safe, and cost-effective way to do that is by renting a private vehicle. Choose a comfortable ride from an Iceland car rental fleet and hit the roads. You can enjoy the landscape at your own pace while savoring some of the delicacies.
Speaking of delicacies, let’s start with the ones you cannot miss.
Must-Try Icelandic Dishes
These food items reflect the traditional cooking practices that have been passed down through generations of Icelanders. The dishes showcase the ingenuity of the chefs and the general public in making the most of the available resources.
1. Skyr
Skyr is a thick, cultured dairy product made from skimmed milk. It resembles yogurt but tastes milder and contains more protein.
Traditionally, live cultures are added to skimmed milk, and the fermented product is strained through a porous cotton cloth. Skyr has been a staple item among the Icelandic people since the Viking Age, valued for its nutritional value and shelf stability.
You can eat it plain, with a pinch of sugar, berries, or dunk it into your favorite smoothies and desserts. There’s no specific time of the day when skyr tastes best. Typically, people enjoy it in the mornings or as a light evening snack.
The dish is available nationwide, with each town featuring unique flavors and styles. As Skyr can be eaten as a snack, you can sample it across Iceland during your foodie road trip.
2. Icelandic Lamb
Free-roaming or privately reared sheep provide the best lamb meat for food enthusiasts.
Traditionally, lamb is cooked by slow-roasting or smoking in Iceland, which increases the shelf life of the finished dish. Hangikjöt is a popular local dish prepared with lamb meat and local spices using these methods.
Free-roaming or privately reared sheep provide the best lamb meat for food enthusiasts. Photo by Andrew_Mayovsky courtesy of iStock via Getty Images
You can enjoy lamb-specific food items with potatoes, root vegetables, and rich gravies. As it is a type of meat, you can certainly find other dishes, such as soups and grilled cuts. Many restaurants can also cook organic Icelandic lamb to your preferred style.
Towns such as the Westfjords or Akureyri offer immersive farm-to-dining experiences, ensuring you get the freshest lamb on your plate.
3. Plokkfiskur
Plokkfiskur is a comfort seafood dish. It features boiled white fish, generally cod or haddock, and is cooked with potatoes, onions, flour, and milk. Sometimes chefs use cream to enhance the texture and make it more grand or rich.
A bowl of plokkfiskur appears as a thick, creamy soup. You can season it with salt, pepper, or any other spice of your choice to enhance the taste.
This delicious innovation was initially intended to use leftover fish. Households can add an extra item to their dinner plate or store the finished dish for later consumption. Overall, it reflects Iceland’s resourceful cooking traditions and home-style flavors.
The rich traditions of this dish make it available nationwide. You can explore some versions of plokkfiskur in Reykjavik’s local bistros. If you value authenticity, consider visiting family-run restaurants to experience the local culture.
4. Pylsur
Pylsur is Iceland’s native hot dog, featuring meat from lamb, pork, and beef. Due to the presence of lamb, you can expect a distinct gamey flavor that sets it apart from typical hot dogs.
As these are hot dogs, your imagination is the limit on how you want to enjoy pylsur. Grilling, dicing, or boiling. Put it in a bun with some vegetables to complete a nutritious meal with a range of tastes.
You can visit local hot dog stands, such as Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, which are distributed across the country. A good town to relish the delicacy would be Garðabær, a city with multiple museums and galleries. Just grab a hot dog and walk through the town.
5. Rúgbrauð
Rúgbrauð is a dense, rye-based bread that uses sugar and buttermilk. It can also be prepared with sour milk to increase the shelf life of the bread. The dish is a healthy source of slow-releasing carbohydrates and is a staple food item in Iceland.
An interesting fact about rúgbrauð is that it was once cooked with geothermal heat, earning it the nickname “lava bread.” Nowadays, bakers around the Arctic nation leverage covered pots and gradually cook them to perfection.
The procedure gives rúgbrauð a moist texture and a caramelized flavor, allowing you to eat it as is, even without butter. Of course, you can enjoy it with a variety of items, such as smoked lamb, pickled herring, or even with plokkfiskur.
You’ll find the most authentic experience in Hveragerði, where geothermal bakeries still use hot springs to bake this iconic bread just as locals did for generations.
Icelandic Desserts and Treats
No meal is complete without dessert. Despite being known for fish and meat, Iceland has a few sweet treats up its sleeve.
1. Kleinur
Kleinur are pastries made from flour, sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and a hint of cardamom. The dough mix is rolled out, cut into diamond shapes, and hand-twisted into knots. Then, the bakers deep fry until they reach a golden brown color.
You can find this treat in many households, as it is a favorite among children. A great way to enjoy this pastry is with your morning tea or coffee. Their crisp exterior and soft interior will have you turning to them for comfort every evening.
Towns such as Selfoss, East Iceland, and the Westfjords are home to some of the best traditional bakeries in Iceland. You will discover some of the best kleinur, in a variety of flavors in these areas.
2. Snúður
Snúður is the Icelandic version of a cinnamon roll. First, the yeast dough is rolled with cinnamon and sugar, then baked and garnished with chocolate, caramel, or a cream of choice. Finally, when serving, it is iced, giving it a distinctive flavor, unique to Iceland.
The dessert is a favorite among the locals due to its soft texture and rich, comforting flavor. It evokes nostalgia for many natives, and after you try it, you’ll understand why.
Snúður is the Icelandic version of a cinnamon roll. Photo by Brian Logan courtesy iStock via Getty Images.
Evening breaks and get-togethers are incomplete without snúður. You can complement it with tea, coffee, or other hot beverages to savor the item.
Various local bakery chains, such as Brauð & Co. in Reykjavik, bake snúður from scratch every morning with different flavors, twists, and shapes. This will also give you an opportunity to experiment with different types of snúður.
3. Bragðarefur
Bragðarefur translates to “trickster” in the native language. It is a customizable ice cream, exclusive to Iceland. The dessert has a soft-serve vanilla ice cream base. Then, you can add your choice of candies, cookies, fruits, or syrups to it.
The name Bragðarefur reflects the fun you’ll have while mixing a variety of unexpected flavors into one cup. Think of it as a McFlurry, but made to order. You can catch localities, particularly children, eating it on the go, regardless of the weather. Akureyri, known as Iceland’s “Ice Cream Capital,” is the best place to try bragðarefur. Local ice cream shops around town offer a wide variety of mix-ins and generous portions that locals swear by.
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Wrapping Up: Take Your Time Exploring the Icelandic Food Scene
Icelandic food is rich, filling, and high in healthy calories, which help sustain the population in a cold and harsh climate. Each dish, whether creamy dairy products or hearty lamb dishes accompanied by dense bread, is designed to satisfy.
A healthy approach to your culinary tour of the country is to take things slowly. Eat a few meals but enjoy them wholly. This will allow you to appreciate the flavors, textures, and traditions that curate Icelandic cuisine.
After touching down in Reykjavik, it is essential to have an open mind while you explore the Icelandic food scene, as your palate may not find every dish to your taste. But that’s part of the adventure.
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