Interesting Facts About Iceland Food That Will Blow Your Mind

Icelandic food is heavily influenced by neighboring cultures yet continues to create a specific touch of its own to keep the distinct native flavors intact.

Traditional dishes have a fair share of seafood in the Icelandic diet, but that doesn't mean it is limited to fish and crabs. Icelandic cuisine is underrated, but those who have tried it will define it as an extremely comforting experience with lots of variety.

The land has a combination of hot springs, glaciers, and volcanoes in its natural diversity, which is equally diverse in its food choices. The surreal beauty of Iceland is visible in its food, which may not be as famous as other cuisines. However, you can expect a lavishly furnished table when it comes to traditional Icelandic food.

Icelandic cuisine is heavily influenced by the presence of an expansive coastline, resulting in it having a lush supply of fresh seafood. Aside from mouth-watering seafood, some other essential food items are lamb and dairy products, which are generously found in traditional Icelandic food.

Icelandic cuisine is prominently dependent on putting comfort food on the table, as unfriendly weather conditions are likely to make people crave it.

Being a part of the Arctic Circle has made Icelanders resilient in every field they put their efforts into, and the flourishing agriculture speaks volumes about that.

Despite constantly being under unfavorable weather conditions, Iceland began agriculture practices generations ago and passed the knowledge to oncoming generations. Foods such as barley, hay, oats, potatoes, and other root vegetables are grown in only one-fifth of Iceland's total area.

Greenhouses are also deployed to promote the production of native vegetation, which is why now common green vegetables and Icelandic herbs are generously added to delicious Icelandic dishes.

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Iceland Food History

The diversity of Icelandic food now, from rye bread to pickled herring, didn't come from a single fishing session.

It took years of practice, experiment, and invaluable knowledge from the ancestors to keep trying and creating food items that are easy to find, cook, and sustain for a long time. Imagine the kind of struggle it must've been to live on just one-fifth of the land and seek out all sorts of food items to survive.

Perseverance, smart techniques, and inspiration from the neighboring countries helped the region to improve its cooking scene.

Icelandic cuisine finds its roots in the Scandinavian food culture. Even historical events played a great role in emphasizing the food practices of Icelandic people towards improvement through the years.

With the settlement of Viking and Scandinavian immigrants in the British Isles, the native people started to acquire their cultivation practices. Farming in Iceland followed traditional ways, but the substantial change in the Icelandic cuisine came while forming close relations with Denmark, lasting from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century.

With a rise in population and economic boom, the fishery for commercial purposes started. Later, they stepped into the dairy and meat-based food practices that had been made possible by agricultural advancements.

In regions where natural habitats are unlikely to support food requirements, preservation comes across as a prominent technique to cook and store food items for a longer period of time. The Icelandicic diet has several fermented dishes that date back to the 14th century when fish were cured in salted water.

When the amount of salt was reduced in Iceland, the saltwater was replaced with fermented whey to preserve meat items. Fermented Icelandic fish, horse meat, eggs, and lamb were prominent and are still preferred in the Icelandic diet.

Drying meat as a preservation method was the last cooking resort people used to store food.

On the other hand, another food item similar to dried meat is consumed by Icelanders. Hardfiskur is a famous delicacy in Iceland, which is a dried fish used to make comforting bowls of warm soup.

Iceland Traditional Foods

The essence of any place can be tasted through its food, and this is what Icelandic food clearly projects through its food choices. Iceland protects its cultural heritage and rich history through its food habits, which have undoubtedly evolved, yet follow modern influences and try to incorporate them into traditional Iceland food recipes.

When visiting Iceland, it is necessary to stop and try the traditional foods mentioned on authentic restaurant menus.

Most Icelanders enjoy traditional food on a daily basis as their daily meal, so the opportunity should be at the top of your list as well when you're there.

Here are a few traditional foods recommendations most Icelanders enjoy in their traditional meal. Look through them and enjoy a few facts to know which one you are going to try next!

Hakarl, the national dish of Iceland is made up of fermented shark meat, which is kept for several months to acquire its ideal state. It is one of the most commonly consumed fish dishes, liked by people who acquire the taste of the same through the years.

The delicacy is said to have a strong fishy smell and is cut into small pieces to be picked up with a toothpick and enjoyed while having drinks.

Hardfiskur, another dish created by dried fish meat, is leading the Icelandic staple food scene and is known to use Icelandic fish specifically. The technique is followed by using a long wooden structure to hang Icelandic fish on it for drying.

The wind-blown technique creates a product akin to beef jerky. Icelandic people enjoy eating this as a snack, paired with butter or alone. Most of the fermented products found hanging in any eating outlet are fermented shark pieces.

Thorrablot is a traditional meal consisting of a full-fledged plate piled high with all sorts of meat, such as smoked lamb, puffin meat, whale meat, including minke whale, and Greenland shark, to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Thorrablot. This meal platter is served as a buffet to share among friends and enjoy together.

It is generally prepared on special occasions like the midwinter festival. The platter is a perfect representation of the unfamiliar yet intriguing ingredient choices of Icelandic food culture.

A smoked puffin is a sea bird that Icelanders eat generously, considering its tender red meat is enjoyed on the platter. The wide puffin colonies of Iceland make them a staple meal for the region.

Puffin meat is usually smoked. They have a distinct flavor as compared to other birds. Various people have said that it has a strong fishy flavor that can be intolerable for many, but you can immediately mend the recipe by serving it with a cranberry sauce.

Skyr is the Icelandic version of Greek yogurt but creamier, thicker, and packed with more nutrients than usual variants. Skyr is a leading dairy product in Iceland that people love to enjoy with fruits, oatmeal, berries, and other cereals for breakfast.

The thickness of this dairy product makes people wonder whether it belongs to the yogurt family or the cheese family. Whatever genre it chooses, the number of nutrients it provides in a single bowl can work magic for bone health. Skyr is easily available at most grocery stores.

Iceland Comfort Food

Comfort food across all cultures and places is something extremely special for the people and can be different from the traditional dish offered by the same culture. But comfort food is a mixture of native as well as foreign-influenced dishes.

Iceland has its fair share of comfort food as being a place with a harsh climate has made people rely on their food choices to retrieve warmth and comfort. Let us find out some of the most widely loved comfort food of the Icelanders.

Reykjavik hot dogs are quite popular in Iceland. This hot dog is made up of lamb, beef, pork, or a combination of either of these, with delicious creamy toppings spread over the hot dog. The meal is best enjoyed with an orange soda.

Kjötsúpa or Meat Soup is a hearty meal to fight back the chilly days of Iceland. It is made up of vegetables, meat, and grains to create a warm, filling meal.

Hrísgrjónagrautur or Icelandic rice pudding is another meal people thoroughly enjoy in both sweet and savory forms.

Plokkfiskur or fish stew is an easy dish made simply with leftover fish, boiled potato, seasoning, and Bechamel sauce mashed together. It can be enjoyed with a loaf of dark rye bread.

Most Popular Food in Iceland

While traditional and comfort Icelandic food might not be the cup of tea for many, several famous eateries are offering popular food with a hint of Icelandic touch. Not exactly the scary-looking unfamiliar stuff like horse meat or sheep's head, but far more understandable ones. Many of those popular food items are mentioned in the list below.

Icelandic Lamb, famous for being a native dish and inclined toward the less odd side of the food choices, is thoroughly enjoyed by native people and foreigners visiting the country to explore its vividness.

Rye bread Ice cream is slightly sweet. Rye bread is created using rye bread cooked by being buried under hot springs. It is later broken into small pieces to mix with ice cream and left to settle properly. It is a beautiful combination that the people of Iceland thoroughly enjoy!

Icelandic pancakes are not very different from the traditional American ones or the ones found anywhere else. What makes it different is when Skyr is included to add a fluffy feel to the whole recipe. Skyr can also be eaten as it is with the pancake.

Laufabrauð or leaf bread is a special delicacy usually enjoyed by Icelanders through the festivities of Christmas. Just like any other baked good, leaf bread is delicious and perfect for enjoying the Christmas vibes.

Icy winds have nothing to do with Icelanders and their food choices, which is why they can enjoy a cone of soft-serve ice cream any time of the day.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for facts about Iceland food, then why not take a look atfacts about Dublin, or facts about Guyana?