Are you ready for a culinary adventure? Explore the unique and delicious seafood traditions of Iceland! With smoked salmon that will make your mouth water and fish stews that melt in your mouth, Iceland's traditional fish dishes are simply irresistible. Get ready to experience the flavors and textures that have been savored by locals for centuries. We've got nine must-try dishes that showcase the freshest catch straight from Iceland's crystal clear waters. Whether you're a seafood lover or just a curious foodie, these traditional Icelandic fish dishes will leave you craving for more. So come and indulge in the real taste of Iceland's maritime culture!
1. Grilled Arctic Char with Beurre Blanc Sauce
Arctic char is one of Iceland's most popular fish varieties and is often grilled to perfection with a buttery Beurre Blanc sauce on top.
2. Plokkfiskur - A Creamy Fish Stew
Plokkfiskur is a hearty Icelandic stew made from boiled cod or haddock mixed in with mashed potatoes and onions, seasoned to perfection with nutmeg and pepper.
3. Steamed Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter
Although lobster fishing in Iceland only began relatively recently, it has become trendy due to its unique features compared to other regions around the world.
4. Grilled Atlantic Wolffish Fillet with Lemon Caper Salsa.
Wolffish (or Seawolf), as it's commonly called, makes excellent steaks when cut correctly, leaving a slightly pink center.
5.Herring Filet served w/ Remoulade,
Probably one of Iceland's most famed seafood offerings- especially during "Bolludagur" (Bun Day) in the country.
6. Lobster Soup with Cream & Cognac
Although lobster soup is commonplace throughout North Atlantic countries, Icelanders add their smoky twist possessing a distinctly Icelandic feel to it.
7 Iceland's Rotten Shark
Hákarl, or rotten shark. This traditional dish is made from the Greenland shark, a species whose flesh is toxic when fresh due to high levels of urea and trimethylamine oxide.
The preparation process is fascinating: the shark is first beheaded and gutted, then buried in a shallow pit for 6-12 weeks to ferment. Once the toxins have broken down, the meat is hung to dry for several months, developing its characteristic strong ammonia smell.
8. Harðfiskur – Dried Fish Strips/Squares:
Harðfiskur means "hard fish," and that's exactly what you get; dried cod or haddock, which has been dried slowly under cool conditions for up two weeks before being cut into thin squares/strips, commonly eaten as a snack.
9. Whale Meat
It's a well-known fact that minke whales are the most hunted species for consumption. Interestingly, despite this, 95% of Iceland's whale products are exported. While all finback whales are exclusively exported to Japan, minke whale meat is exported to both Norway and Japan.
When it comes to culinary uses, minke whale stakes are highly sought-after for their delicate taste and are sometimes served as sushi or tartar. Cooking it can be a bit tricky, though, as you need to get it just right to achieve that perfect fish oil flavor.
Whale blubber, mainly lactic acid-cured blubber, is consumed during the midwinter festival þorrablót.
Conclusion:
Experience the ultimate fishing adventure in Iceland that you'll remember for a lifetime, armed with the knowledge and resources provided in this comprehensive guide. Share this post with fellow anglers, and let the beauty and allure of Iceland's fishing paradise spread across social networks. Happy fishing!
