Icelandic Cuisine
Iceland's unique cuisine is predominantly meat-based, a legacy of its early settlers' reliance on livestock and fishing due to limited farmland.
Despite its history of a meat-based diet, Iceland now cultivates a wide range of fruits and vegetables, with a significant portion grown in greenhouses.
Gin: Stuðlaberg
Don’t think you have to be a fan of gin to enjoy this!
You can order this lovely tasting gin in a cocktail with tonic, strawberry and a marshmallow (which might be hilariously translated into English as “sugar cushion”) at a restaurant called Monkeys in the center of Reykjavik.
Reindeer Filet
It is possible you’ll see wild reindeer on your visit to Iceland and it’s also possible that you’ll find restaurants that will serve some on your plate!
This is a delicacy in Iceland, prized for its rich, lean meat and subtly gamey flavor often served with wild berry sauce and vegetables.
Lamb Shank
This may not strictly be a Icelandic dish but it is definitely a popular meal found throughout the country at not just farms and restaurants but also some service stations. And it is delicious regardless of where you’ll have it.
A flavorful dish that showcases the country's renowned free-roaming lamb, raised on wild herbs and clean mountain air. Slow-cooked to perfection with root vegetables and local herbs, it's a comforting meal that reflects centuries of Icelandic farming tradition.
Hangikjöt
If you happen to spot this dish on your journeys through Iceland, be sure to give it a try. It is smoked lamb that is a staple Icelandic Christmas dish and is definitely not traditionally found on a pizza as seen in the photo. We just happened to stumble upon it on a pizza at a restaurant called Ölverk Pizza & Brewery in a small town called Hveragerði. It was served with a blueberry vinaigrette and was absolutely delicious!