Iceland Recipes
Fish, lamb, and geothermal bread at the edge of the map. Not sure what to eat in Iceland? Start with Hangikjöt, Pylsur, Vínarterta and Hafragrautur (Icelandic Oat Porridge). Here are 9 authentic Iceland recipes, each from a specific region, with cultural context and dietary substitutions for every table.
9 recipes
PlokkfiskurReykjavík, Iceland · easy · 45 minIceland’s "plucked fish": cod and potatoes folded into a warm, oniony white sauce, served with dark rye and butter.
Plokkfiskur Hafragrautur (Icelandic Oat Porridge)Reykjavík, Iceland · easy · 17 minCreamy stovetop oat porridge simmered with a pinch of salt, served the Icelandic way with a spoon of skyr, brown sugar, and butter.
PylsurReykjavík, Iceland · easy · 20 minIceland's lamb-based hot dog with crispy and raw onions, remoulade, and a sweet-brown mustard, a Reykjavik institution.
VínartertaReykjavík, Iceland · medium · 2 daysA striped layer cake of thin cardamom shortbread and spiced prune filling, an Icelandic Christmas heirloom.
KjötsúpaReykjavík, Iceland · easy · 1 h 35 minIceland's beloved lamb-and-root-vegetable soup: bony lamb simmered with potato, carrot, swede and cabbage.
HangikjötReykjavík, Iceland · medium · 2 h 45 minIceland's Christmas centerpiece: smoked lamb gently boiled and sliced, served with béchamel, potatoes, peas and pickled red cabbage.
Flatkaka (Icelandic Rye Flatbread)Reykjavík, Iceland · medium · 55 minThin, soft rounds of rye and wholemeal dough made with boiling water, charred on a scorching dry pan, dipped in water and stacked, then buttered and eaten with smoked lamb.
Humarsúpa (Icelandic Langoustine Soup)Reykjavík, Iceland · medium · 2 hA deep coral-coloured soup made from a stock of roasted langoustine shells, tomato and onion, enriched with cream and a hint of curry, with the sweet tails added at the end, served with bread.
Kleinur (Icelandic Twisted Doughnuts)Reykjavík, Iceland · medium · 1 h 35 minDiamonds of cardamom-scented buttermilk dough with a slit in the middle, one end pulled through to make a knot, deep-fried until golden and eaten with coffee, the everyday fried pastry of Iceland.
📋 Teaching Iceland?A free, printable Country of the Week guide for the classroom: geography, a kid-friendly recipe, and discussion prompts.
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