Iceland: Seafood & Harkal

Seafood, another food that this small island can obtain in abundance! Iceland has numerous fish recipes, an Icelandic lobster, and more! Though avoid whale - there are international bans on hunting whale (and for good reason, global whale populations are lower than ever before), Traditional fish dishes:

Harðfiskur (or stockfish) is a supermarket snack. The dried, unsalted fish can be eaten right out of the bag or (preferably) with lots of butter

Plokkfiskur (fish stew) mixes vegetables and white fish (white fish, potatoes, onions, flour, milk and seasoning). It is hearty and delicious, another good meal on a cold Icelandic day.

Icelandic Lobster

Humar: Try Iceland’s famous langostines - rich Icelandic lobster meat that can be grilled, baked, fried, or put on a pizza. The small town of Höfn is known for their langostines. Humarhofnin, Pakkhus, and Hafnarbuðin are solid options to try Humar.

Harkal:

Only eat Harkal if it is not live caught. The dish originated from the need for early settlers to find sustenance. And not to let rotting beach meat (marine life washed up on the shore) go to waste, they invented a manner of burying the meat with weight on-top to squeeze lethal toxins out of the meat. Afterwards the meat was unearthed to be hung in smokehouses. Over time, the formerly rotten meat takes up a smoky flavor. It is hands-down the worst bite of food I've ever eaten. It tastes like ammonia. And is so pungent, it's served with a shot of liquor (Icelandic Brenavin) to wash it down.