The island nation of Iceland has a varied cuisine to match its relatively isolated geography. With fish dishes, preserves, dairy options and more, there's plenty to discover in this round-up of recipes from home cooks.
"Mmm, this cocoa soup really is super yummy! A sweet, chocolatey treat, perfect for a chilly day or just to cheer you up after work. I enjoyed it with some home-made spice cookies, which was a perfect match."
-Lalaloula
"This recipe is delicious! I made with tiny strawberries so I didn't have to cut them except to remove the tops. I was afraid that the strawberries would be a bit firm with such a short cooking time, but it really is enough to soften them, but not make them lose their shape."
-Mommy2two
"Our favorite fish recipe to date! It's just one of those recipes that tastes so much better than you would imagine from the simple ingredients. I would give it 10 stars if I could."
-Denise J
"Sandwich loaves, or ‘bread cakes’ as they are called in Iceland, are an enduring presence at Icelandic celebrations where cakes are served. While the fillings have changed over the years, they continue to be a vehicle for cooks to display their talents with garnish, and are a savory palate cleanser in between nibbles of all the sweet cakes usually served at traditional birthday parties."
-Jostlori
"Made this smorgasbord-style with real minced garlic and onion, along with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Not a fan of mayo so just made with sour cream. After tasting, just had to add a little dill as well. Dill makes everything sour cream so much better."
-Member 610488
"On the third Thursday in April, we in Iceland celebrate the first day of summer—if it is snow, rain or sun. It is a national bank holiday and my fiancé wears short trousers that day—snow, rain or sun. Lummur are similar to pancakes, but the dough is thicker. We make them round and sized like patties. I like them with smoked salmon and fresh slices of cucumber, any type of cheese, whipped cream and strawberries, my favorite jam or just plain."
-Iceland
"Most Icelanders have an enormous sweet tooth and an Icelandic afternoon tradition called 'Kaffi og Kaka' (coffee and cake) is one way they indulge their craving. At first I expected something simple, but I quickly realized K&K is the Icelandic version of an American tradition... 'Pig out 'til you seriously hurt yourself!'"
-twissis
"Absolutely feel passionate about this little ditty of a recipe! A simple (but not simplistic) sauce that magnifies what ever you decide to accompany with it. In our case, I used some fresh shrimp, peeled them and dipped them right into the sauce."
-Andi Longmeadow Farm
"My whole family really liked this recipe, I used sherry in place of brandy as I didn't have brandy. I will definitely make this again."
-Lanagirl
"I made this for my husband and visiting mother-in-law whom I wanted to impress. It worked! This was just wonderful and looked amazing! I served it with peas and carrots and saffron rice."
-Kiki Bird
"Delicious seafood spread! I made half of the recipe and used chopped parsley instead of chives. I liked the subtle sweetness that the pineapple added. Served on Triscuits and really enjoyed!"
-loof751
"This was delicious! Moist and flavorful! My daughter opened the packet and found it need more cooking time, so she wound up broiling it for an additional five minutes."
-AcadiaTwo
"This recipe is really easy (no chopping) and plates elegantly. The cream sauce itself is a little plain without the lift that it gets from the sherry."
-Dr. Jenny
"Wow! This potato salad is very, very yummy! The apple, curry, eggs, gherkins and potatoes go so well together and the salad tastes fresh with an exotic touch."
-Lalaloula
"This was probably one of the best seafood dishes I have ever tasted! Just a beautiful blend of flavors and one that will be loved by everyone—even those who are not normally into seafood."
-Peter J
"My grandfather was born in Norway, and my mom learned this recipe years ago (1950's). It was one way she could get my sisters to eat turnips. Thanks for bringing back good memories. This is simple, hearty and delicious."
-Outta Here
"What a great recipe. It was quick and easy to make. These buns were incredible tasting. The tanginess of the whipped cream combined with the chocolate, jam and bun, makes for pure ambrosia."
-Baby Kato
"If you like rye crisp, you will love these. I didn't make them as large as they should be because handling them was hard, and I had to keep dusting with rye flour. Try these, they are good."
-Dienia B.
"The baking time of the cakes is way off. By the third set I was down to 15 minutes and it was still quite brown. The saving grace is that the plum jam is absorbed nicely into the cake, so the overcooking was was not much of an issue. The flavor is good, I might go a bit more on the cardamom. The layering looks lovely when all is said and done. Everyone enjoyed the vinetorte!"
-Sharon C.
With a surprisingly racy name in Icelandic (balls, as in testicles), these golden-brown baked bites with plump raisins are surprisingly simple (and meat-free, in case you were concerned!). The key is getting the size right; too big and they'll get dark on the outside but won't cook all the way through.
