Authentic Icelandic Recipes You Must Try To Warm Up This Winter

Authentic Icelandic Recipes You Must Try To Warm Up This Winter

As the days in the northern hemisphere are getting shorter, and winter closes in, we begin to search for foods that keep us warm and help us adjust to the falling temperatures and shorter days. We thought we’d take a look at our Icelandic sea salts and traditional recipes of the land. These are some of our most popular salts, and what better way to try them out than with some traditional Icelandic comfort foods.

Known as “The Land of Fire and Ice”, Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Because it is located just below the Arctic Circle, the summer days have nearly 24 hours of sunlight, yet the winter days are as short as four hours. So while their winters are not very sold, the need for comfort food is as great as ours.

Take a trip to Iceland without leaving your kitchen with these authentic recipes, and Salt Cellar Icelandic Sea Salts. We’ve created an Icelandic trio which includes all three of these favorites in one sweet little package.

Plokkfiskur with Iceland Birch Sea Salt

Plokksikur means “Plucked fish”. This dish is a local favorite in Iceland. We’ve included our Icelandic Birch sea salt. Birchwood is used during the drying process to smoke the salt crystals of this unique Icelandic sea salt. It is faintly woody and clean and is perfect for this traditional dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds fresh cod or haddock
• ½ onion, peeled and diced.
• ½ cube of chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced into cubes.
• ½ teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon Salt Cellar Icelandic Birch Sea Salt
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3/4 cup milk

Plokkfiskur is traditionally served with rye bread.

Directions:

1. Place the fish with the onion and bay leaves in a saucepan containing cold water.
2. Bring to the boil, remove from the stove and set aside.
3. Melt butter, stir in the flour, and then add the milk as well as 1/2 cup of the water.
4. Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper to the mixture and bring this sauce to the boil, until it thickens.
5. Strain the water from the fish and onions, and add them to the sauce along with the potatoes and mix all this together well.
6. Add more Icelandic Birch Sea Salt and pepper to taste.

Rye Bread with Icelandic Volcanic Black Lava Sea Salt

Icelandic Rye bread is usually served with Plokkfiskur. It is traditionally baked in earthen pits in the ground using natural geothermic heat. You can find good rye bread at a local bakery or specialty shop. Spread butter and sprinkle with Salt Cellar Volcanic Black Lava Sea Salt. Activated charcoal from Iceland's volcanic rock makes this salt starkly black and a natural detoxifier. The crisp taste makes it the perfect companion for this truly traditional Icelandic dinner.

Caramelized Potatoes with Icelandic Arctic Thyme Sea Salt

Brúnaðar Kartöflur, or carmelized potatoes are a traditional winter side dish in Iceland. We’ve paired it with our Icelandic Arctic Thyme Sea Salt which is combined with thyme grown on Iceland's mineral-rich gravel soils. It is flavorful and colorful, and perfect for this simple potato dish.

Ingredients:

• 12 small new potatoes
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• Salt Cellar Icelandic Arctic Thyme Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Place the potatoes into a large pot of boiling water and cook until easily pierced with a fork, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly; then peel.
2. In a heavy 10 to 12-inch skillet, melt the sugar over low heat. Cook slowly until the sugar turns to a light brown caramel, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon and watch the sugar closely; the syrup changes color very rapidly and burns easily. It must not become too dark or it will become bitter.
4. Stir the melted butter into the sugar and add the potatoes in small batches to avoid crowding in the pan. Shake the pan continuously to roll the potatoes and coat them on all sides with the caramel.
5. Remove the hot, caramelized potatoes to a heated serving bowl and repeat the procedure until all the potatoes are coated.
6. Sprinkle Salt Cellar Icelandic Arctic Thyme Sea Salt and serve.