Holiday favorites
Here are some of the most popular festive dishes:
Smoked lamb (hangikjöt): The star of many Icelandic Christmas gatherings, it’s boiled like a ham and served cold alongside potatoes in bechamel sauce. It’s also popular sliced on flatbread.
Laufabrauð (literally ‘leaf bread’): This decorative, thin and crunchy flatbread (pictured) is cut into intricate patterns and fried until crisp. The creation of this dish brings families together in the lead-up to Christmas, and it’s a must-have on any Icelandic Christmas table. It’s also available in supermarkets.
Roasted or glazed pork (hamborgarhryggur): It’s a traditional favorite in many households, especially on Christmas Eve, and stems from Danish traditions (the name is not connected to hamburger! It likely derives from Hamburg in northern Germany).
Ptarmigan(rjúpa): This is a type of grouse that changes its feather color from brown to white in winter and is a traditional dish. It’s a protected bird now and has a limited number that can be hunted per year.
Hearty sides: A dinner with all the trimmings usually consists of pickled red cabbage, caramelized potatoes, and green peas and assorted veg – and surprisingly, a creamy version of Waldorf salad.
Vegetarian Christmas dishes in Iceland: The are becoming increasingly common, featuring root vegetables, grains, and winter spices.