Icelandic Lamb and Holiday Hijinks

Icelandic Lamb is so ingrained in Icelandic culture that it’s not only the star of most Christmas dinners in the form of smoked lamb (hangkikjöt in Icelandic) but it’s also become part of Christmas folklore. Christmas is Coming One family of mythical creatures, trolls to be precise, features prominently in Iceland’s Christmas myths. The troll Grýla, […]

Arctic Thyme Cured Icelandic Lamb

Cooking time: 4 days | 12 persons This dish is regularly on the menu of Chef Gisli Matt at the restaurant Slippurinn in the Vestmann Islands of Iceland. Curing with wild foraged Arctic Thyme is what sets the recipe apart from most cured lamb and really makes it truly Icelandic.  Arctic Thyme has the fragrance […]

Grilled Icelandic Lamb Heart, Beetroot Birch Glaze & Dulse

Cooking time: 30 min + marinating overnight | 4 persons Lamb’s hearts are one of the parts of the lamb that is incredibly inexpensive, yet when treated with respect is such an enjoyable part to serve. In Iceland, we have two general methods in preparing lamb hearts: either for a very short time or very […]

Hangikjöt, The Christmas Tradition In Iceland

No traditional Icelandic Christmas season is complete without the centerpiece, hangikjöt. The name and curing method originate in Iceland’s Viking age settlement era when meat was preserved by hanging it in a smokehouse. Hangikjöt, which means “hung meat” in Icelandic, is savory smoked lamb. It can be served raw as an appetizer, either sliced or […]

Hangikjöt with bechamel, pickled red cabbage, green peas, and laufabrauð.

Cooking time: 2 hours | 6 persons  Our classical Icelandic hangikjöt Ingredients Hangikjöt Place the deboned hangikjöt in a pot with cold water, simmer slowly for appox. 40 minutes per kg. Take of the stove and leave to cool in the broth. Slice and serve with the truly traditional bechamel sauce with potatoes, pickled red […]

Icelandic lamb soup „Kjötsúpa“

Kjötsúpa- árstíðarsúpan

Cooking time 1 1/2 hours 4-6 portions Ingredients 850 gr / 30 oz of bone in pieces of lamb, preferably from the forequarter. 1,8 l. / 61 fl. oz. water 50 gr. / 2 oz. Pearl barley 8 pcs.  Medium size potatoes 1 pcs. Rutabaga 6 pcs. Medium size carrots 4 oz. White cabbage 2-3 […]

Protected designation of origin

Icelandic Lambs in nature

The European quality scheme for agricultural products (registry of protected product names along with product descriptions) is a good scheme and if a producer gets their product registered in the scheme then they can use EU origin labels. Participation and interest of producers to get their brand registered in the system has grown greatly: In […]

Unique sheep farming

Icelandic sheep farming has many unique aspects that contribute to producing exeptional meat. One of those aspects is how farmers ensure the welfare of every sheep and lamb throughout their life cycle spanning the whole year. There is only one lambing season per year, and after lambs are born in May they roam free for […]

Maroccoan lamb stew

Ingredients The meat 19 oz diced lamb meat 1/2 onion 2 cloves garlic 1 tsp harrisapaste or spice 3 msk ras el hanut ½ Acorn squash 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 Cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 1 tbs tomato paste 1/2 can canned tomatoes Rind of 1/4 orange 8 dried […]

Barbacoa lamb tacos

Ingredients The meat 1/2 cup chicken broth 3tsp chipotle paste 2tsp cumin 2tsp oregano 1tsp ground cloves 330gr cooked lamb shoulder 1 bay leaf juice from half a lime Corn Tacos 1. cups harina corn flour ½ cup warm water 1tsp salt 2 tsp cooking oil cut or pull the meat into small pieces and […]