In addition to the family I live with, another family has warmly and graciously shared their home, their country, and their Icelandic ways with me. Known as "the sisters," Katrín and Anna María, are largely responsible for the continued warm welcome I have received since arriving in Iceland. I have enjoyed countless meals around their dining room table ranging from gourmet breakfasts to homemade dessert crepes, and everything in between. One of our very first visits to their home left a lasting impression on both parties, but not because of the actual visit. Before I go into detail, keep in mind that the entire town of Selfoss covers less than one square mile, and that the sisters live about 800 meters (or a ten minute walk) from my house. Nicole and I departed on foot for breakfast, only to be picked up 45 minutes later on the other side of the town. We definitely provided the entertainment for that meal and continue to be the source of laughter for getting "lost" in Selfoss.
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| Katrín, Nicole, Anna María, and I at the Icelandic national soccer team game |
Anyways, back to the sisters. I'm convinced they have dedicated themselves to making sure Nicole, Melanie, and I experience everything that we can about Iceland. This includes things to do, places to see, and foods to eat. One of my favorite dishes they made sure we tasted was the Icelandic meat soup. Because it's a traditional Icelandic meal, I was eager not only to taste it, but I wanted to learn how to make it, too! So, with my mental notepad and camera ready, I came over before practice and helped prepare the dish! Post practice, we headed back to the house where the sisters' mom had finished preparing the meal complete with fresh potatoes and mushroom sauce! The smell alone told me it was fantastic, but the mix of spices, rich lamb flavor, and the texture combination of the potatoes and sauce made for an unbelievably delicious meal! I not only want to make it again, but I think everyone should try it! Thanks to the sisters and their mom, they have shared their recipe for us all to enjoy! Lucky for us, the ingredients aren't hard to find back home. Although it won't have the true Icelandic quality, I'm still looking forward to sharing and enjoying a bit of Iceland when I get back to Florida!
Icelandic Meat Soup
2 pkgs of lamb chops
2 turnips peeled and chopped
4 carrots peeled and chopped
2 medium sized onions chopped
1 pkg (120 g) of Súpujurtir (soup herbs)
2 cups of white rice
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring the lamb chops to a boil.
2. Use a spoon or cup to remove the fat that surfaces.
3. Add the rice and onion. Boil for 30 min.
4. Add the vegetables and soup herbs.
5. Boil for 15-20 minutes.
The recipe was started and completed by the sisters' mother, Árný. She is pictured above and is the real chef behind the meal! After the soup finished boiling, she removed the lamp chops from the liquid like shown below and prepared the potatoes and mushroom sauce.
To learn the proper procedure, I watched the Icelandic meat soup regulars assemble their bowls before making mine. First, remove the meat from the lamb chop and discard the bones. Cut up the potatoes and add that to the bowl with the lamb. Lastly, spoon plenty of soup "broth" onto the meat and potatoes, and ENJOY! And I know, you will enjoy!
