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Svið is an unusual and unique dish from Iceland consisting of singed, halved, and cooked sheep's head. The head is then cooked in an open fire (in order to remove the fur) and consumed. The dish is traditionally served with a side of mashed turnips, rhubarb jelly, and mashed potatoes, especially during the traditional Icelandic mid-winter festival known as Þorrablót.
Originally, the dish was invented at a time when people could not let any part of meat go to waste. Although svið has a reputation of being really tasty, some may find it strange to literally look their food in the eye.
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Traditionally associated with the northern parts of Sweden and the Finnish Lapland, blodpalt are the nutritious, dark-brown dumplings prepared with rye or barley flour and animal’s blood. Although they were traditionally made with reindeer’s blood, today they appear in numerous regional varieties which employ blood of various animals, different spices, and occasionally mashed potatoes.
They are sometimes filled with a mixture of sautéed onions and diced bacon, and are commonly cooked in flavorful meat broths. Blodpalt dumplings are usually enjoyed as a side dish accompanied by fried bacon or pork, butter, and lingonberry jam.
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Thorramatur is a selection of traditional Icelandic foods consumed predominantly during the Nordic month of Þorri, taking place from mid-January to mid-February each year. Cured fish and meat products are cut into slices or bite-sized pieces and served alongside rúgbrauð and butter on numerous buffet tables.
The standard choice includes specialties like fermented shark meat, smoked lamb, seared lamb head, blood sausages, and much more, all of which can be additionally soured according to personal preferences. Typical accompaniments include brennivín, Iceland's flavored spirit drink, and seasonal Þorri beer that is traditionally produced by local breweries specifically for the occasion.
Jellied eels is a traditional Cockney street food item, dating back to the 18th century. Originally, it was a cheap and easy way to make a good dish, with plenty of native eels readily available in the Thames River. The eels would get chopped, boiled for approximately half an hour in herbs, then cooled - that is when the fish would produce their own gelatin, and a soft, transparent jelly would form on the cut pieces.
The texture of jellied eels is delicate and soft, and while some may say it's unpleasant, their flavor is unique - mild, slightly salty, like pickled herring, but without the unusual "fishy" scent. They are commonly accompanied by white pepper and vinegar in order to further accentuate the flavors.
MOST ICONIC Jellied eels
This behemoth of a meal is an invention of the Tre Kronor restaurant from the Swedish town of Skellefteå. It consists of a calzone pizza that is stuffed with hamburgers (along with bread, toppings, and dressings) and French fries.
The calorie-laden dish was originally invented for people who could not decide whether to get a pizza or a hamburger after a night of heavy drinking.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Pizza
MOST ICONIC Calskrove
Blood pancakes are enjoyed throughout Sweden, Finland, and Norway. They are prepared with a regular pancake batter that is elevated with the addition of animal blood. Whether they are formed as thinner, crêpe-like pancakes or as smaller, chewier types, the pancakes will always develop a typical dark-brown hue.
They are often enriched with onions and spices, and come topped with fresh lingonberries or lingonberry jam. Blood pancakes are sold as a ready-made product across Finland and Sweden.
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Aginares salata is a traditional salad originating from Crete. Although there are variations, the salad is usually made with a combination of young and tender artichokes, lemon, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. The artichokes are trimmed and boiled in a mixture of water and lemon juice.
The artichokes are quartered and cut in half, rubbed with lemon, and placed on a platter. A dressing consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, and garlic is then poured over the artichokes, and the salad is sprinkled with chopped dill, seasoned with salt and pepper, tossed, and served immediately.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Bocadillo de carne de caballo is a traditional sandwich that’s filled with horse meat. Typically, a Spanish-style baguette called barra de pan is sliced in half lengthwise, and it is then stuffed with pieces of roasted, fried, or grilled horse meat.
Other common ingredients added to the sandwich’s filling include young garlic, slices of cheese, crispy-fried bacon, beans, and onions. This variety of the Spanish bocadillo sandwich is typically served with accompaniments such as a glass of cold beer or red wine, a cup of coffee, olives, and peanuts on the side.
MOST ICONIC Bocadillo de carne de caballo
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Angulas a la cazuela is a traditional dish originating from the Basque Country. The dish is usually made with a combination of rare and expensive angulas (baby eels), garlic, hot pepper flakes, olive oil, and salt. The garlic and pepper flakes are sautéed in olive oil in a cazuela (shallow earthenware pot).
The angulas are then added to the cazuela, seasoned, and cooked until they become hot and sizzling. The dish is served straight out of the cazuela and it's traditionally eaten with a wooden fork.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Tapas
Heusuppe is an unusual, authentic Swiss soup originating from the Alpine huts. Literally translated as hay soup, the dish is made with mountain flowers and herbs which are steeped in bouillon with the addition of hay that is removed from the broth before serving.
Typically, it takes about 2 kilos of hay to make just 1 liter of hay soup, and it is often prepared with additional ingredients such as cream and butter. Many people claim that the soup is an acquired taste – you are first hit with a slight sweetness, then creaminess, and finally, a slightly sour flavor in the mouth.
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