Hakarl: An Icelandic Recipe For Shark Meat

Hakarl: An Icelandic Recipe For Shark Meat


March 1, 2024 | Matthew Burke

Hakarl: An Icelandic Recipe For Shark Meat


Hakarl, a traditional Icelandic dish, offers a unique gastronomic experience with its fermented shark meat. Though it can seem daunting, creating Hakarl is actually very easy and just requires only a few simple steps.

1709792444991Wikimedia Commons

How to make Hakarl

First, you must get a shark, preferably a Greenland or sleeper shark, as they have a high urea content that is perfect for this recipe. After obtaining the shark, carefully remove the skin and bones, reserving the flesh to serve as the main ingredient for the Hakarl.

The fermentation process must be started after the shark meat has been prepared. Make a shallow hole in the gravelly sand along the coast, place the meat inside, and let it ferment for many weeks. After that, naturally occurring enzymes and bacteria in the sand will do their magic and transform the meat.

1709792496759Richard Troller | Flickr

Advertisement

Once it's ready

After the shark meat has fermented, take it out of the sand and allow it to dry for many months in a well-ventilated area. The meat will taste and feel better after this drying stage, which gives it a distinct umami flavor and a solid but tender texture.

Hakarl is often served in bite-sized portions after it has been cooked for consumption. Serve it with hearty rye bread and traditional Icelandic condiments such as Brennivín (a schnapps laced with caraway) to bring out the bold tastes of the meat.

1709792530140Jerrick Parrone | Flickr

Advertisement

It's an acquired taste

It's important to approach every bite of Hakarl with an adventurous mindset and an open mind to truly enjoy it. Though it smells strong at first, like ammonia or harsh cheese, if you keep taking bites, you'll discover its complex, multidimensional flavors.


READ MORE

June 19, 2025 | Marlon Wright

10 Effective Strategies To Beat Grocery Price Inflation

Nowhere is inflation more visible than at the supermarket. Here are 10 reliable strategies to reduce its impact on your wallet.
June 18, 2025 | Carl Wyndham

10 Food Additives In US Foods That Are Banned In Europe

The United States and the European Union have very different approaches to food additives. We list 10 food additives allowed in the US but banned in Europe, and the reasons for those bans.
Efthumb
July 18, 2024 | Jamie Hayes

The 10 Most Expensive Fruits You Can Buy

From ghost white strawberries to $15,000 pineapples, these are the most expensive fruits in the world.
August 15, 2024 | Allison Robertson

11 Easy Ways to Cook Eggs

Uncover 11 easy ways to cook eggs, one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. From scrambled and fried to poached and steamed, find out how to easily cook the perfect egg for any meal.
Men Eating Soup During The Depression split with dandelions
March 28, 2024 | Sarah Ng

12 Shocking Foods People Ate To Survive The Great Depression

During the Great Depression, people had to resort to eating some budget-friendly meals—and some of them were downright shocking.
anthony bourdain
May 22, 2024 | Kaddy Gibson

15 Of Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Foods

Anthony Bourdain was one of the world’s most beloved chefs, and he inspired millions of people to try new foods through his travels across the globe, which he documented in his acclaimed television shows No Reservations and Parts Unknown.