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Hákarl

🇮🇸 A dish from Iceland

Hákarl, a dish from Iceland
Chris 73 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Hákarl, referred to as fermented shark in English, is a national dish of Iceland consisting of Greenland shark or other sleeper shark that has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. It has a strong ammonia-rich smell and fishy taste, making hákarl an acquired taste.

What gives it away

🥘Main ingredientsshark meat, salt
🔥Cooking methodcured by fermentation then hung to dry for months
👅Flavour & stylepungent, ammonia-heavy, intensely fishy, acquired taste
🕒When it’s eatenserved in small cubes as a traditional delicacy

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Frequently asked questions

Where does Hákarl come from?
Hákarl is a dish that originated in Iceland.
What is Hákarl?
Hákarl, referred to as fermented shark in English, is a national dish of Iceland consisting of Greenland shark or other sleeper shark that has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. It has a strong ammonia-rich smell and fishy taste, making hákarl an acquired taste.