Icelandic lamb cooking class

Since the arrival of the Vikings in 874, Icelandic sheep have been roaming free through the countryside. Today’s remain genetically identical to their ancestors due to their isolation, making them one of the purest breeds in the world. For this reason, they’re sought after for their high-quality meat and wool. On this half-day tour, you’ll head to a family farm about an hour outside Reykjavík to learn about the history of the breed, their rearing, and farming in Iceland, as well as having the chance to prepare a traditional Icelandic lamb dish for lunch.

You’ll travel to a working family farm outside the city known for its sheep rearing. Three generations of the family live on the farm and they’ve been rearing Icelandic sheep for decades.

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a family member and taken to the dining room, where you’ll see a short presentation about Icelandic lamb and its unique qualities. You’ll then proceed to the kitchen to hear a little about traditional Icelandic dishes and ingredients before preparing lamb meat produced on the farm.

Icelandic lamb is known for its lean, tender meat and is traditionally roasted or cooked in soups or stews. With your host, you’ll learn to prepare, stuff and season a rack of lamb ready for roasting.

Once the lamb’s in the oven, you’ll enjoy a tour of the farm, meeting the goats, rabbits and, of course, the sheep being raised here. The family also have three very friendly sheep dogs who in all likelihood will want to follow you around during your tour of the farm.

After your tour, you’ll head back to the main farmhouse to enjoy a light snack and a glass of beer or wine while you wait for the lamb to finish cooking. Once it’s done, you’ll all sit down together to enjoy what you’ve prepared, before you head back to Reykjavík.