The Icelandic pony horse gets rolled.
What do Slovenia and Iceland have in common? Not much, you might think… unless you are fortunate enough to chanced upon a dish of horse sashimi hidden amongst the California rolls at a downtown sushi joint. As it turns out, both nations are not-so-secret horse-eaters. The difference being Icelanders use horse mostly in stews whilst Slovenians love a good old horse hot dog (or, uh, ‘hot horse’) after a night on the town.
The Icelandic pony - sorry - horse (Icelanders get rather tetchy if you call their meter-high steeds ponies) is a rather docile creature which you generally see looking wet and doe-eyed in the countryside. It hasn’t changed much in shape or size since it first stepped hoof on Iceland over a thousand years ago, though standing outside in the Icelandic weather for over a millennium has pacified its personality somewhat.
Luckily the horse’s temperament isn’t the only lovable and tender thing about it. The meat is usually salted or smoked, but eaten raw it is richer, sweeter, and pinker than beef, with a venison-like flavour that some consider quite intriguing, especially after half a bottle of Brennivín. Horse meat is also low in fat and high in protein, giving every carb-counting member of PETA a serious moment of pause. Add to all this the fact that it is one of the cheapest meats in Iceland, and you have a winning combination.
It might not be long then till you see ´Filet of Icelandic Mountain Horse´ on the menus of Reykjavik bistros, and drunken Icelanders grabbing a quick Hot Horse at Bæjarins Beztu…
Get some horse between your chopsticks at Osushi.
13 Comments
I like what I am reading about the lean horse meat. Americans and Brits are always up for a new fad diet so someone is going to get rich off the jokes made here.
LOVE reading you again… I miss Iceland too and I’m not even Icelandic. (Wish I was) Thanks for the fix.
Let me get this right… you are saying that pylsur, the common hot dog is horse meat? And that horse meat is commonly served in Iceland? And raw? Is Iceland Express out of its mind, trying to discourage tourism and people who come to Iceland for horseback riding rather than eating?
Or are you just being cute?
Well, we are cute, but that has nothing to do with eating horse meat… or maybe it does.
Sorry for any confusion, but Icelandic hot dogs ARE NOT made of horse meat. That would be gross. They’re just cow lips and pig innards like most other hot dogs.
However, you can find horse meat for sale in Icelandic stores next to the whale steaks and halved sheep heads. Bon Appétit!
I think I’d like to live in Iceland. Umm. What kind of hobbies do people have there? Are there any science clubs like Astronomy?
Ramijimar,
If it’s dark, clean skies you’re after, Iceland in winter is hard to beat. You could ogle Orion’s sword on your lunch break.
I say that “to each his own”. I live in America and if we weren’t raised on Cow, chicken, fish etc, we might be saying that eating that is crazy. I’m sure in some countries they are saying the stuff we eat is nasty or ridiculous.
That’s right, Marlene. Don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it!
Make your way to our offices and we’ll buy you a chunk of whatever meat your heart desires.
I personally don’t think its right to eat horse meat. Also, look at that picture … I mean how could some-one eat a little cutie like that ??? :O
You are kind of wrong about the heigt of Icelandic horses, it was reconed in 2000 that the very small smallest horse in Iceland was 119 cm at the whithers. Somewhere between 130-150 cm is more common.
We will thank you not to mention the size of our horse’s whithers. It’s cold out there.
I love Iceland, been there on riding tour, it’s awesome…but gonnae no eat yer cuddies! Ask someone ‘fra Scotland’ whit that means.
Love from an Icelandic horse mummy and enthusiast.
Horse was commonly eaten throughout Europe before being outlawed by Christlings – (due to the fact horse was and still is considered a sacred animal by Asatruarar) it is only considered distasteful because of the christian church.
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[...] Borgarnes, City of Near Population 1900 This is the first town you hit on your way up north, where it’s compulsory to stop for a hot dog, even if you’ve only just eaten in Reykjavik. But chances are you’ll have a nasty hangover, so best fill up on as many chemicals and saturated fats as possible while you still can. [...]
[...] So go ahead – take a dip. We can assure you that nobody has ever gotten sick from mucking about in all that slime. And if nothing else, a leisurely float in the Lýsuhóll pool will make for an excellent story at your next dinner party. [...]
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