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Icelandic hot dog (Pylsa)

The signature icelandic hot dog

Flag of IcelandOrigin: Reykjavik, Iceland
Icelandic hot dog (Pylsa) illustrated hot dog icon

Pinpointed origin: Reykjavik, Iceland

The anatomy

Vessel
Not set
Sausage
Pylsur
Region
Reykjavik
Ingredients
Crispy fried onions illustrated ingredient iconChopped white onion illustrated ingredient icon

Ask for eina með öllu (one with everything).

Method

  1. 1Warm a standard hot dog bun using steam so it becomes soft and pliable. Do not toast or grill it.
  2. 2Add a layer of finely diced raw white onions, followed immediately by a generous layer of crispy fried onions (steiktur laukur) directly into the bottom crease of the bun.
  3. 3Nestle the hot dog directly on top of the onions to pin them safely in place. A true Icelandic pylsa is a blend of lamb, beef, and pork with a natural sheep casing. It should be gently simmered in water (sometimes with a splash of beer), never vigorously boiled or grilled.
  4. 4Drizzle the trio of classic sauces in a zig-zag pattern across the top of the sausage so every bite has all three flavors:

Sources

Controversies

The "SS" Marketing Misunderstanding

Our take: A few years ago, the company ran an advertising campaign in downtown Reykjavík featuring the phrase "I ♥ SS." Turns out, they were not promoting Nazism or the Third Reich.

There's a reason the mustard-only version is called the 'clinton'.

Our take: In a country that takes the flavor balance of the "eina með öllu" (one with everything) very seriously, this was a baffling faux pas. Bill Clinton's order made national news in Iceland, and to this day, ordering an Icelandic hot dog with nothing but mustard is known locally as a "Clinton."