Icelandic Hangover Cure: Svio and Svioasulta

Cure your Icelandic hangover with a sheep's head terrine.
Show: Tales From the Hair of the Dog

Related To:

Food and Drink
To cure your brennivin-induced hangover, all you need is the head of a sheep (svio) so you can make a delicious sheep’s-head terrine (svioasulta)!
 
Iceland is known for many unique spirits, including brennivin, or “black death.” To cure your brennivin-induced hangover, all you need is the head of a sheep (svio) so you can make a delicious sheep’s-head terrine (svioasulta)!
Recipe
Ingredients

Sheep's heads, singed (see instructions below)
Water
Salt

Instructions

How to prepare sheep's heads for cooking:
Take the fresh heads and singe them with fire until all the hair is burnt. Use a stiff brush to clean the heads under cold running water. Clean the area around the eyes and inside the ears especially well. Saw the heads in half lengthwise and remove the brains (which is less messy if you freeze them first). Cook them with the skin on.

Make a broth by boiling the head in water and salt. Periodically skim the scum off the top for 1 1/2 to 2 hours (the bigger the head, the longer it will take). You’ll know it’s ready when the meat separates from the bone.

Next, separate the meat from the head and spread it evenly in a loaf pan. Pour the broth over the meat, and place it in the refrigerator until it sets. Then, carefully remove the terrine from the loaf pan. Slice it and serve.

Next Up

What to Do in Reykjavik on a Budget

Fear not, cost-conscious travelers: The land of fire and ice has plenty for you, too.

The Road Trip Through Hell Continues... Destination Fear Returns With All New Episodes

New episodes include terrifying sleepovers inside haunted abandoned locations and the team's first-ever international investigation, beginning Saturday, November 6 on Travel Channel and discovery+.

Discover Positano: Italy's Enchanting Coastal Village

Take a photographic tour of one of the country's most picturesque destinations.

A Swiss Filmmaker Talks Travel and Good Luck Charms

The Paris Opera director Jean-Stéphane Bron talks about his latest documentary and his travel obsessions.

Escape Tuscany’s Crowds at These Under-the-Radar Spots      

Find local treasures, amazing food and wine and Italian hospitality at these out-of-the-way spots.

Take a Dip... in a Beer Pool

This Austrian brewery doesn't have just one pool of beer: it has seven.

Lingering Secrets of Pompeii

Though the spectacular city met its tragic end nearly two thousand years ago, archaeologists are still hard at work unearthing its story. What might the next chapter be?

7 Hacks to Keep From Going Broke on a Trip to Iceland

Yes, you can see Iceland’s glaciers, waterfalls and volcanoes without breaking the bank.

What to Know About Moving to France

Are you about to pack your bags and move to France? Get the information you need before you make the move.

The Bone-Chilling Haunted History of Ireland’s Spike Island

The “Destination Fear” crew spent 14 terrifying hours alone on an abandoned Irish prison island with human occupation dating back 1,300 years.

More From Travel