Icelandic Fish and Rye Bread Casserole
A comforting and flavorful casserole that combines flaky white fish with the unique sweetness of Icelandic rye bread, bound together by a creamy sauce and topped with a crispy rye bread crumb topping.
🧂 Ingredients
- 600 g Cod or Haddock fillets(skinless and boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 200 g Icelandic rye bread (Rúgbrauð)(stale, cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 50 g Butter
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 1 medium Leek(white and light green parts only, thinly sliced)
- 40 g All-purpose flour
- 500 ml Milk
- 200 ml Fish stock or water
- 2 tbsp Fresh dill(chopped)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- 50 g Rye bread crumbs(from dried rye bread, for topping)
- 15 g Butter(for topping)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- 2
In a large saucepan, melt 50g butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sliced leek and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 3
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for 1 minute to cook the raw flour taste.
- 4
Gradually whisk in the milk and fish stock (or water) until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. This should take about 5-8 minutes.
- 5
Stir in the chopped dill and parsley, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- 6
Gently fold in the fish pieces and the cubed rye bread into the sauce. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- 7
In a small bowl, combine the rye bread crumbs with the 15g of butter, melted. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the casserole.
- 8
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.
- 9
Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the rye bread is slightly stale for better texture in the casserole.
- ✓If you don't have fish stock, vegetable stock or water can be used, but fish stock will add more depth of flavor.
- ✓For a richer flavor, a splash of white wine can be added when sautéing the vegetables.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a handful of cooked shrimp or scallops along with the fish.
- Incorporate a tablespoon of capers for a briny kick.
- For a cheesy variation, mix in 100g of grated Icelandic cheese (like Óðalsostur) into the sauce.