Main Course · Dinner · Nordic Cuisine ·

Smoked Icelandic Char with Dill Sauce

Name: Smoked Icelandic Char with Dill Sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Icelandic char fillets, 4 fillets (skin on, approx 6 oz each); Olive oil, 1 tablespoon; Sea salt, 1 teaspoon; Black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon, freshly ground; Sour cream, 1 cup; Fresh dill, 2 tablespoons, finely chopped; Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon, fresh; Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon; Salt, 1/4 teaspoon; White pepper, 1/4 teaspoon; Cherry wood chips, 1/2 cup, soaked in water; Apple wood chips, 1/4 cup, soaked in water; Lemon wedges; Fresh dill sprigs

Experience the fresh taste of Icelandic char paired with a rich dill sauce in this elegant dish.

4.9(169 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 7, 2025

Smoked Icelandic Char with Dill Sauce — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Smoked Char

For the Dill Sauce

For the Smoking Mixture

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 394 kcal
Protein: 33.25 g
Carbs: 2.5 g
Fat: 27.5 g
Fiber: 0.25 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1574 kcal
Protein: 133 g
Carbs: 10 g
Fat: 110 g
Fiber: 1 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Icelandic char fillets 4 fillets (skin on, approx 6 oz each)	960	128	0	48	0
Olive oil 1 tablespoon	120	0	0	14	0
Sea salt 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper 1/2 teaspoon, freshly ground	3	0	1	0	1
Sour cream 1 cup	480	5	8	48	0
Fresh dill 2 tablespoons, finely chopped	2	0	0	0	0
Lemon juice 1 tablespoon, fresh	4	0	1	0	0
Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon	3	0	0	0	0
Salt 1/4 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
White pepper 1/4 teaspoon	2	0	0	0	0
Cherry wood chips 1/2 cup, soaked in water	0	0	0	0	0
Apple wood chips 1/4 cup, soaked in water	0	0	0	0	0
Lemon wedges	0	0	0	0	0
Fresh dill sprigs	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Char

1
Rinse and dry fillets
Rinse the char fillets under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
2
Season fillets
Brush each fillet with olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper.
3
Rest before smoking
Let them rest while preparing the smoker.

Making the Dill Sauce

1
Combine ingredients
In a bowl, combine sour cream, fresh dill, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and white pepper.
2
Whisk and chill
Whisk until smooth and refrigerate until serving.
3
Adjust seasoning
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

How to Make Smoked Icelandic Char with Dill Sauce

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Smoking the Char
Preheat the smoker to 200°F and place the soaked wood chips in the smoker. Smoke the char fillets skin-side down for 45 minutes until opaque and slightly flaky.
2
Dill Sauce Enhancement
Occasionally stir the refrigerated sauce to allow flavors to meld consistently.
3
Final Touches
Allow the smoked char to rest for 5 minutes before serving for optimum flavor absorption.