Svið

Method

1. Lay 1 singed half sheep's head on a board and go over the skin with the back of a knife or a small sharp blade, scraping off every trace of burnt wool and soot, especially around the ear, nostril and jaw. Cut out the eye and discard it, and pull away any remaining gristle from the cut face of the skull.
2. Rinse the head thoroughly under cold running water, then put it in a bowl of cold water and leave it to soak for 1 hour to draw out blood; change the water once. Drain and rinse again.
3. Set the head cut-side down in a deep pot just wide enough to hold it and cover with cold water by 3 cm. Add 1 tbsp coarse salt and bring slowly to the boil over medium heat. As the foam rises, skim it off patiently with a spoon until the liquid runs clear.