Herring hidden in a salad has many versions – it can be classic, slightly sour, creamy or with the sweetness of vegetables. Just a few ingredients are enough to create a dish that is suitable for both holidays and everyday dinner. Herring salads do not require culinary experience, they always turn out delicious and immediately whet the guests’ appetite. They represent well-known, traditional Polish cuisine that is simply tasty.
Herring salad is most often eaten without any hesitation. It is perfect for family celebrations, holiday tables, house parties, and even as a quick dinner or snack for work. It is filling, tasty and easy to prepare, because it uses products that are often already in the fridge. It has held an important place in Polish cuisine for years.
Herring has a long tradition in our country – was present in Lent and everyday cuisine. In the times of the Polish People’s Republic, herring salads were extremely popular because they were cheap, available and allowed for culinary creativity. They were combined with onions, potatoes, cucumbers, mayonnaise and cream, creating dishes that filled the whole family. Many people still associate these flavors with delicious home cooking, holidays and time spent with family talking at the table.
Importantly, herring salad is great for experiments. You can prepare it a day in advance, because it often tastes even better after the ingredients have mixed together. It can be easily adapted to the occasion – from a simple version mixed in a bowl to a very elegant version served in cups or on a platter. This is a dish that does not go out of fashion because it combines Polish tradition, ease of preparation and a characteristic taste that you want to return to.
Herring goes well with many different ingredients, which is why salads based on them are practically never boring. You can go classic and minimalist by combining fish with onion and a creamy sauce. Beetroots, in turn, add sweetness and color, eggs add creaminess and delicacy, and cheese can surprisingly enhance the distinctive flavor of herring. Thanks to this, everyone will find something for themselves – lovers of traditional flavors or enthusiasts of culinary experiments. A few simple changes to the ingredient list are enough to create a completely new version of a well-known dish. Below you will find 5 herring salads. Quick and delicious recipes will explain step by step how to make a unique snack.
1) Herring salad with mushrooms
Ingredients:
- 8 herring flakes a la matias,
- some lemon juice,
- a small can of canned corn,
- 10 pickled mushrooms,
- red onion (medium size),
- 4 eggs (hard-boiled),
- 6 pickled cucumbers (medium size),
- mayonnaise (at least 3 tablespoons),
- salt and pepper (to taste),
- parsley, chives or dill.
How to do it:
1. Place the herring flakes in a bowl, pour cold water over them and set aside for about 3 hours (you will rinse out their salty taste). Change the water at least twice during this time. Then dry them, cut them into wide strips and sprinkle with lemon juice. Cover the bowl with herrings and put in the fridge for about 1.5 hours (to let the flavors mingle).
2. Hard-boil the eggs, let them cool and peel them.
3. When the herrings are ready, chop the onion into small cubes. Cut the cucumbers into half-slices. Cut the marinated mushrooms into slices or small pieces. Cut the boiled and cooled eggs into larger cubes.
4. Pour the onion, cucumbers, mushrooms, eggs and drained corn into a deeper bowl. Mix gently until ingredients are combined.
5. Add herring and mayonnaise (more than 3 tablespoons if necessary). Season with salt and pepper according to your preference. Mix carefully.
6. Sprinkle your favorite greens on top and put in the fridge for a few hours to gain more flavor.
2) Herring salad with beetroot and egg
Ingredients:
-
5 herring fillets,
- 4 large beets (cooked),
- 3 carrots,
- onion,
- 200 g yellow cheese (grated),
- 5 eggs,
- 5 tablespoons of mayonnaise,
- a teaspoon of mustard,
- salt and pepper
- some lemon juice.
How to do it:
1. Hard-boil the eggs and set aside to cool. Then peel them and separate the whites from the yolks. Chop the egg whites finely and crush the yolks into small lumps.
2. Boil the beetroots in their jackets, peel them and cut them into small cubes (or grate them on a large grater).
3. Boil the peeled carrots, drain and cool. Then chop.
4. Peel the onion and chop finely.
5. Grate the cheese on a large grater.
6. Dry the herring and cut it into small pieces. Sprinkle with lemon juice.
7. Prepare the sauce – combine mayonnaise with mustard, add salt and pepper to taste. Mix and divide into 3 equal portions.
8. Take a small cake tin and place half of the herrings on the bottom. Then spread all the grated cheese evenly and cover with the first layer of mayonnaise sauce. Then put the chopped carrots and herring again. Cover with a second layer of mayonnaise. Put the beetroots, mayonnaise sauce and egg whites. Sprinkle everything with crushed egg yolks. Season everything on top.
9. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (but preferably a few hours) so that the salad hardens and gains more flavor.
3) Herring salad with apple
Ingredients:
-
4 herring fillets in oil,
- 2 onions,
- 3 pickled cucumbers,
- carrot,
- apple,
- 3 tablespoons of oil (rapeseed or herring oil),
- lemon juice,
- salt and pepper (to taste).
How to do it:
1. Drain the oil from the fillets and rinse them with running water to remove excess salt. Dry and cut into small squares.
2. Peel the onions and cut them into feathers. Chop the pickled cucumbers into half-slices.
3. Peel the carrot and grate it on the large holes of a grater.
4. Peel the apple, remove the core and grate it on a large grater. Pour lemon juice over it.
5. Put the chopped herring, onion, cucumbers, grated carrot and apple into a large bowl and mix everything gently.
6. Pour in oil (rapeseed or herring oil), season with salt and pepper as desired. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
7. Before serving, chill the herring salad for at least 30 minutes.
4) Lent herring salad
Ingredients:
-
4 herring fillets (with vinegar marinade),
- 6 potatoes (boiled),
- 4 carrots,
- 5 hard-boiled eggs,
- half a can of canned peas,
- salt and pepper to taste.
Sos:
- 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise,
- 3 tablespoons of thick natural yogurt or cream.
How to do it:
1. Peel the potatoes and carrots, wash them and put them in a pot with warm, salted water. Cook until soft, strain and leave to cool. Then peel and cut into cubes.
2. Hard-boil the eggs and let them cool. Peel and cut into cubes.
3. Remove the herring from the brine and cut into thin strips or cubes.
4. Drain the peas from the brine.
5. Place the potatoes, carrots, eggs, herrings and peas in a deeper bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then mix carefully until combined.
6. In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise with natural yogurt or cream. Pour the prepared sauce over the Lenten herring salad and mix gently.
7. Cover the salad and put it in the fridge for at least a few hours to cool it down a bit and let the flavors meld.
5) Herring salad with corn and peas
Ingredients:
- 6 herring fillets,
- 4 hard-boiled eggs,
- 2 pickled cucumbers,
- 1/2 of a larger apple,
- some lemon juice,
- 3/4 cup of canned corn,
- 1/2 cup canned peas,
- 2 tablespoons of cream 18%,
- 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise,
- pepper to taste.
How to do it:
1. Remove the fillets from the salty brine and place in cold water for 3 hours (change the water several times during this time). Then take them out, dry them with a paper towel and cut them into larger pieces.
2. Hard-boil the eggs, cool and peel them. Cut into medium-sized cubes.
3. Peel the apple and cut it into smaller cubes. Sprinkle with lemon juice to keep it nice color.
4. Also cut the pickled cucumbers into smaller pieces.
5. Drain the corn and peas from the brine.
6. Put all the ingredients into a deeper bowl – herring, eggs, cucumbers, apple, corn and peas. Mix gently.
7. In a smaller bowl, combine the cream, mayonnaise and pepper to taste. Mix until combined and add to the herring salad. Mix gently until the ingredients are combined.
8. Put the snack in the fridge for a few hours to harden and develop flavors.
It is not without reason that herring salads are the first to disappear from the table. They are simple, meaningful and give you a lot of scope for creativity in the kitchen. They are perfect for any occasion and season. With a little work, you can get a tasty and filling snack.
Source: Terazgotuje.pl, kontakter.pl
