Pickled Herring Recipe - How to Pickle Herring at Home (2024)

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4.80 from 29 votes

By Hank Shaw

March 08, 2011 | Updated June 06, 2022

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Pickled Herring Recipe - How to Pickle Herring at Home (2)

Herring spoils so fast it is almost always eaten salted, pickled or smoked. I’ve eaten (and made) herring in all these forms, but there is something special that makes pickled herring so popular, especially in Northern Europe.

I think it’s because the acidic twang of the vinegar and lemon counteract the rich fattiness of the herring fillets — these fish are among the foods highest in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The addition ofspices, sugarand onion add a personal touch.

This particular recipe is for Swedish glasmastarsill, or glassblower’s herring. Why it is called that I have no idea. Best I can tell it is because this pickle is always put up in glass jars, with the silvery skin of the herring facing outward. Let’s face it, folks: For a pickled little bony fish, this is as pretty as it gets.

Most pickled herring recipes start with pre-salted herring — the kind that come in cans. If you use these, skip the salt in the initial brine and soak the fish in fresh water overnight. They’ll still be plenty salty.

Having some salt in the fish is important: I once made this recipe with fresh herring that I failed to brine, and they turned to mush within 2 weeks. A disaster. You need the salt to extract extra moisture from the fish and keep them firm.

I like these just as a snack, withpumpernickel or rye bread, potatoes of any kind, hard-boiled eggs — or just on a cracker.

If you are so inclined, here is a good primer on food safety when pickling fish, from the University of Minnesota.

4.80 from 29 votes

Swedish Pickled Herring

A classic recipe for Swedish pickled herring called glasmastarsill, or glassblower's herring. Herring, sardines, smelt or whitefish can all be pickled this way

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Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Scandinavian

Servings: 12

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 5 cups water, divided
  • 1 pound herring fillets
  • 2 cups distilled or white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seed
  • 2 teaspoons whole allspice
  • 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced

Instructions

  • Heat 4 cups of water enough to dissolve salt. Let this brine cool to room temperature. When it does, submerge the herring fillets in the brine and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours. Meanwhile, bring the sugar, vinegar, the remaining cup of water and all the spices to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and let this steep until cool.

  • When the herring have brined, layer them in a glass jar with the sliced lemon and red onion. Divide the spices between your containers if you are using more than one. Pour over the cooled pickling liquid and seal the jars. Wait at least a day before eating. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Appetizers and Snacks, Fish, Preservation Recipes, Recipe, Scandinavian

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Pickled Herring Recipe - How to Pickle Herring at Home (2024)

FAQs

Is herring cooked before pickling? ›

No, it is not. Traditionally it is first cured with salt to reduce the water content of the meat, then placed in a vinegar-based brine. Recipes vary a bit, but for classic Bismarckhering 14% salt and 7% acetic acid are used.

How do you preserve herrings? ›

Most cured herring uses a two-step curing process: it is first cured with salt to extract water; then the salt is removed and the herring is brined in a vinegar, salt, and sugar solution, often with peppercorn, bay leaves, raw onions, and so on.

How is herring prepared? ›

There are many ways to cook and prepare herring, such as from boiling, frying, smoking, roasting, grilling, and pickling. Smoked or pickled herring makes a nice accoutrement to an appetizer spread, and is often served at breakfast in Scandinavian countries.

How long does herring in oil last? ›

Place in a jar large enough to accommodate the pieces and cover with oil, allspice, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Close the jar. Refrigerate for two to three days before eating. This will keep refrigerated up to two weeks.

What is the best way to cook herring? ›

Heat grill to its highest setting. Rinse the fish under running cold water to dislodge any loose scales. Brush with a little of the oil and season lightly. Grill for 6-8 mins, or until cooked; the eye should be white, the skin well browned and the flesh firm and opaque.

Why do you boil before pickling? ›

You take all of your ingredients, apart from the product that is being pickled, and bring them to a boil. The heating process helps activate the flavors in the brine and marry them together.

Can pickled herring go bad? ›

We recommend you enjoy your herring within 10–15 days of opening the jar. Word to the wise? You want to keep your pickled herring refrigerated at all times, even if it's sealed.

How long does a jar of pickled herring last? ›

Once you've opened pickled herring, you can store it in the refrigerator for about three months. Smoked herring can stay good for about three to four days, as long as you store it properly. It should be kept in the refrigerator in a tightly covered glass or plastic container.

Can you eat too much pickled herring? ›

3. Potential risks when eating pickled herring. Pickled herring is high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack.

What is the healthiest way to eat herring? ›

Pickled herring is high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure, increasing your risk of a heart attack. If you are concerned about the high level of sodium in pickled herring, you could try smoked herring, which contains a much lower level of sodium, or fresh herring that has not been cured or smoked.

How long does it take to ferment herring? ›

During the production of surströmming, just enough salt is used to prevent the raw herring from rotting while allowing it to ferment. A fermentation process of at least six months gives the fish its characteristic strong smell and somewhat acidic taste.

Is herring pickled raw? ›

It can be raw herring in a mild vinegar pickle or Dutch brined herring. As well as vinegar, the marinade might contain cider, wine or tea, sugar, herbs (usually bay leaf), spices (usually mace), and chopped onion. The word 'soused' can also describe a marinated herring that has been cooked.

How long do you soak herring fish? ›

Soak whole salt herrings for 12 hours in several changes of cold water. Remove herrings from water and bone and skin them, producing 6 or 8 fillets.

How often can I eat pickled herring? ›

Highly Nutritious. Many Germans enjoy pickled or canned herring once a week, and so should you. In 2022, the FDA published an advisory for pregnant women and parents on the healthiest fish to consume. Herring is in the top bracket and the FDA recommends eating herring (and other “superfish”) three times a week.

Does pickled fish go bad? ›

Fish is usually cured to 1.5–5% total salt, depending on the taste desired. Af- ter the fish is cured, it is placed in the pickling brine. It must be refrigerated and has a limited storage life (4–5 months).

Is pickled herring made with raw fish? ›

It can be raw herring in a mild vinegar pickle or Dutch brined herring. As well as vinegar, the marinade might contain cider, wine or tea, sugar, herbs (usually bay leaf), spices (usually mace), and chopped onion. The word 'soused' can also describe a marinated herring that has been cooked.

Is herring served raw? ›

The herring is said to be eaten "raw" because it has not been cooked, although it has been subjected to a degree of curing. The first barrel of Hollandse Nieuwe is traditionally sold at auction for charity. Very young herring are called whitebait and are eaten whole as a delicacy.

Does canned herring need to be cooked? ›

Not only is tinned herring an accessible fish to eat straight from the container, but it's also bursting with flavor. Given that the herrings are so quickly cleaned, cooked, and canned, they maintain their initial freshness and develop a depth of flavor while soaking in their brine.

Can you get worms from pickled herring? ›

Anisakiasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of larval nematodes in raw seafood dishes such as sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and pickled herring. Symptoms of anisakiasis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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