Poland is a country that is famous for its abundance of fresh fish and the various delicious dishes they make with it. And today, we’ll teach you how to make one of their most popular dishes; Polish herring in oil.
The Polish herring in oil is an incredibly sophisticated dish that requires both your creativity and cooking sense. By reading this article, you will definitely be able to recreate this dish and enjoy some fine food with your family!
Ingredients:
To create this recipe, you will need the following ingredients –
- 8-9 0z of herring
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 large onion
- ¼ cup of vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- ¼ teaspoon of sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- ¼ cup of chopped parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- Fruits (optional)
- Milk or buttermilk (optional)
Herring in Oil Recipe
Here are the steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Gather Ingredients
First, gather all the ingredients. For this recipe, you can purchase either type of two herrings – whole herring or herring fillets. In case you plan on using the whole herring, make sure to peel the skin and cut the fins off after keeping it soaked. There is no need for additional steps in case you use salted herring fillets.
Step 2: Soak the Herring
Herring is naturally salty and has a bad odor. Therefore, it is necessary to soak it to get rid of that bad smell and excess salt.
Rinse the herring in cold water first, and then keep it soaked in another water bath for at least an hour. Some people recommend keeping the herring soaked overnight to get rid of the smell totally.
It is best if you change the water a few times, depending on the smell that is still coming out of the fish. You can also use milk or buttermilk as an alternative for soaking.
Step 3: Slice It Up
Once the herring has been soaked and rinsed enough, it is time to slice it up. Make sure to cut them into small bite-sized pieces so that they can get coated in the seasonings evenly.
Step 4: Make an Onion Crisp
To make this, peel the onion and cut it into thin rings. Next, boil the onions in some water that has been mixed with vinegar. After 2 minutes, pick up the onion rings and run them under cold water.
Step 5: Marinade
This step is where the magic happens and where you can let your creative mind come to play. First, add the onion with the herring, and then keep mixing the ingredients you want to marinade the dish with. You can add oil, bay leaf, sugar, and pepper as per this recipe.
If you do not want to use vegetable oil, try using olive oil or sunflower oil. Some people eliminate the oil altogether and use vinegar.
You might try incorporating sliced fruits, more onion, sour cream, brine, or some vinegar to the mix. Just add all the ingredients in an airtight container, and store them overnight.
Step 6: Mix and Serve
Get the container out the next night, and serve with some sliced onion, lemon, parsley, dill, and cream if needed. You can try to eat it with rice to get a better taste.
Additional Tips
- You can add dried tomatoes and cranberries to the oil to give it a sweeter taste
- You can keep the herring preserved for 2 whole weeks by refrigerating it after it is served
Final Words
Herring in oil is a fish recipe that you should try at least once in your lifetime. It is also a good form of protein and vitamins, so you cannot really go wrong with this bowl of goodness.
