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Labskaus

Name: Labskaus
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb floury potatoes, peeled and quartered; 1 lb cooked corned beef, roughly chopped; 1 small onion, finely diced; 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 cup beef broth; 1 cup pickled beets, chopped, plus 2 tbsp of their juice; 4 herring fillets (matjes or pickled); 4 large eggs; 4 gherkins (pickles); 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper; 2 tbsp chopped chives

A rustic hash of corned beef, potatoes, and beetroot, topped with a fried egg and served with pickled herring — the salty sailor’s dish of Hamburg’s harbor.

⏱ 20 minPrep time

🔥 30 minCook time

🍽 4Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

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Labskaus looks like a rustic mash and tastes like the sea and the farm rolled into one — corned beef, potatoes and onions pounded together, blushing pink with pickled beet. It’s the legendary sailor’s dish of the northern ports, hearty beyond reason.

Each plate is crowned with a fried egg, a herring fillet and a gherkin, a garnish that turns humble mash into a proper meal. Serve it with a cold beer and a sense of adventure.

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Step by stepInstructions

Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
Melt the butter in a large skillet and soften the onion over low heat, about 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes, corned beef and broth. Mash roughly with a potato masher, leaving some texture.
Stir in the chopped beets and their juice until the mash is an even pink. Season with salt and pepper.
Fry the eggs sunny-side up and warm the herring fillets gently.
Serve the Labskaus mounded on plates, each topped with a fried egg, a herring fillet and a gherkin.
Scatter with chives and serve hot.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The beet juice gives Labskaus its signature pink — add it gradually until the color looks right. Keep the mash loose, not stiff; it should mound softly on the plate.

Recipe details

Prep20 min

Cook30 min

Servings4

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Labskaus

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Labskaus

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