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Solomon Gundy

Solomon Gundy recipe: Nova Scotia pickled herring with onions and warm pickling spice, served on crackers with sharp cheddar. Old-school Maritime fare.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Solomon Gundy pickled herring with onions and pickling spice, crackers and sharp cheddar

Solomon Gundy arrived with the settlers who packed herring in vinegar to survive the long winters, and the recipe has barely changed since. The odd name is a source of endless Maritime debate — no one quite agrees where it came from, but everyone agrees the jar belongs on the table.

The fish cures in a sweet-and-sour brine scented with pickling spice, turning firm and rosy. It is served the old way: a piece on a buttered cracker with a slab of cheddar, and a cold beer within reach. It keeps for weeks and only gets better with time.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Soak the herring fillets in cold water for 8 hours or overnight, changing the water a few times to draw out the salt.
  2. Drain the herring and cut it into bite-size pieces, then pack them into a clean glass jar with the sliced onion.
  3. In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, pickling spice, peppercorns and bay leaves, and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Pour the hot brine over the herring and onion, making sure everything is submerged.
  5. Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 3 days before serving so the flavours develop.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Solomon Gundy only gets better with time and will keep for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Serve it on buttered crackers with a slice of sharp cheddar, the classic Maritime way.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

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 →