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Pickled Herring

Sweet-sour herring in a spiced vinegar brine — the first and most essential course of any Nordic feast.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 5 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Pickled Herring

Pickled herring is the cornerstone of the Scandinavian table — silky fillets steeped in a sweet-and-sour vinegar brine with onion, allspice and dill. Its tangy, aromatic character is made to be eaten with snaps and rye bread.

It is the traditional first course of the smörgåsbord, where it appears in countless variations. The herring needs a few days in the brine to mellow into something truly special, so a little patience is part of the recipe.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. If using salt herring, soak it in cold water in the fridge for 12-24 hours, changing the water twice, then rinse and pat dry.
  2. Heat the vinegar, sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, then cool completely.
  3. Layer the herring, onion slices, spices and dill in a clean jar.
  4. Pour the cooled brine over to cover, seal, and refrigerate at least 3 days before eating.
  5. Slice the herring on the bias and serve on rye bread with sour cream, chives and a splash of the onion.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The longer the herring sits, the rounder the flavor gets — it keeps for weeks in the fridge. Serve with snaps, as tradition demands.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook5 min
Servings8
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 →