Pickled Herring
Classic Scandinavian-style pickled herring cured in a spiced white wine vinegar brine with red onion, carrot, and dill. Best served cold after 48 hours of pickling.
TOTAL TIME
60 hr 23 min
ACTIVE TIME
26 min
QUANTITY
~1.9 l
DIFFICULTY
Medium
CUISINE
—
Who’s eating
A
Cooking for A typical adult.
This should leave everyone comfortably full.
Ingredients0/13
Tools0/15
Ingredients0/13 gathered · 5 servings
40g
650ml
600g
1piece
1piece
10g
300ml
100g
1tsp
1tsp
6piece
2piece
0.5tsp| # | Product | Quantity | Notes | State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 40g | — | — | |
| 2 | | 650ml | — | — | |
| 3 | | 600g | — | — | |
| 4 | | 1piece | — | — | |
| 5 | | 1piece | — | — | |
| 6 | | 10g | — | — | |
| 7 | | 300ml | — | — | |
| 8 | | 100g | — | — | |
| 9 | | 1tsp | — | — | |
| 10 | | 1tsp | — | — | |
| 11 | | 6piece | — | — | |
| 12 | | 2piece | — | — | |
| 13 | | 0.5tsp | — | — |
Tools15 items
Serveware1 item
Procedure43 steps
1 of 43
Tip the coarse sea salt into the large bowl.
Coarse sea salt · 40 g
⏱ 10s
ResultCoarse sea salt2 of 43
Pour in 500 ml of cold water.
Water · 500 ml⏱ 10s
ResultSalt and cold water3 of 43
Stir until the salt has dissolved.
⏱ 1 min 30s
ResultSalt brine4 of 43
Lay the herring fillets in the brine so they are covered.
Herring fillets · 600 g⏱ 30s
ResultHerring in salt brine5 of 43
Cover the bowl with cling film.
⏱ 15s
6 of 43
Put the bowl in the fridge.
⏱ 5s
ResultHerring in salt brine7 of 43
Leave the herring in the brine for 12 hours.
⏱ 12 hr
ResultSalt-cured herring8 of 43
Take the bowl out of the fridge and remove the cling film.
⏱ 5s
ResultSalt-cured herringused in step 309 of 43
Lay the red onion on the chopping board.
Red onion · 1 piece
⏱ 5s
ResultRed onion10 of 43
Trim the root and top and peel off the papery skin.
⏱ 30s
ResultPeeled red onion12 of 43
Put the onion rings in the medium bowl.
⏱ 10s
ResultFinely sliced onion13 of 43
Lay the carrot on the chopping board.
Carrots · 1 piece⏱ 5s
ResultCarrots17 of 43
Lay the dill on the chopping board.
Fresh dill · 10 g⏱ 5s
ResultFresh dill19 of 43
Add the dill to the onion and carrot.
⏱ 10s
ResultPickle vegetables20 of 43
Pour the white wine vinegar into the small saucepan.
White wine vinegar · 300 ml
⏱ 10s
ResultWhite wine vinegar21 of 43
Add 150 ml of water.
Water · 150 ml⏱ 5s
ResultWhite wine vinegar and water22 of 43
Add the caster sugar.
Caster sugar · 100 g⏱ 5s
ResultWhite wine vinegar and water and caster sugar23 of 43
Add the mustard seeds.
Yellow mustard seeds · 1 tsp⏱ 5s
ResultWhite wine vinegar and water mixture24 of 43
Add the peppercorns.
Black peppercorns · 1 tsp⏱ 5s
ResultWhite wine vinegar and water mixture25 of 43
Add the allspice berries.
Allspice berries · 6 piece⏱ 5s
ResultVinegar with whole spices26 of 43
Add the bay leaves.
Bay leaves · 2 piece⏱ 5s
ResultVinegar with spices and bay27 of 43
Add the chilli flakes.
Chilli flakes · 0.5 tsp⏱ 5s
ResultSpiced pickling mixture28 of 43
Heat over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil.
⏱ 5 min
ResultHot pickling liquor29 of 43
Take the pan off the heat and leave the liquor to cool completely.
⏱ 30 min
ResultCooled pickling liquorused in step 3930 of 43
Tip the herring into the colander in the sink.
⏱ 15s
ResultDrained cured herring32 of 43
Rinse the fillets briefly under cold running water.
⏱ 1 min
ResultRinsed cured herring33 of 43
Lay the fillets on the chopping board.
⏱ 15s
ResultRinsed cured herring34 of 43
Pat the fillets dry with kitchen paper.
⏱ 1 min
ResultDried cured herring35 of 43
Pull out any pin bones with the tweezers.
⏱ 5 min
ResultBoned herring fillets36 of 43
Cut the fillets across into pieces about 3 cm wide.
⏱ 2 min
ResultHerring pieces37 of 43
Add the herring to the vegetables in the bowl.
⏱ 15s
ResultHerring and pickle vegetables38 of 43
Pack the herring and vegetables into the glass jar in layers.
⏱ 2 min
ResultPacked herring jar39 of 43
Pour the cooled liquor and its spices over the herring until it is covered.
⏱ 20s
ResultHerring in pickling liquor40 of 43
Screw the lid on tightly.
⏱ 10s
41 of 43
Put the jar in the fridge.
⏱ 5s
ResultHerring in pickling liquor42 of 43
Leave it to pickle for 2 days before eating.
⏱ 48 hr
ResultPickled herring43 of 43
Take the jar out of the fridge and open it.
⏱ 5s
ResultPickled herringTotal Time60 hr 23 min
| # | Product | Tool | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 g | | Tip the coarse sea salt into the large bowl.⏱ 10sResultCoarse sea salt |
| 2 | 500 ml | | Pour in 500 ml of cold water.⏱ 10sResultSalt and cold water |
| 3 | — | | Stir until the salt has dissolved.⏱ 1 min 30sResultSalt brine |
| 4 | 600 g | | Lay the herring fillets in the brine so they are covered.⏱ 30sResultHerring in salt brine |
| 5 | — | | Cover the bowl with cling film.⏱ 15s |
| 6 | — | | Put the bowl in the fridge.⏱ 5sResultHerring in salt brine |
| 7 | — | | Leave the herring in the brine for 12 hours.⏱ 12 hrResultSalt-cured herring |
| 8 | — | | Take the bowl out of the fridge and remove the cling film.⏱ 5sResultSalt-cured herringused in step 30 |
| 9 | 1 piece | | Lay the red onion on the chopping board.⏱ 5sResultRed onion |
| 10 | Red onionstep 9 | | Trim the root and top and peel off the papery skin.⏱ 30sResultPeeled red onion |
| 11 | Peeled red onionstep 10 | | Slice the onion into thin rings.⏱ 1 minResultFinely sliced onion |
| 12 | Finely sliced onionstep 11 | | Put the onion rings in the medium bowl.⏱ 10sResultFinely sliced onion |
| 13 | 1 piece | | Lay the carrot on the chopping board.⏱ 5sResultCarrots |
| 14 | Carrotsstep 13 |  | Peel the carrot with the peeler.⏱ 30sResultPeeled carrots |
| 15 | Peeled carrotsstep 14 | | Slice the carrot into thin rounds.⏱ 1 minResultSliced Carrots |
| 16 | Sliced Carrotsstep 15 | | Add the carrot to the onion.⏱ 10sResultOnion and carrot |
| 17 | 10 g | | Lay the dill on the chopping board.⏱ 5sResultFresh dill |
| 18 | Fresh dillstep 17 | | Chop the dill fronds roughly.⏱ 30sResultRoughly chopped dill |
| 19 | Roughly chopped dillstep 18 | | Add the dill to the onion and carrot.⏱ 10sResultPickle vegetables |
| 20 | 300 ml | | Pour the white wine vinegar into the small saucepan.⏱ 10sResultWhite wine vinegar |
| 21 | 150 ml | | Add 150 ml of water.⏱ 5sResultWhite wine vinegar and water |
| 22 | 100 g | | Add the caster sugar.⏱ 5sResultWhite wine vinegar and water and caster sugar |
| 23 | 1 tsp | | Add the mustard seeds.⏱ 5sResultWhite wine vinegar and water mixture |
| 24 | 1 tsp | | Add the peppercorns.⏱ 5sResultWhite wine vinegar and water mixture |
| 25 | 6 piece | | Add the allspice berries.⏱ 5sResultVinegar with whole spices |
| 26 | 2 piece | | Add the bay leaves.⏱ 5sResultVinegar with spices and bay |
| 27 | 0.5 tsp | | Add the chilli flakes.⏱ 5sResultSpiced pickling mixture |
| 28 | — | | Heat over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil.⏱ 5 minResultHot pickling liquor |
| 29 | — | | Take the pan off the heat and leave the liquor to cool completely.⏱ 30 minResultCooled pickling liquorused in step 39 |
| 30 | Salt-cured herringstep 8 | | Tip the herring into the colander in the sink.⏱ 15sResultDrained cured herring |
| 31 | Used salt brinestep 30 | — | Pour away the brine.⏱ 5s |
| 32 | — | | Rinse the fillets briefly under cold running water.⏱ 1 minResultRinsed cured herring |
| 33 | — | | Lay the fillets on the chopping board.⏱ 15sResultRinsed cured herring |
| 34 | — | | Pat the fillets dry with kitchen paper.⏱ 1 minResultDried cured herring |
| 35 | — | | Pull out any pin bones with the tweezers.⏱ 5 minResultBoned herring fillets |
| 36 | — | | Cut the fillets across into pieces about 3 cm wide.⏱ 2 minResultHerring pieces |
| 37 | Herring piecesstep 36 | | Add the herring to the vegetables in the bowl.⏱ 15sResultHerring and pickle vegetables |
| 38 | Herring and pickle vegetablesstep 37 | | Pack the herring and vegetables into the glass jar in layers.⏱ 2 minResultPacked herring jar |
| 39 | Cooled pickling liquorstep 29 | | Pour the cooled liquor and its spices over the herring until it is covered.⏱ 20sResultHerring in pickling liquor |
| 40 | — | | Screw the lid on tightly.⏱ 10s |
| 41 | — | | Put the jar in the fridge.⏱ 5sResultHerring in pickling liquor |
| 42 | — | | Leave it to pickle for 2 days before eating.⏱ 48 hrResultPickled herring |
| 43 | — | | Take the jar out of the fridge and open it.⏱ 5sResultPickled herring |
| Total Time | 60 hr 23 min | ||
Serving
- Spoon the herring and vegetables into the serving bowl with a little of their liquor.
Nutritionper serving
Estimated · pre-cooking · 93% ingredients covered
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| 299kcal | |
| 22g | |
| 11g | |
| 3g | |
| 25g | |
| 22g | |
| 1g | |
| 3,216mg |
Ingredients0/13
Tools0/15
Recipe
Pickled Herring
Classic Scandinavian-style pickled herring cured in a spiced white wine vinegar brine with red onion, carrot, and dill. Best served cold after 48 hours of pickling.
What you’ll doYou will cure herring fillets in a salt brine for 12 hours, then rinse, bone and cut them into pieces. They are packed into a jar with red onion, carrot and dill, covered with a cooled sweet-sour spiced vinegar and left to pickle in the fridge for 2 days.
Serves5
Total60 hr 23 min
LevelMedium
Ingredients
- Coarse sea salt40 g
- Water650 ml
- Herring fillets600 g
- Red onion1 piece
- Carrots1 piece
- Fresh dill10 g
- White wine vinegar300 ml
- Caster sugar100 g
- Yellow mustard seeds1 tsp
- Black peppercorns1 tsp
- Allspice berries6 piece
- Bay leaves2 piece
- Chilli flakes0.5 tsp
Tools
SpoonGlass jarSmall saucepanChef's knifeMedium bowlLarge bowlCling filmSlotted spoonTweezersRefrigeratorColanderPeelerServing bowlKitchen paperChopping board
Method
1
Tip the coarse sea salt into the large bowl.
10sLarge bowlCoarse sea salt · 40 g
2
Pour in 500 ml of cold water.
10sLarge bowlWater · 500 ml
3
Stir until the salt has dissolved.
1 min 30sLarge bowl, Spoon
4
Lay the herring fillets in the brine so they are covered.
30sLarge bowlHerring fillets · 600 g
5
Cover the bowl with cling film.
15sLarge bowl, Cling film
6
Put the bowl in the fridge.
5sLarge bowl, Refrigerator
7
Leave the herring in the brine for 12 hours.
12 hrLarge bowl
8
Take the bowl out of the fridge and remove the cling film.
Result · Salt-cured herring · used in step 30
5sLarge bowl, Refrigerator, Cling film
9
Lay the red onion on the chopping board.
5sChopping boardRed onion · 1 piece
10
Trim the root and top and peel off the papery skin.
30sChopping board, Chefs knifeRed onion · step 9
11
Slice the onion into thin rings.
1 minChopping board, Chefs knifePeeled red onion · step 10
12
Put the onion rings in the medium bowl.
10sMedium bowlFinely sliced onion · step 11
13
Lay the carrot on the chopping board.
5sChopping boardCarrots · 1 piece
14
Peel the carrot with the peeler.
30sChopping board, PeelerCarrots · step 13
15
Slice the carrot into thin rounds.
1 minChopping board, Chefs knifePeeled carrots · step 14
16
Add the carrot to the onion.
10sMedium bowlSliced Carrots · step 15
17
Lay the dill on the chopping board.
5sChopping boardFresh dill · 10 g
18
Chop the dill fronds roughly.
30sChopping board, Chefs knifeFresh dill · step 17
19
Add the dill to the onion and carrot.
10sMedium bowlRoughly chopped dill · step 18
20
Pour the white wine vinegar into the small saucepan.
10sSmall saucepanWhite wine vinegar · 300 ml
21
Add 150 ml of water.
5sSmall saucepanWater · 150 ml
22
Add the caster sugar.
5sSmall saucepanCaster sugar · 100 g
23
Add the mustard seeds.
5sSmall saucepanYellow mustard seeds · 1 tsp
24
Add the peppercorns.
5sSmall saucepanBlack peppercorns · 1 tsp
25
Add the allspice berries.
5sSmall saucepanAllspice berries · 6 piece
26
Add the bay leaves.
5sSmall saucepanBay leaves · 2 piece
27
Add the chilli flakes.
5sSmall saucepanChilli flakes · 0.5 tsp
28
Heat over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil.
5 minSmall saucepan, Spoon
29
Take the pan off the heat and leave the liquor to cool completely.
Result · Cooled pickling liquor · used in step 39
30 minSmall saucepan
30
Tip the herring into the colander in the sink.
15sColanderSalt-cured herring · step 8
31
Pour away the brine.
5sLarge bowlUsed salt brine · step 30
32
Rinse the fillets briefly under cold running water.
1 minColander
33
Lay the fillets on the chopping board.
15sChopping board
34
Pat the fillets dry with kitchen paper.
1 minChopping board, Kitchen paper
35
Pull out any pin bones with the tweezers.
5 minChopping board, Tweezers
36
Cut the fillets across into pieces about 3 cm wide.
2 minChopping board, Chefs knife
37
Add the herring to the vegetables in the bowl.
15sMedium bowlHerring pieces · step 36
38
Pack the herring and vegetables into the glass jar in layers.
2 minGlass jarHerring and pickle vegetables · step 37
39
Pour the cooled liquor and its spices over the herring until it is covered.
20sGlass jarCooled pickling liquor · step 29
40
Screw the lid on tightly.
10sGlass jar
41
Put the jar in the fridge.
5sGlass jar, Refrigerator
42
Leave it to pickle for 2 days before eating.
48 hrGlass jar
43
Take the jar out of the fridge and open it.
5sGlass jar, Refrigerator
44
Spoon the herring and vegetables into the serving bowl with a little of their liquor.
Result · Pickled Herring
1 minServing bowl, Slotted spoonPickled herring · step 43
Printed 7 October 2026