Description
My Cream Herring with Dill Pickles is for once a traditional dish and one of my all-time favourites. Extra tender pickled herring is marinated in a sauce made of sour cream, crunchy and tart dill pickles, sweet apples and onions plus a good bunch of fresh dill, supporting both the pickles and fish, cutting through the saltiness of it and adding gentle grassy anise notes to the dish. Eaten with boiled potatoes, it’s a delicacy you mostly find in Scandinavian and Eastern European cuisines, and once you try it you’ll be hooked.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb Matjes fillets
- 1 apple (I used Pink Lady)
- 1/2 cup dill pickles (or more to taste)
- 2 tbsp pickle juice
- 1 onion (small)
- 1 cup sour cream (or Oat cream if you are lactose intolerant)
- 2 tbsp dill (fresh or 2 tsp dried)
Instructions
Prepare the Fish
- Rinse the brine off the Matjes fillets under cold water.
- Optional:
Soak them in a bit of milk for 1 hour to reduce saltiness, especially if you’re salt-sensitive. - Lay the fillets on a plate lined with paper towels and pat dry.
- Cut into bite-sized pieces—big enough to appreciate their silky texture. Transfer to a bowl (glass is ideal for easy cleanup).
Prep the Veg and Fruit
- Peel and thinly slice the onion.
- Core the apple and chop it into small pieces. Peeling is optional; the skin adds nice texture and fiber.
- Slice the dill pickles.
- Finely chop the dill.
Mix the Salad
- Add the onion, apple, pickles, dill, sour cream, and pickle juice to the bowl with the herring.
- Stir gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
Chill
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours—overnight is even better. The flavors will meld into a luscious, tangy, creamy sauce.
Notes
Serve chilled with boiled baby potatoes or a hearty slice of rye or pumpernickel bread.
Garnish with extra dill if desired.
Keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days—it only improves with time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad
- Method: Chop
- Cuisine: German, Polish, Scandinavian
Nutrition
- Calories: 332
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 377
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 102
