| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 24 hrs (for marinating) | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 500 | 32g | 5g | 25g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 10g | 2g | 20g | 1.2g |
Why I Love Finnish Herring in Marinade with Roe Sauce
Ah, Herring in Marinade with Roe Sauce, a recipe that has truly won my heart over. It’s typical of Finnish cuisine with its enchanting blend of flavors – subtly sweet, gently tangy and satisfyingly salty. I stumbled upon this recipe during my culinary explorations and ever since, it’s been a staple in my own kitchen.
A Tale of Two Cultures
As an Indian-American, my heart relishes the incredible fusion of flavors that represents my diverse and beautiful heritage. Indeed, my initial inspiration for trying the Finnish Herring in Marinade with Roe Sauce recipe was its surprising similarity to pickled fish dishes in Indian cuisine. Perhaps it was a subconscious yearning for the tang of Kerala-style fish pickle or the heat of my grandmother’s Gujarati fish curry. The Indian palate is no stranger to marinades and pickles, and the herring fish is a delightful canvas to experiment with.
Inspiration All Around
There is much we can learn from the global banquet table. While I cannot attribute my experience with this recipe to a particular chef, I have drawn inspiration from the simplicity of traditional Finnish cooking and the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients – a philosophy that’s reminiscent of my Californian upbringing. I’ve always been fascinated by Ina Garten’s ability to create comfort food with elegant simplicity, and similarly this dish is comfort food, Finnish style.
The Herring in Marinade with Roe Sauce accompanies a hearty rye bread and mashed potatoes beautifully. Its creamy roe sauce can be likened to a moreish tartar variant, making it a lovely pairing with grilled vegetables too. If you enjoy pickled or preserved seafood like anchovies or sardines, you’re in for a treat!
Finding Joy in the Process
What I love about this recipe is not just the final product, but the journey of making it. It’s a lesson in patience and anticipation: the herring marinates for a day or two, absorbing the flavors of peppercorns, bay leaves, and the wonderful zing from thinly sliced red onions. And then comes the moment where you assemble it with the roe sauce, a delicate blend of mayo, sour cream, and fish roe – it’s a heavenly combination.
So, here’s to new culinary adventures and honoring the global kitchen that brought us the delicious Herring in Marinade with Roe Sauce. Do give it a whirl! In the meantime, I’ll be over here, dreaming up more ways to incorporate these magic flavors into my Indian-American cuisine repertoire.
What You’ll Need
- 1.5 pounds of pickled herring, cubed
- 1 cup of herring marinade (from pickled herring jar)
- 2 teaspoons of peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1.5 cups of water
- 1 cup of fish roe
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup of sour cream
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- Lettuce leaves, for serving
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh dill
Method
Step One
In a medium-sized pot, combine the herring marinade, peppercorns, bay leaves, white vinegar, sugar, and water. Bring the mixture to a bubble over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Step Two
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the sliced onions and carrots to the pot. Simmer the mixture on a low heat until the vegetables are tender, around 25–30 minutes.
Step Three
Next, add your cubed herring to the pot and continue to simmer the mixture for another 5 minutes before removing from the heat. Allow the marinade to cool to room temperature.
Step Four
While the herring is cooling, you can start making the roe sauce. In a separate bowl, combine the fish roe, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix these ingredients well until smooth.
Step Five
Once your herring has cooled, transfer it into a serving dish and pour the roe sauce over the top.
Step Six
To serve your marinated herring, place a few lettuce leaves on each plate and spoon the herring and roe sauce mixture on top. Sprinkle with the fresh dill for added flavor and enjoy!
