Nordic pickled herring

A Nordic seafood dish built on whole ingredients.

Servings: 4
Active time: 20 min
Total time: 3 days

Organic sourcing

Herring is a wild-caught fish and less impacted by organic choices. Focus on organic for carrots and onions, both on the EWG Dirty Dozen list.

Ingredients

• 4 fresh herring fillets
• 200 ml water
• 100 ml apple cider vinegar
• 100 ml white wine vinegar
• 150 g sugar
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
• 5 whole allspice berries
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch dill, roughly chopped

Method

1. In a saucepan, combine the water, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sugar, and sea salt.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Allow it to cool completely.
3. Rinse the herring fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
4. Place the herring fillets in a non-reactive container in a single layer.
5. Add the peppercorns, allspice berries, and bay leaf to the cooled vinegar mixture.
6. Layer the carrot slices, red onion, and dill over the herring in the container.
7. Pour the cooled vinegar mixture over the herring and vegetables, ensuring everything is submerged.
8. Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap.
9. Refrigerate for at least 3 days to allow the flavors to meld.

Notes

• The pickling can be done up to a week in advance.
• Serve with boiled potatoes or rye bread for a traditional pairing.
• Adjust sugar to taste for a less sweet brine.

Source

Paraphrased from the culinary canon by Organic.is editors, 2026. Classic Nordic recipe. If you'd like a specific source for further reading, ask Tinni (bottom-right) for a book recommendation.