Easy Pickled Herring Recipes Even Skeptics Will Love: Scandinavian-Inspired Dips, Salads & Flatbreads

Herring can be a somewhat polarizing food which I found out when I surveyed random people. When asked if they like herring, people either responded with a smile and a joyful, “Oh, Yes!” or a resounding, “No!” One man even informed me he didn’t have to eat herring—he was German!

People who like herring usually grew up eating herring at home or perhaps discovered it as an adult at a salad bar. When asked how they prepared herring, the answer was without fail, “I just eat it—maybe with a soda cracker.” They hadn’t really thought about going beyond getting a piece out of the jar and eating it.

After contemplating this, I decided to explore ways to prepare herring. These recipes turned out to be a hit with people who already love pickled herring; in addition, people who had not yet discovered herring tried the dishes and liked them as well.

For these recipes, I used the Viking Prime Herring Cutlets in Wine Sauce which is offered at Norsland Lefse along with other varieties. I used Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Thins as well as a homemade rosemary flatbread with the Herring Dip. Norsland Lefse sells a multitude of other flatbreads so you have many from which to choose. Of course, the lefse I served also came from Norsland Lefse.

Herring Dip with Flatbreads or Crackers

If you're wondering how to eat pickled herring, start with this creamy dip. It’s perfect as an appetizer or for entertaining guests who are curious but cautious about trying herring.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pickled herring, drained and chopped
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried dill weed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix sour cream, onion, mustard, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper.
2. Gently stir in chopped herring.
3. Serve with flatbreads or crackers. Try Finn Crisp sourdough rye thins or homemade rosemary flatbread from Norsland Lefse.

Homemade Rosemary Flatbread

This flatbread recipe pairs beautifully with fish dishes and is ideal for scooping up Scandinavian herring dips.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups flour
• 1 tsp dried rosemary (plus more to top the flatbread)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup water
• ⅓ cup olive oil (plus more to brush the flatbread)
• Sea salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat a heavy baking sheet on the middle rack of an oven to 450°F.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, rosemary, baking powder and salt.
3. Make a well in the center and add water and oil. Stir until dough forms.
4. Knead dough five times on a work surface.
5. Divide dough into three balls; keep two covered with plastic wrap.
6. Roll out one ball on parchment paper into a 10-inch circle.
7. Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary and sea salt. Press lightly.
8. Slide parchment and dough onto preheated baking sheet. Bake 8–10 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool on a rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Break into pieces and serve.

Scandinavian Pickled Herring Salad

This creamy herring salad recipe is full of texture and flavor. It's delicious served on rye bread or rolled up in lefse wraps.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz jar herring in wine sauce with onions
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 scallions, sliced
• ¾ bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 apple, diced small
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp celery seed
• Rye bread

Instructions:

1. Drain and chop herring and onions. Place in a bowl.
2. Add scallions and bell pepper.
3. In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, and celery seed. Fold in apples.
4. Combine dressing with herring mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5. Serve on rye bread or in lefse wraps.

Herring Potato Salad with Dill and Apples

Looking for a Scandinavian potato salad that’s a little unexpected? This hearty dish balances tangy herring with potatoes, apples, and dill for a refreshing twist.

Salad Ingredients:

• 1½ lbs yellow potatoes
• 14 oz pickled herring, drained and chopped
• 2 small apples, chopped
• 1 small red onion
• 4 eggs
• 3 medium dill pickles, chopped

Sauce Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp honey
• 1 tsp dill weed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Dice red onion and marinate in vinegar for 15 minutes.
2. Peel and cube potatoes. Boil for 6 minutes.
3. Add eggs to pot and boil for another 8 minutes. Drain.
4. Make the dressing while potatoes and eggs cook. Combine reserved vinegar with remaining sauce ingredients.
5. Whisk and pour over drained potatoes while still warm.
6. Peel and chop eggs. Add with apples, pickles, and herring to potatoes.
7. Mix, cover, and refrigerate. Lasts several days.

Final Thoughts: How to Serve Pickled Herring

My lunch guests truly enjoyed the herring dishes. One commented that while she doesn’t usually like potato salad, she loved the herring potato salad. Another comment was that the dishes were not as strong in herring flavor which they thought would be good for people trying herring for the first time. Several of the lunch guests chose to use the herring salad in some of the lefse I served with the meal and make a wrap. They found the salad was more flavorful in the lefse than it had been with the rye bread,

If you enjoy herring, you’ll enjoy using it in some of these dishes as a change from simply eating it as is. Get yourself a spare jar and enjoy!

Check out our step-by-step pictures below.

1. Herring dip mixed up and ready to serve.

2. Making rosemary flatbread—a well in the flour mixture and pouring in the olive oil and water.

3. Kneaded rosemary flatbread dough.

4. Flatbread rolled thin with a brushi of olive oil before adding more rosemary and sea salt.

5. Flatbread oiled and additional rosemary and seas salt sprinkled on it—ready for the oven.

6. Rosemary flatbread after baking.

7. The flatbread is all baked and ready to be broken for serving.

8. Red onion is chopped and marinating in red wine vinegar.

9. Potatoes peeled and chopped—ready to boil.

10. Mixing up the sauce for the herring potato salad.

11. The herring dishes are ready for lunch.

12. A closeup of the herring dip and flatbreads.

13. Herring salad with rye bread closeup.

14. A closeup of the herring salad.