How to Cook Herring

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You've probably seen pickled or cured herring, but might not know how to cook this popular fish. For an easy, flavorful dinner, mix together an herb filling and stuff the fillets with it. Set the stuffed herrings over sautéed onions and bake them until they're golden. You can also grill the herrings over high heat and serve them with a quick butter and vinegar sauce. If you prefer a crispy fish, coat the herring in breadcrumbs and fry them in a little butter.

Ingredients

Baked Spiced Herring Stuffed with Herbs

  • 4 tablespoons (56 g) butter, divided
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • ½ cup (15 g) fresh herbs, chopped (such as dill, mint, cilantro, rosemary, parsley, chives, or thyme)
  • 6 herring
  • 2 lemons, thinly sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Grilled Herring With a Simple Sauce

  • Eight 3-ounce (75 g) herring fillets
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sunflower or vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup (175 g) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 servings

Crispy Fried Herring

  • 2 herring fillets
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) flour
  • 1/4 cup (25 g) breadcrumbs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter

Makes 1 serving

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Baked Spiced Herring Stuffed With Herbs

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  1. Turn on the oven to 450 °F (232 °C). Take 6 herring and use the blunt side of a knife to rub against the scales. The scales should flake and fall off. Slice each herring from its anal fin up towards its head. Use a small spoon to scoop out the guts of the fish and discard them. Rinse the herring.
    • Most herring fillets are sold with the heads already removed. If your herring still have heads, use a sharp knife to cut them off.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Set a skillet on the stove and put 2 tablespoons (28 g) of the butter into it. Turn the heat to medium and add 1 chopped onion. Stir and sauté the onion for about 7 minutes so it becomes soft.
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  3. Mince 2 cloves of garlic and 1 shallot. Place the garlic and shallot in a mixing bowl along with ½ cup (15 g) of chopped fresh herbs. Stir the mixture until the herbs are evenly distributed.
    • You can use a variety of herbs for a richer flavor. Try mixing dill, mint, cilantro, rosemary, parsley, chives, or thyme.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Transfer the sautéed onions to the bottom of a large baking dish. Spread the onions evenly. Slice 2 lemons and place half of the slices over the onions.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Hold a cleaned herring in the palm of one hand and use a spoon to stuff the herbed filling into it. Fill each of the herrings until you've used all of the herbed filling.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Lay each stuffed herring on top of the onions in your baking dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper according to your taste over the fish. Melt the last 2 tablespoons (28 g) of butter and drizzle it over the herring. Arrange the rest of the lemon slices on top.
  7. Put the dish of herring in the preheated oven and bake the fish for 20 minutes with the lid off. The fish should be completely heated throughout. Consider serving the fish with boiled new potatoes or rice.
    • Avoid storing leftover baked herring because the stuffing will become soggy.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making Grilled Herring With a Simple Sauce

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  1. If you're using a gas grill, turn it on to high heat. If you're using a charcoal grill, prepare a chimney full of briquettes. Dump the hot, ashy coals into the center of the grill's grate. [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Get out eight 3-ounce (75 g) herring fillets and brush them with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of sunflower or vegetable oil. The oil will prevent them from sticking to the grill. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the fish according to your taste. [2]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Place the herring fillets on the hot grill grate so the skin is facing up. Put the lid on the grill and cook the fish until it's completely cooked throughout. This should take 2 to 3 minutes. [3]
  4. While the fish grills, measure 1/4 cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar into a small saucepan. Turn the heat to high, so it comes to a boil. Cut 3/4 cup (175 g) of chilled unsalted butter into small pieces and add a few of the pieces at a time to the hot vinegar. Whisk the mixture until the butter melts and becomes a smooth sauce. Season it with salt and pepper according to your taste. [4]
  5. Use a fish spatula to lift the grilled fish off of the grill. Place 2 herring fillets on each serving plate and drizzle a few spoonfuls of the simple sauce over the fish. Serve the fish while it's hot. [5]
    • Consider serving the grilled herring with potato salad or boiled new potatoes.
    • If you'd like to store the leftover herring in the refrigerator, place it in an airtight container and use it within a few days.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Crispy Fried Herring

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Get out 2 herring fillets and pat them dry on both sides using paper towels. Set a shallow plate or bowl on your work surface and measure 1/4 cup (30 g) of flour and 1/4 cup (25 g) of breadcrumbs into it. Stir the flour and breadcrumbs until they're combined.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Lay each of the fillets in the dry breadcrumb mixture. Turn the fillets over so they're completely coated with the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper according to your taste.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Place 2 tablespoons (28 g) of butter into a heavy 10-inch (25-cm) skillet. Melt the butter over medium-high heat until it begins to foam up a little.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Slowly lower the coated herring fillets into the skillet. Cook the herring for 3 minutes without turning or moving the fish.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Herring
    Use a fish spatula or turner to carefully flip both of the fillets over. Let them cook for another 3 minutes. They should be golden brown on both sides.
  6. Lay a paper towel on a plate and transfer the fried herring to the plate. To serve the fish, consider placing the fillets on a piece of bread. Serve the fish with tartar sauce, sliced red onion, and a wedge of lemon.
    • Avoid storing leftover fried fish because it will become soggy.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Do I take the skin off?
    Clheart
    Community Answer
    If you are frying or grilling the herring, you should take the skin off. If you are making stuffed herring, remove the scales but leave the skin on. For recipes not listed here, consult the author, but leaving the skin on is fine for everything else I can think of except fish pie.
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      Things You'll Need

      Baked Spiced Herring

      • Large baking dish
      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Digital scale
      • Butter knife
      • Mixing bowl
      • Skillet
      • Spoon
      • Knife and cutting board

      Grilled Herring With a Simple Sauce

      • Gas or charcoal grill
      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Digital scale
      • Fish spatula or turner
      • Serving plates
      • Brush
      • Small saucepan
      • Spoon

      Crispy Fried Herring

      • Measuring cups or digital scale
      • Paper towels
      • Shallow bowl or plate
      • 10-inch (25-cm) skillet
      • Fish spatula or turner
      • Plate

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages16/recip0752.htm
      2. ↑ http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages16/recip0752.htm
      3. ↑ http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages16/recip0752.htm
      4. ↑ http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages16/recip0752.htm
      5. ↑ http://www.hub-uk.com/foodpages16/recip0752.htm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To cook herring in a frying pan, start by coating herring fillets in a mixture of flour and breadcrumbs. Then, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the pan, and cook the fillets for 3 minutes on both sides. Once they’re done, place the herring on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil. After a few minutes, serve the fish with tartar sauce, sliced red onion, and a wedge of lemon. To learn how to cook herring in the oven or on the grill, scroll down.

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