Sledz w Oleju (Polish Herrings)

Method5 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Use only commercially prepared salt-herring fillets (8) whose product directions permit eating after desalting; fresh raw herring is not a substitute. Cover all eight salt fillets with cold water and soak in the refrigerator for at least one hour, following any more specific product desalting guidance. If they are still very salty, repeat with fresh cold water until the salt level is suitable.

   Initial refrigerator salt-herring soak · 60 minUses 8 commercially prepared salt-herring fillets suitable for eating after desalting, according to their product directions · Cold water to cover the salt-herring fillets, changed as needed

2. 2

   Step 2: Drain the desalted fillets thoroughly and cut all of them into bite-sized pieces on a clean board.

   Uses All eight fillets after their cold desalting soak

3. 3

   Step 3: Put all the prepared herring pieces into a clean jar with room for the oil (½ cup). Add the half cup olive oil, all three whole allspice berries, three whole black peppercorns and the bay leaf (1). Add only enough of the separate additional olive oil if needed to cover the pieces, then close the jar.

   Uses All prepared herring pieces · ½ cup olive oil for the jar, with separate additional oil if needed to cover · 3 whole allspice berries · 3 whole black peppercorns · 1 bay leaf · Additional olive oil only as needed to cover the herring pieces in their jar

4. 4

   Step 4: Refrigerate the closed jar for two to three days to develop the seasoning flavours, keeping it chilled throughout and respecting any shorter storage or use-by limit for the purchased fillets. This flavour-maturing step is for already prepared salt herring, not a home cure for fresh fish.

   Refrigerate salt-herring oil jar for flavour · 4320 minUses The complete closed jar

5. 5

   Step 5: Peel and finely chop or slice the large serving onion (1 large). Wash and slice the serving lemon and wash and chop the fresh parsley. Remove the bay leaf and whole spice berries from the chilled herring before plating. Serve the bite-sized herring with the prepared onion, lemon slices and parsley as six starter portions. Keep remaining herring covered and refrigerated and use within the purchased product storage limit.

   Uses The finished chilled herring jar · 1 large onion for serving · Lemon slices for serving, as desired · Fresh parsley, washed and chopped for serving, as desired