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Matjes Herring

7/29/2023

16 Comments

 
Whenever I arrive in Germany I seek out one of my favorite meals. It is Matjes herring with fried or boiled potatoes. Matjes herring is a young female herring with silvery skin that has not yet laid eggs. They are caught in the North Sea at the end of May and beginning of June while they still have some of their winter fat. The word Matjeshering is borrowed from the Dutch word maatjesharing and from the middle Dutch word medykenshering, which translates to “maiden herring”.
Matjes Herring
Matjes Herring with fried potatoes in Germany
During the pandemic, when I wasn’t able to travel, I recreated my favorite dish at home, and to my surprise, my husband loved it. I have been making it ever since. In the beginning, I ordered Matjeshering, but it was very expensive for just a few pieces of herring. It had to be shipped cold, which meant a lot of packaging. Honestly, I love the Matjes herring I get in Germany, but I couldn’t tell that much difference from the pickled herring that you can buy in jars everywhere here in California. I buy two 12-ounce jars of herring in wine sauce. Make sure you get large pieces of good-quality herring. My husband bought a jar that had tiny little pieces of herring, which was not very good.
Matjes Herring
My version of Matjes Herring
On a personal note, for quite a few months, I lost interest in my blog. It was like I lost an old friend when I had my blog redone. But slowly, I am getting back into posting more recipes. The recipes in my blog are still there. Family and friends enjoy them, and occasionally, I get a notice that my niece or some other person has used one of my recipes. This keeps me going, and it gives me something else to think about other than dealing with age-related illnesses, family problems, and the political situation in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
Matjes Herring
This the Matjes Herring I ordered from Amazon
Matjes Herring
This is what my girlfriend buys in Germany. She always makes it for me
Let’s return to my Matjes herring. The last few times I made it, I bought a large jar of herring in wine sauce at Costco and used it for this recipe. If you are a purist, go ahead and order the Matjes herring from Amazon or other sources. I was told that IKEA sometimes has it. I found a store in Brooklyn that also has it and will ship. Let Mr. Google help you find a source, but watch the quantity of the actual herring.
Matjes Herring
There are different recipes for serving Matjes herring. My favorite is the one I am posting here. The herring is served in a cream sauce with onions, apples, and pickles.  I like to serve my herring with fried potatoes, but boiled potatoes are just as good.
Picture
Print the recipe
Recipe For Matjes Herring
​

The Herring needs to be refrigerated for a few hours for all the flavors to blend. This recipe makes 4 generous servings.
​
Ingredients :
​

1 lb. (500g) herring in wine sauce 
1 medium-sized crunchy apple  
1 cup thinly sliced onion
1 cup chopped dill pickles 
½ cup (150g) crème fraîche  
4 TBS heavy cream
1 TBS champagne vinegar 
½ tsp sugar 
½ -1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper 
2 juniper berry kernels 
2 allspice kernels 
1 TBS mineral water
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
​
Directions:
Rinse the herring and let it drip through a sieve. Only use the herring and discard the rest. Cut the onion in half and thinly slice it, soaking it in a bowl with lemon juice while you prepare the sauce. Mix the créme fraîche, cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, juniper berries, allspice kernels, and mineral water into a smooth sauce. Core and cut the apples into bite-sized pieces. You can peel them if you wish. Chop the pickles into bite-sized pieces. Add everything to the sauce and taste for seasoning. Add additional salt, pepper, and sugar as needed. Keep the dish covered in the fridge for about three hours, which will improve the flavor. 

​Guten Appetit!    
Recipe from the Sunnycovechef.com
​
If you are not in the mood for Matjes Herring try some of my other seafood dishes
​

Matjes Herring
Here is a French version of a salmon sheet pan dish with vermouth and fennel. Click here for the recipe.
Matjes Herring
Here is an easy to make but delicious baked shrimp dish with Quinoa and peas.
Click here for the recipe.
Matjes Herring
Poached halibut with apricot salsa , a light dish for a hot summer day.
​Click here for the recipe.
16 Comments
Kay link
7/30/2023 11:40:35 pm

I’m glad you’ve found your enthusiasm to blog again! Great post. I like herring and have spent a lot of time in The Netherlands where it’s popular too.

Reply
diane
7/31/2023 03:08:42 pm

That looks delicious Gerlinde! George’s German step- mother would serve something like it with pickled beets for New Year’s Day.
Thank you for the quintessential German food!

Diane

Reply
Diane Marvin-Koenig
10/16/2024 06:04:13 pm

That is the most delicious pickled herring recipe outside of the Baltic! Let me correct that; the MOST delicious pickled herring recipe. Now I see the ingredients and I know why. It had a taste of sour, sweet, creamy and crunchy.
A couple of friends from Germany and I were treated to the dish last night at Gerlinde's table and the wonderful flavors of Germany and the north sea left us all in a bliss.
Thank you Gerlinde. I am going to make it for my friend from Latvia and watch him go blissful.

Reply
Gerlinde
10/16/2024 06:13:46 pm

Thank you Diane for taking the time and commenting. I’ll make it again for you.

sherry link
7/31/2023 12:53:28 am

this sounds so delicious Gerlinde. I love fish! I don't know if we can buy herring here but i'll have to search it out. I love how you've presented it too. I know what you mean about age-related illnesses and various troubles. I feel your pain :( I'm having to follow up on lots of probs with my ageing body these days.

Reply
Gerlinde
8/12/2023 07:10:26 pm

I don't mind being old but I don't like all the aches and pain that creep up on you. My herring dish is modified because I can't get Matjes Herring but my husband and I still love it with a different herring .

Reply
Bernadette link
7/31/2023 03:49:19 am

Thanks for the interesting recipe and the tips on buying the herring.

Reply
Gerlinde
8/4/2023 07:53:47 pm

Thanks Bernadette, it is never the same when you recreate a regional dish in a different country. Everything always tastes better on site.

Reply
David Scott Allen link
7/31/2023 11:41:10 am

I never saw this when I was in Germany, but my time there was always in the south. I know I would love this so, once I can find the fish, I will make this! I love that you liken in to mac & cheese! :)

Reply
Gerlinde
8/4/2023 07:55:50 pm

David, the next time you are in Northern Europe don't miss this dish. I

Reply
Mimi Rippee link
7/31/2023 02:53:43 pm

This recipe made me laugh. My husband, who’s picky, and I were supposed to go on a Northern trip that unfortunately got canceled. It was Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and etc. and I kept teasing my husband about what he was going to eat in those countries! Your dish reminds me of what I’d enjoy eating! He’s really missing out.

Reply
Gerlinde
8/4/2023 07:57:28 pm

Mimi. I think you would love this dish. Your husband has to find something else. It surprised me that my husband liked it.

Reply
Jean | Delightful Repast link
8/10/2023 07:12:34 am

What an interesting dish (and story), Gerlinde! Also, that poached halibut with apricot salsa looks wonderful! I'm glad you're getting back into your blog.

Reply
Gerlinde
8/12/2023 07:11:49 pm

Jean,I think you would like the halibut dish. It is light and healthy.

Reply
Thomas
1/5/2025 10:44:10 am

I spent some time in West Germany (this was before the wall fell) while in college a few decades back. Although I enjoyed many excellent regional dishes, the meal that has haunted my memory all these years is Matjes in cream sauce from the north. Thank you, Gerlinde, for posting this blog and recipe!

Reply
Gerlinde
1/6/2025 10:05:27 am

Thank you so much for your kind comment. It truly motivates me to continue sharing new recipes . This particular recipe always evokes fond memories of my visits to Germany.

Reply



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    WELCOME TO SUNNY COVE CHEF

    Thank you for visiting my blog.  My two passions are cooking and traveling. Traveling exposes me to a wide variety of food and experiences. I walk around cities looking for markets, restaurants, bakeries, shops, you name it, and if it is related to food you will find me there, tasting, smelling, talking to vendors, and having a great time.

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