Herring with beetroot is a light salad ideal for summer days. Not too hearty; on the contrary, a simple dish with bursting flavors, full of color and texture.

Why herring with beetroot? Well, you may think that it is an odd combination, and you might be right until you taste it. Herring is a kind of salty but not too salty fish, while beetroot has a sweet taste, so together, they create an ideal duo that is mouthwatering.

What is herring?

Herring is a silver-colored fish living in large groups in the oceans. It isn’t very big, is salty, and is rich in Omega-3. It is a very popular fish in the Nordic countries where this fresh fish is mostly served. For example, you can find a Smorrebrod recipe with fresh herring, an authentic sandwich famous in Norway, Finland, and Russia. More useful information about herring you need to know, you will find here.

This small fish, with a pronounced taste, can be bought fresh, smoked, pickled, even salted, and eaten or cooked any way you want. The fresh herring tastes amazing, and keep in mind that this type of fish is not a farm fish or a GMO product.

Now, let’s speak more about my simple salad that has a fabulous color, tastes different from other fish salads, but is super delicious. This is a versatile salad, where you can add or skip many products. For example, in many northern countries of Europe, this salad may contain boiled potatoes, with or without green beans, capers, and fresh or boiled beetroot. You can personalize it to your taste, this is why I wanted a quick salad with simple ingredients. I bought the already-boiled beetroot; this saved me time and mess. Beetroot is a healthy and very useful veggie, but boiling it makes me nervous as it makes a lot of mess. So, buying boiled beetroot saves my time and effort. Keep in mind that if you want to boil it by yourself, then you need to choose small beetroots and boil for 1 hour, or until they are soft enough to cut.

What pairs with beetroot?

Beetroot is such a nice and healthy veggie that it pairs great with many others. For example, the red onion will be one of its best partners in crime, carrot, fennel, celery, arugula, spinach, and other greenies. Beetroot is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits. For example, my mom uses to drink in the morning freshly squeezed beetroot with carrot. I don’t like it fresh, but I know that it is very useful and helpful.

The ingredients:

1 pack of fresh herring fish (200 gr or 7oz)
2-4 boiled beetroot (depending on the size)
1 cup of canned green peas
one red onion
Some dill
Seasoning

How to make herring and beetroot salad?

This salad is light but also satisfying. You can enjoy it with some black grilled bread, and your lunch or dinner will pause pleasantly and healthily. I like such salads where different tastes can create something magical. Salty herring fish mixed with sweet boiled beetroot and canned peas is amazing, while the dill with onion adds freshness and crunchiness. This plate is full of colors, aromas, and healthiness. If you have never tried this kind of salad, you have to because it tastes different from any other salads you have already tried.

Take a large cutting board and cut the herring and beetroot into big slices. Cut the onion into big slices, too, and chop the dill.

Take a big bowl and place everything into it. Add the peas. Mix well and add some olive oil to the taste. Season in the end to avoid a too-salty salad. Keep in mind that herring is salty, and it can vary from store to store.

Enjoy this salad with a slice of black or white bread.