Germany By Food Enthusiasts · 5 min read

National Dish Germany: Herring Salad (Recipe)

A bowl of German herring salad with beetroot, apple and fresh dill

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Few dishes capture the comfort of a German winter quite like Herring Salad. Tender pieces of pickled herring meet crisp apple, earthy beetroot and a tangy soured-cream-and-mustard dressing, balancing sweet, sour and savoury in every forkful. Traditionally served over the festive season and through the colder months, it works beautifully as a light starter or a satisfying main. Bring this old-fashioned northern classic to your own table and let its layers of flavour win you over.

About Herring Salad

Herring Salad is a traditional German dish, served most often in winter and around the holidays. It is celebrated for its distinctive flavour and the way it brings together sweet, sour and hearty elements in a single bowl. The salad makes an excellent starter as well as a fulfilling main course, and it lends itself to endless tweaks depending on personal taste. With its combination of pickled herring, fruit and root vegetables, it is a dish that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

200g pickled herring
2 medium potatoes
1 apple
1 beetroot
1 onion
2 gherkins
200g soured cream
1 tablespoon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh herbs (such as dill), to garnish

Shopping for the ingredients

When shopping for herring salad, take care to choose fresh, good-quality ingredients for the best result. The herring is best sourced from sustainable suppliers. Pick potatoes, apples and beetroot that are firm, as this gives the salad a pleasing texture. The gherkins should be crisp, and the soured cream free from unnecessary additives. Don’t forget a bunch of fresh herbs for the garnish — they make all the difference to the finished dish.

Preparing the dish

Get everything ready before you begin: cut the herring into bite-sized pieces, then boil and peel the potatoes and beetroot. Dice the apple, onion and gherkins into small, even pieces. Stir the soured cream together with the mustard and season with salt and pepper to taste. This gives you a flexible base dressing that you can adjust to your liking before it goes into the salad.

Step-by-step instructions

Cut the cooked and peeled beetroot into strips.
Dice the cooled potatoes and tip them into a large bowl.
Peel the apple and cut it into small pieces.
Add all the prepared ingredients together in the bowl.
Stir the soured cream with the mustard, salt and pepper, then pour it over the ingredients.
Mix everything thoroughly and garnish with fresh herbs.
Chill the herring salad in the fridge for at least 1 hour so the flavours can come together.

Gluten-free / lactose-free version

For a gluten-free version of this recipe, make sure every product you use is free from gluten. Most of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but pay particular attention to the mustard and the gherkins, which can sometimes contain hidden gluten. For a lactose-free variant, swap the soured cream for a lactose-free alternative, now widely stocked in most supermarkets. That way everyone can enjoy this classic without compromise.

Tips for vegans and vegetarians

For a vegetarian version, simply leave out the herring or replace it with pickled mushrooms for a similar bite. Vegans can go a step further and swap the soured cream for a plant-based alternative such as soya yoghurt. Just check that all the remaining ingredients are vegan too and contain no animal products. With a few small substitutions, this hearty salad adapts neatly to a meat-free table.

More tips and tricks

Serve the herring salad well chilled, as this is when it tastes its best. It also keeps well and stays fresh in the fridge for several days, making it ideal to prepare ahead. You can refine the ingredients however you like — try adding boiled eggs or peas for extra body. Don’t be afraid to play with the quantities until you hit on your own perfect mixture.

Adapting the recipe to your taste

Everyone has their own preferences, so feel free to adapt the recipe by using more or less of certain ingredients. If you like the salad a little sweeter, add extra apple. For a sharper, more sour note, stir in more gherkins or a squeeze of lemon juice. There are no real limits here — let your taste guide you and make the dish your own.

Ingredient substitutions

If you don’t care for certain ingredients, or simply don’t have them to hand, there are always alternatives. In place of herring you could use mackerel or another pickled fish. Beetroot can be swapped for carrots if you prefer — the same root-vegetable warmth that gives a Potato and Carrot Mash its comfort. Experiment with the ingredients to discover your ideal combination.

Drink pairing ideas

A hearty herring salad goes especially well with beer or a crisp, dry white wine. A cold pilsner or a dry Riesling complements the salad’s many flavour notes perfectly. If you’d rather skip the alcohol, a homemade cucumber-and-dill lemonade makes a refreshing choice that echoes the salad’s fresh, tangy character.

Serving and presentation ideas

A nicely arranged herring salad can be a real feast for the eyes. Use fresh herbs and lemon slices for decoration, and serve the salad in a glass bowl so the different layers and colours show through. A few decorative napkins and the right cutlery turn the dish into a visual highlight as well as a tasty one — a charming addition to any spread of German cuisine featured across our German recipes.

A bit of history

Herring salad has a long tradition in German cooking and is particularly popular in the coastal regions. It was originally prepared above all in the winter months, when pickled and fermented foods kept well over time. The salad has evolved over the years and today appears in many regional variations. It is not only delicious but also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, making it as nourishing as it is satisfying.

More recipe ideas

Summary: Herring Salad

Herring salad is a versatile and traditional German dish that is easy to make and wonderfully simple to adapt to personal taste. With its fresh, hearty ingredients and straightforward preparation, it is a genuine treat both for everyday meals and for special occasions. Try it for yourself and discover the way you most enjoy this timeless northern classic.