Herring Under a Fur Coat

Back when I had more than a handful of roommates, one of them was from Russia and one day, she made this dish. She just put everything in a large container, so it didn’t look very appetizing but she insisted on getting me to try a spoonful of it. And I ended up finishing the whole thing. She told me roughly what the ingredients and the order of the assembly.

She told me the name is herring under a fur coat, I mean there is a Russian name for it but I don’t even dare to offend any Russians by trying to pronounce it, for me this pronounce “delicious”. The smashed eggs through the sieve looks like fur, and underneath it are layers of goodness including chopped herring. This dish is so Russian, they are wearing fur coat too! Talking about food imitate life.

You could also just assemble this in a bowl without looking pretty, they will still be delicious. Also you can adjust the ratio of the beets, carrots and potatoes, for me I put loads of chopped herrings, cause I need the protein, also my kitchen, my rules. But follow this recipe for inspiration, okay?!

Ingredients:

2 medium beets

4 fingerling potatoes

2 medium carrots

2 large hard boiled eggs

8 oz herring in oil -chopped

1/2 medium sweet onion -finely chopped

2 tbsp dill -minced

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Salt

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 450F. Wrap the beets in foil and roast for about 45 minutes, until tender. Let cool slightly, then peel.

• While the beets roasting, in a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes and carrots with water and boil until tender then drain. Let cool to room temperature then peel the skin off.

• Grate the potatoes on the medium holes of a box grater then transfer to a bowl. Repeat with the carrots and beets, place the vegetables in separate bowls.

• Cut the eggs in half then smash the egg whites through a fine sieve. Clean the sieve, then repeat with the yolks in a separate bowl. Alternatively, you can also finely chop the white eggs and yolks, but never mix them together.

• In another bowl, mix the herring with the onion, oil from the herring package and dill. 

• In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise with 2 tablespoons of the grated beets.

• Assemble time: Place a 4-inch round ring mold in the center of a serving plate. Using the back of a spoon, spread two tablespoons of the grated potatoes inside the mold in an even layer. Season with salt. 

• Spread two tablespoons of the herring mixture on top in an even layer. Repeat the layering with two tablespoons each of the carrots and beets. Season with salt in between layers.

• Spread 2 tablespoons of the beet mayonnaise on top. Garnish with some of the sieved egg whites, sieved egg yolks and dill sprigs. Slowly remove the ring mold and enjoy!