Step into the enchanting world of Russian cuisine and discover the tantalizing flavors of a beloved classic, the Russian herring salad or the so-called "herring under a fur coat."

This remarkable salad, known by its evocative name, captures the essence of traditional Russian hospitality and culinary mastery. As its name suggests, this culinary masterpiece is akin to a beautifully layered fur coat, with each ingredient contributing to its vibrant tapestry of flavors and textures.
At its heart lies the herring - the firm yet delicate flesh, gracefully intermingled with the tender embrace of potatoes, beetroot, carrots, and eggs, creating a harmonious taste symphony. The dressing with our homemade mayonnaise will make the dish pop!

But it is not only the ingredients that make this dish exceptional. It is the craftsmanship, the finesse with which each layer is assembled, and the careful consideration of flavors and textures. Every element is harmoniously united, forming a mosaic of taste that transcends its individual parts.
Ingredients

To make this herring salad, you'll need:
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Pickled herring
- Marinated beets (boiled beets can also be used for a milder taste)
- Eggs
- Onion
- Carrot
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Potatoes (can be skipped for a low-carb version)
- Fresh dills and/or other herbs (e.g., parsley or spring onions)
The key ingredient in this dish is, of course, the herring. We prefer pickled herring in an onion and vegetable marinade and steer clear of oily variations, but it's a matter of taste.

How to Make the Russian Herring Salad - Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Boil eggs and veggies: Prepare potatoes, carrots, eggs, and beets (if you use boiled, not marinated, beets). Boil the vegetables with their skin on and peel them after they're cooked and cooled down.

2. Do the cutting and grating: Cut the herring into small pieces - we like it chopped finely while others prefer larger chunks - choose whichever option suits you best. Grate the cooked beets, eggs, potatoes, and carrots. Chop the onion finely.


3. Prepare the dressing: Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, and a pinch of black pepper. Don't add salt at this step since you'll be adding it while assembling the salad in the next steps.

4. Start assembling the salad: Take a salad bowl (a transparent one will work best), a cake-baking tin, or a high glass (fluted champagne coupe will be a great choice) and start assembling the salad. The first layer will consist of grated potatoes to create a base that soaks up any liquids from the above layers. Season with salt and cover with a layer of the dressing.

2. Add a layer of grated carrots, season with salt, followed by the dressing and a layer of herring and onion.

3. Add grated egg on top and cover with the dressing.


4. Finish with grated (boiled or marinated) beets and fresh herbs (e.g., fresh dills, parsley, spring onions). Finally, season with salt to taste.

You can slightly mix and match the upper levels depending on what is your desired final look. Here's how it might look in a transparent bowl:

Frequently Asked Questions
In Russian, "shuba" means "a winter fur coat". This is a layered salad with the herring hidden in the middle of it. The top layers provide a cozy winter coat for the herring, giving the dish its unique name.
When stored in the fridge, this salad remains fresh for 3-5 days but can become slightly watery after a couple of days.
While you could try to freeze this herring salad, we don't recommend doing so. As with all mayonnaise-based salads, the texture will likely change after it thaws.
Several ingredients in this salad, like potatoes, carrots, and beetroot, are not keto-friendly. You can skip the potatoes for an even lighter version of the salad. However, you'll most likely not be able to reduce the amount of carbs enough to call it keto-friendly.
This salad is a masterpiece by itself. You can serve it as a dinner or even breakfast dish if you prefer a saltier breakfast that keeps you full longer. It will also be a great addition to your festive menu - in Russia (and Latvia, where we're from), it's part of the festive New Year's Eve menu and is frequently served at birthday parties or other family gatherings.


Russian Herring Salad (Shuba or “Herring Under Fur Coat” Salad)
Ingredients
- 200 g mayonnaise
- 100 g sour cream
- 125 g pickled herring
- 250 g marinated, grated beets
- 3 boiled eggs
- ½ large onion (or 1 small onion)
- 1 large carrot, boiled
- a pinch of salt and black pepper
- 2 medium-sized potatoes, boiled (skip these for a low-carb option)
- fresh dills and spring onion for serving
Instructions
- First, prepare the ingredients that need to be boiled - potatoes, carrots, eggs, and beets (if you use boiled, not marinated, beets). Boil the vegetables with their skin on and peel them after they're cooked and cooled down.
- Cut the herring into small pieces.Grate the cooked beets, eggs, potatoes, and carrots.Chop the onion finely.
- Prepare the dressing by mixing mayonnaise, sour cream, and a pinch of black pepper.
- Take a salad bowl (a transparent one will work best), a cake-baking tin or a champagne coupe glass and start assembling the salad.Layer in the following order (from the bottom up):potatoes (+ season with salt)dressingcarrots (+ season with salt)dressingherring + oniondressingeggsbeets (+ season with salt)dills (and/or spring onions and parsley)
Video
Notes
- When cutting the herring, we like it chopped finely, while others prefer larger chunks - choose whichever option suits you best.
- Don't add salt to the dressing since you'll be adding it while assembling the salad.
- Use boiled beets instead of marinated ones for a milder taste.
- Feel free to add spring onions and parsley on top as an extra garnish.

Disclaimer: This label was generated using an online calculator and might not be 100% accurate.
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