Gypsy-style herring: The surprising holiday snack sensation

The upcoming Christmas holidays are an opportunity to catch up with family and the perfect time for gentle culinary experiments. One of the snacks worth placing on the holiday table is, of course, herring. For many years, I only used tried-and-true recipes, with herring in cream or Kashubian style being my obvious choice. Recently, I've been exploring different options. Although I don’t neglect old favorites, a new must-have on my holiday menu has become Gypsy-style herring.

The recipe for this delicious dish initially seemed strange to me, but—as I already mentioned—herring, ketchup, and a few other ingredients turned out to be a fantastic and delicious combination. Brilliant simplicity: these two words perfectly describe Gypsy-style herring. I guarantee you will enjoy this snack as well.

Ingredients:

• 1.1 lb herring fillets in brine,
• 7 oz spicy ketchup,
• 1 onion,
• 4 pickled cucumbers,
• 2 oz pickled mushrooms,
• 1 tablespoon spicy mustard,
• pepper,
• sweet paprika.

Instructions:

1. Soak the herring in cold water until it reaches your desired saltiness level. Then, dry the fillets and cut them into thin strips.
2. Chop the onion and sauté it in a small amount of oil.
3. Add mustard and ketchup to the pan. Mix, heat briefly, then remove from the stove.
4. Combine the cooled mixture with the herring, diced cucumbers, and mushrooms.
5. Season to taste with pepper and sweet paprika.
6. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate. After a few hours, this snack is ready to enjoy. Bon appétit!