How to Make Schmaltz Herring (8 Steps)

Schmaltz herring is a fatty herring cured in salt and pickled in a brine sweetened with brown sugar. Despite some claims to the contrary, schmaltz -- a Yiddish term for rendered chicken fat -- is not used in the preparation of schmaltz herring; the term simply refers to the high fat content of the fish. Ask the seafood vendor for mature, late-season herring when preparing to make this dish.

Things You'll Need

  • 6 fresh, mature, fatty herrings, gutted, filleted, heads removed
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • Rectangular glass baking dish
  • Heavy pan or skillet
  • Plastic wrap
  • 1 large onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 blade of whole mace
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 cloves
  • 4 allspice berries
  • Pinch of salt
  • 8 black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup wine vinegar
  • Saucepan
  • Glass jar

Salting the Herring

  1. Place a thin layer of kosher salt in a rectangular glass dish with either no or low side walls. Place the herring skin-side-up on the salt. Cover with remaining salt.

  2. Cover the dish with plastic wrap. Place a heavy pan or skillet over the wrap to press the salt into the fish.

  3. Refrigerate the herring for 2 to 3 days. You do not need to turn the herring or add salt.

Pickling the Herring

  1. Remove the herring from the salt and rinse in water. Soak the herring in fresh water for 2 to 3 hours.

  2. Place the onion, mace, bay leaf, cloves, allspice, salt, peppercorns, brown sugar, water and wine vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.

  3. Remove the herring from the water and place them in the glass jar.

  4. Pour the hot liquid over the herring in the glass jar and allow to cool before covering.

  5. Refrigerate at least three days before serving.

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