Latvian Smoked Herring and Potato Bake
A hearty and flavorful bake featuring layers of thinly sliced potatoes, smoked herring, and onions, all bound together with a creamy sauce. This dish is a comforting and satisfying meal, typical of Latvian home cooking.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Waxy potatoes(peeled and thinly sliced (about 3mm thick))
- 400 g Smoked herring fillets(cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 large Yellow onion(thinly sliced)
- 50 g Butter
- 300 ml Heavy cream
- 100 ml Milk
- 3 tbsp Fresh dill(chopped)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- 2 tbsp Breadcrumbs(for topping (optional))
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a large baking dish (approx. 2-liter capacity) with butter.
- 2
In a frying pan, melt 25g of the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until softened and translucent, about 8-10 minutes. Do not brown.
- 3
In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, chopped dill, salt, and pepper.
- 4
Arrange a layer of sliced potatoes in the bottom of the greased baking dish. Top with half of the sautéed onions and half of the smoked herring pieces.
- 5
Repeat the layers: another layer of potatoes, the remaining onions, and the remaining herring.
- 6
Finish with a final layer of potatoes, overlapping them slightly.
- 7
Pour the cream and milk mixture evenly over the layers. Ensure the liquid reaches the bottom.
- 8
Dot the top with the remaining 25g of butter, cut into small pieces. If using, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top.
- 9
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown.
- 10
Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using waxy potatoes prevents them from becoming too mushy during baking.
- ✓Ensure the herring is good quality smoked herring for the best flavor.
- ✓Adjust salt and pepper to your taste, considering the saltiness of the smoked herring.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a layer of sliced tomatoes on top of the herring.
- Incorporate a tablespoon of Dijon mustard into the cream mixture.
- Use a mix of smoked herring and other smoked fish like mackerel.