Seledka Pod Shuboy
Herring Under a Fur Coat
A classic Russian layered salad featuring savory herring beneath a 'coat' of colorful, grated root vegetables and creamy mayonnaise. It's a festive and iconic dish, especially popular for New Year's celebrations.
🧂 Ingredients
- 400 g Salted herring fillets
- 400 g Beets
- 300 g Potatoes
- 300 g Carrots
- 1 medium Onion
- 300-400 ml Mayonnaise
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the root vegetables: Wash the beets, potatoes, and carrots thoroughly. Place them in separate pots, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender but not mushy. Beets will take the longest (45-60 minutes), followed by potatoes and carrots (25-35 minutes). Alternatively, you can roast them in the oven at 200°C (400°F) until tender, which can enhance their sweetness. Once cooked, drain, let cool completely, then peel.
⏱️ 45-60 minutes (cooking) - 2
Prepare the herring and onion: Drain the herring fillets. Pat them dry with paper towels. Finely dice the herring into small, bite-sized pieces. Peel and very finely dice the onion. To mellow the onion's sharpness, you can rinse the diced onion under cold water and drain well, or briefly marinate it in a little vinegar or lemon juice.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 3
Grate the cooled vegetables: Using a box grater or food processor, grate the cooled and peeled beets, potatoes, and carrots separately. You can use the medium or large holes of the grater, depending on your desired texture. Some prefer a finer grate for a smoother 'fur coat'.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 4
Assemble the salad: Choose a serving dish or a springform pan. Start with the diced herring as the base layer. Spread a thin, even layer of mayonnaise over the herring. Next, add the finely diced onion. Follow with a layer of grated potatoes, pressing down gently. Spread another layer of mayonnaise. Then, add the grated carrots, followed by another layer of mayonnaise. Finally, top with the grated beets, spreading them evenly to create the 'fur coat'. Smooth the top layer of beets with mayonnaise, ensuring the entire surface is covered.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 5
Chill the salad: Cover the assembled salad tightly with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface to prevent drying. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to set.
⏱️ Minimum 4 hours chilling - 6
Serve: If using a springform pan, carefully release the sides. If using a serving dish, you can gently smooth the top or create decorative patterns with the mayonnaise. Slice and serve chilled.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a vibrant 'fur coat', ensure the beet layer is thick and completely covers the mayonnaise below.
- ✓Make this salad a day in advance for the best flavor development.
- ✓The purple-pink color is characteristic and beautiful.
- ✓Serve with dark rye bread.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a layer of grated hard-boiled eggs between the carrots and beets.
- Experiment with different layering orders, though the traditional order is herring, onion, potato, carrot, beet.
- Use smoked herring for a different flavor profile.