| Rollmops: |
| 6-8 servings Ingredients: 12 salt herring fillets, preferably Matjes herring 2 cups cider vinegar 2 cups cold water 3 juniper berries, 3 whole allspice, 3 whole cloves and 6 whole black peppercorns, bruised with a mortar (or rolling pin) 1 small bay leaf 1/4 cup Duesseldorf-style prepared mustard, or substitute other mild prepared mustard 2 tablespoons capers, drained 3 medium-sized onions, peeled, thinly sliced and separated into rings 3 large dill pickles Parsley sprigs Place the herring fillets in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover them by about 1 inch. Soak them for at least 12 hours in the refrigerator, changing the water once or twice. Drain them well, rinse under cold running water and pat them dry with paper towels. Remove and discard any bones. For the marinade, combine the vinegar, water, juniper berries, allspice, cloves, peppercorns and bay leaf in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan and bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Then cool to room temperature. Lay the herring fillets, skin side down, on a board or table. Spread 1 teaspoon of mustard evenly on each fillet and scatter 1/2 teaspoon of capers and several onion rings over the mustard. Cut the dill pickles lengthwise into quarters; if they are much longer than the width of the herring fillets, cut them crosswise into halves. Place a wedge of pickle at one narrow end of each of the fillets, and then roll the fillets jelly-roll fashion around the pickle into small, thick cylinders. Skewer the rolls with 2-3 toothpicks to secure them. Pack the rolls flat on their sides in a 2-quart glass loaf dish in two layers with the remaining onion rings scattered between the layers and over the top. (Do not use a metal pan, for the fish may pick up a metallic flavor.) Pour the marinade over the herring, then cover the dish with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 5-6 days before serving. Serve the rollmops as an appetizer on individual plates or arrange them on a platter. In either case, garnish them with onion rings and parsley. If salt herring fillets are not available you can substitute 12 bottled Bismarck herring fillets. Drain them well, wash them thoroughly under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Then proceed with the recipe. History: The Rollmops was always my "secret" weapon to get my clients after a rough night with "Schnaps and Beer" up and running. I would always make sure, there were some on the breakfast-table of the hotel. I do not know why, but it is the best hangover-cure that I encountered. Of course I am not the first one to use the "Silver of the Sea" as fishermen called the Herring. You will find it in Scandinavia on every Breakfast-buffet (I think because they love the hard "Schnaps" like Germans). Usually the fishermen had to wait until the Herring would show up close to the coast, but since the 19. Century they follow the swarms on their little fishing boats. I however loved the rollmops as a light dinner. I would roll it out and place 1-3 pieces on a fresh bun. Hmmmmmm.... yummy. |
 |
 |
 |