Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad
A refreshing salad featuring flaked smoked herring, crisp vegetables, and a tangy herb dressing. This belgian-inspired salads ready in about 15 minutes pairs smoked herring fillets, cucumber, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225g), skin removed smoked herring fillets
- 1 large, peeled and diced cucumber
- 1, diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 4 cups (arugula and spinach blend) mixed greens
- 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp, chopped chives
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Flakes smoked herring into small pieces in a medium bowl. Add diced cucumber and red bell pepper, then mix in sour cream, chopped dill, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stirring until fully combined.
- Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, and chopped chives to create a dressing.
- Step 3: Arrange mixed greens on a platter. Spoon herring salad evenly over the greens. Drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately to prevent greens from wilting.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad take to make?
Total time is about 15 minutes (15 min prep + 0 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad?
Refrigerate in a covered airtight container for up to 3–4 days (FDA FoodKeeper guideline for cooked fish). Store any fresh salsa or citrus-based garnish in a separate container — it keeps for up to 2 days. Freeze cooked fish (without fresh garnishes) for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently at 275°F until just warmed through to preserve texture.
Can I substitute ingredients in Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Ghent-Style Smoked Herring Salad?
Belgian salads like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
A beautiful balance of flavors. I served it with crusty bread and it was a complete meal.
- ★★★★★
My kids asked for this twice in one week! The herring was perfectly smoked and the dressing was creamy without being heavy.
- ★★★★★
This is now my go-to salad for entertaining. The recipe is clear and the results are stunning.
