Herring is a flavorful, omega-3 rich fish that adapts well to various cooking methods. When handled with care, the flesh absorbs surrounding flavors while retaining its delicate texture. In this article, I will instruct you how to cook herring fillets in 4 different ways.
1. How To Cook Herring on Stove
Ingredients
- 4 herring fillets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Fresh dill or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Rinse the herring fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Remove any bones if necessary.
In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Make sure the oil is hot but not smoking.
Dredge each herring fillet in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
Carefully place the herring fillets in the hot oil. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the fillets.
Once the herring fillets are cooked, remove them from the pan and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
Serve the fried herring fillets hot, accompanied by lemon wedges for squeezing over the fish. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley if desired
2. How To Cook Herring in Oven
Ingredients
- 4 herring fillets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup malt vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pickling spices
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 small onions, sliced
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Rinse the herring fillets under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
Next, place herring fillets in a baking dish. Then season both sides of the herring fillets with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour malt vinegar over the herring fillets, ensuring they are evenly coated.
Sprinkle the pickling spices over the fillets and add the bay leaves to the baking dish.
Scatter the sliced onions around the herring fillets.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the herring is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
Once baked, remove the baking dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
Serve the baked herring with the onions and some of the cooking juices spooned over the top.
3. How To Cook Herring on Grill
Ingredients
- 4 herring fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp chopped dill
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Rinse herring fillets and pat extremely dry all over with paper towels. Place in a shallow glass baking dish.
Coat fillets all over with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Oil the grates.
Grill fillets gently skin-side down first for 2-3 minutes until grill marks appear. Then flip fillets over carefully with a thin spatula. Grill 2 minutes more until opaque and flakes easily.
Transfer grilled herring to a platter and serve topped with fresh dill and lemon slices.
4. How To Cook Herring in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 herring fillets
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Lemon wedges
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Pat herring fillets very dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
Next, beat egg in a shallow bowl and place panko crumbs in a separate shallow bowl.
Then dip fillets one at a time in the egg, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl.
Arrange breaded fillets in air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd. Lightly spray fillets with olive oil.
Cook at 400°F for 4 minutes. Gently flip fillets and continue cooking 4-5 minutes more until fish flakes easily and breading is crisp and golden brown.
Serve air fried herring fillets immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing over the top to enhance flavor. The crispy exterior and flaky interior are delicious paired together. Enjoy!