PICKLING YOUR OWN HERRING

Pickling Your Own Herring image

Provided by Joan Nathan

Yield Yield: about 6 cups (P)

Number Of Ingredients 8

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6 Canadian herrings
1 tablespoon to 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar or to cover
1 large onion, sliced
1 thinly sliced lemon (optional)
2 cloves
6 peppercorns
4 bay leaves

Steps:

1. Remove the heads from the herring and scale the fish. Wash well, open them, and remove the milt (roe of male fish). Clean the fish well, drain. Lay the herring and milt in water to cover in the refrigerator overnight.
2. The next day rub the milt glands through a sieve or mash them well, and mix with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and a few tablespoons of the vinegar.
3. Place in a 1 1/2-quart jar in layers the herring, onion, lemon slices, cloves, peppercorns, and bay leaves.
4. Add the milt gland mixture, the remaining vinegar, and as much of the remaining sugar as your taste dictates.
5. Cover the jar and keep in the refrigerator for at least 4 days.