8/28/2014
Dutch New Herring - Maatjesharing
for about 5 days. The herring has been frozen before salting for at least 24 hours at at least -45C to kill possible parasites. After salting it is filleted in a specific way: the head is removed, as are all the bones and the skin, but the tail is left on. The tail is often used as a handle to hold the fish when lowering it into your mouth. New herring can be eaten with or without onions, and sometimes it is eaten with pickles or on bread. It has a soft texture, tastes lightly salty and ripened, and smells fresh. It is usually bought at a market stand and eaten there as a snack, but can also be bought at fishmongers and supermarkets. Foreigners (and even some Netherlanders) often think that this is a weird habit, eating raw fish, but actually the fish is cooked by the salting. If you think eating herring from the tail is a bit to adventurous, the herring salad I give the recipe for is a very nice alternative for eating herring!
Eating new herring from the tail. (source: Nederlands Visbureau)
In the past, fishermen did not have a freezer. To be able to keep the herring longer and to kill parasites, much more salt was used. The longer the herring was left, the saltier the taste of the herring became, until it was almost inedibly salty after a year. That was the reason that the coming of the new herring was a big party, it was barely salty and therefore much more tasty. But even nowadays the arrival of new herring is reason for a big party, vlaggetjesdag (flag day), in the port of Scheveningen. The date depends on when the herring is fat enough, this year it was the 9th of June, with the 3th of June as the first day on which herrings were catched. A few days before vlaggetjesdag, the first casket of herring is sold via auction, the profits are for a charitable organisation. The port and ships are decorated with small flags, hence the name vlaggetjesdag, and there are all sorts of other activities like music and a street fair.
Herring salad Prep Time
Total Time
15 mins
15 mins
A fresh and spicy herring salad to enjoy herring in another way than from the tail, very nice as an appetizer, entrĂŠe or snack. Author: Ena Scheerstra Recipe Type: Entree Serves: 1-2
Ingredients http://honestcooking.com/dutch-new-herring-maatjesharing/
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