Rollmops Pickled Herring Rolls

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Speicherstadt

📍 Where this dish comes from: Hamburg · Speicherstadt
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Rollmops Pickled Herring Rolls, plated and ready to serve

Rollmops are the pickled herring rolled around a filling — typically a gherkin or pickle — and submerged in a spiced vinegar brine for several days. They are intensely savoury, sharply acidic, and remarkably restorative, which is why they have long been Germany’s traditional morning-after remedy — an ultimate hangover cure and a true national treasure. But they are also simply delicious — complex, briny, and deeply satisfying.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Rollmops Pickled Herring Rolls

Rollmops Pickled Herring Rolls

Plump herring fillets rolled around briny gherkins and pickled onions, cured in a sharp vinegar brine with bay and peppercorns.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: German
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 195kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 fresh herring fillets skinned
  • 6 small gherkins or pickle spears
  • 1 small white onion rings
  • 300 ml white wine vinegar
  • 100 ml water
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt
  • 1 tbsp erythritol
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 8 peppercorns
  • 4 allspice berries
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • Wooden cocktail sticks

Instructions

  • Salt herring fillets, refrigerate 30 min. Rinse and pat dry.
  • Make brine: boil vinegar, water, erythritol, and all spices together. Cool completely.
  • Lay herring flat. Place a gherkin and 2 onion rings at the tail end. Roll up tightly.
  • Secure with 2 cocktail sticks. Pack rolls tightly into a glass jar.
  • Pour cooled brine over rollmops ensuring full coverage. Seal and refrigerate minimum 48 hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 195kcal | Protein: 16g | Fat: 12g
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Cooking Rollmops Pickled Herring Rolls in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Herring is one of the most concentrated affordable dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
  • The vinegar brine helps preserve the fish and contributes tang without added sugar.
  • Peppercorns contain piperine, a compound studied for its potential to enhance the absorption of certain other nutrients.

Pairs Well With

  • Radish & Cucumber Salat with Dill Vinaigrette
  • Green Bean Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
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