Layered Herring Salad (Warstwowa Sałatka Śledziowa)

Layered Herring Salad (Warstwowa Sałatka Śledziowa) is a traditional Polish layered herring salad made with pickled herring, potatoes, onions, eggs, and carrots, bound with a creamy dressing. This dish, also known as “Śledź pod Pierzynką“ – (Herring under a Blanket), is similar to the Eastern European salad called “Shuba”. It’s a popular dish for holidays and family gatherings, known for its bold flavor and simple, comforting preparation.

A long time ago, in a country far far away…

I made a salad for the first time.

Now, when I first arrived in Poland I was sat at the table with a bunch of boiled vegetables. I asked Kasia:

– What are we doing?

– We are going to make salads! – she said. I thought “Great, I’m good at chopping vegetables, surely I will impress Mama and Tata with my subpar knife skills!”

– So what kind of salads are we making? – I asked innocently.

– Warstwowa Sałatka Śledziowa and Sałatka Jarzynowa. (Layered Herring Salad and Vegetable Salad) – she announced proudly.

I nodded like I understood.

Inside my head, however:
What in the name of pickled fish is a herring salad?! What is this strange aquatic chaos you speak of?!

Then out came the fish.

To invoke an image in you head, I am reminded of a one Terry Jeffords from Brooklyn 99 as he yells his catch phrase “WHY!?!?”

So I made it, ate it reluctantly and now it’s actually one of my favorite things for breakfast. Just that and some sunflower rye bread, delicious!

Have you ever tried a traditional Polish layered herring salad like this before?

Not a fan of fish? You might prefer a Polish vegetable salad instead.

Carl @ Cracked Kitchen Window

Layered Herring Salad (Warstwowa Sałatka Śledziowa)

Layered herring salad with onions, carrot, potatoes and eggs with a layer of creamy mayonnaise

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Course: Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine: Eastern European, Polish

Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2-3 herring fillets rinsed and diced
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 3-4 medium yellow potatoes pealed, boiled and grated
• 2-3 medium carrots peeled, boiled and grated
• 4-5 hard boiled eggs peeled and grated
• 6-8 tbsp mayonnaise to taste
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

 

Prepare the herring

1. Rinse herring fillets under cold water, pat dry and dice into small pieces.

Prepare the vegetables

1. Boil potatoes and carrots in some salted water until fork-tender. Let cool, then peel. Hard-boil eggs, peel, and set aside.

Layer the salad (on a serving dish or shallow bowl)

1. 1st layer: Diced herring + finely chopped onion. Season lightly with salt and pepper
2. 2nd layer: Boiled and grated potatoes
3. 3rd layer: Boiled and grated carrots
4. 4th layer: Mayonnaise (spread evenly)
5. 5th layer: Grated or finely chopped boiled eggs

Finish and chill

1. Smooth the top layer and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours before serving to let flavors combine.

Serve

1. Serve chilled, sliced or scooped like a layered cake.

Video

Notes

• This layered herring salad is best when chilled for at least 1–2 hours, but overnight chilling gives the deepest flavor, best texture and helps the layers set properly.
• Rinsing the herring helps balance saltiness—taste before seasoning the layers to avoid over-salting.  
• For a slightly lighter version, replace part of the mayonnaise with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
• Press each layer lightly with a spoon to keep the salad stable when slicing or serving
• Use waxy potatoes (like Yukon Gold) so they hold shape better after boiling.
• The salad is traditionally served cold and can be prepared a day in advance, making it perfect for holidays and gatherings.
• Some variations of this layered herring salad include adding finely grated cooked beetroot between the layers for extra color, sweetness, and a more festive presentation.
• For extra flavor variation, you can add a thin layer of grated apple between the potato and carrot layers for a subtle sweetness.
• This dish is commonly served during Christmas and festive occasions in Polish and Eastern European cuisine.
• Use a shallow glass dish or bowl to show off the layers for a more visually appealing presentation.

How do you enjoy herring?

Personally, one of my all time favorite ways is the classic herring in a creamy dill sauce which you can find in most Polish grocery stores.

If you’ve made or tried this Layered Herring Salad (Warstwowa Sałatka Śledziowa) before, what would you change or add?

How does your family like to make it?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!