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Herring Under a Blanket - layered herring salad with shredded eggs on top, served on a white platt.
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.