It's pickled herring. The Dutch put them in wooden casks where they ripen, so they become incredibly tender, very mild and just a little salty. And they don't smell bad at all.
I'm German and whenever I visit the Netherlands, I make sure to have some.
Absolutely. It is complex and pleasant. Best time to have it is in late June when they celebrate the opening of the new batch at Scheveningen (Den Haag).
We have pickled herring in Germany as well. You can buy it as grocery stores. It's labelled "nordische Art" ("northern style"), and totally not the same as the real thing from the Netherlands - much more salty, less complex and not in the same league at all. So if ever you go to Germany, don't confuse the two.
This is what I tell people: it is not that salty and I taste a bit of sweetness with it (that sort of mild sweetness, hope you know what I mean).
If I travel to Germany in the future, I would love to try Mett. That's one dish people here sometimes turn their heads at, however it sounds very nice from the descriptions.
I think more people should consider the whole "when in Rome, live as the Romans do" idea when traveling, food is a great way to appreciate a country or area.
Mett is quite popular where I live (Berlin). It's basically just ground pork seasoned with a little salt. Absolutely nothing special tastewise, but when you grow up with it, it becomes sort of a comfort food.
We put it on freshly baked sliced in half "Brötchen", add pepper and onions and sometimes pickles as well, depending on personal preference.
Me and my pals sometimes jokingly call it "Nothack", literally "emergency minced meat", implying you always need some of it within easy reach.
Here in the US I've gotten a lot of pickled herring over the years, and "mild" is NOT how I'd describe it. It's super sour and sweet (and creamy if you get ones with sour cream, which I usually do) One of my favorite foods, but now I'm worried that I've been eating something else lol.
That's something completely different. If it's super sour it's probably something like a rolmops. Also referred to as sour herring. It's very different from the fresh raw, slightly pickled herring.
I'm not sure if pickled is the right description, it for sure doesn't give the right impression. It's more like a salted or cured product and relatively fresh. It has nothing to do with the pickled sour herring in jars which can be conserved for a long time.
Cut the tail off before serving and I'll give it a try. (To their credit, at least they removed the head.) It looks similar to the pickled herring that comes in a jar in the states, and I eat that shit like it's candy.
It's already gutted and separated in two halves, the tail end is what holds the thing together. You grab it by the tail, swallow the fish, bite it off the tail and throw that tail away.
Also, I would very much doubt there is anything on par with Dutch herring. Just saying. I absolutely love that stuff.
Oh it's not raw. It spends between a day and a week in a barrel full of salt with some of its intestines. That way, the pancreatic enzymes can make the fish even tastier!
Most times of year it's referred to as Matjes Herring, which is the usual catch and tastes as nice as herring does.
At the right time of year, from around some time in June/July, you get Hollandse Nieuwe herring, where it has at least 6% fat. Has a melt in the mouth effect and even nicer.
I'm going to NL within a few weeks and cannot wait! It's the first thing I get, even before going to a coffeeshop.
It's also very good for settling my stomach and gut, as I get a lot of inflammation there. Sorts it out, can't explain the science behind that though.
It's definitely processed and also it was a funny joke because for Americans eating a fish mostly intact isn't all that common. I don't even like seafood and shockingly that doesn't mean I eat ultra processed food every meal. I know, hard to fathom something different from your own diet.
Kind of an ignorant take. You can get literally any nationality's food in America. This country is fucked, but at least for now, we still have some really fucking good food here.
You should probably understand what processed means if you want to toss shade.
Back to seriousness, it always amazes me the euros still toss shade about American food. It's some of the best of the planet. Certainly better than anything out of the Netherlands 🤣. As if you people have even earned a right to be in the same room as the rest of Europe much less the international stage.
You have flattened ice cream cones and crepes you have confused for pancakes.
Even to the last you have to demonstrate your ignorance.
The UK has by far the best Indian (of all varieties) in Europe, not NL. I mean, it's ok here, but nothing like in the UK. This is like culinary 101 man.
73 Comments
glorkon@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 318d
It tastes fantastic, though. If you happen to like fish.
Dojan@pawb.social · 11 pts · 318d
Is it a raw fish with onions and pickled cucumber?
glorkon@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 318d
It's pickled herring. The Dutch put them in wooden casks where they ripen, so they become incredibly tender, very mild and just a little salty. And they don't smell bad at all. I'm German and whenever I visit the Netherlands, I make sure to have some.
Dojan@pawb.social · 7 pts · 318d
Aah, it's pickled! That's why it looks raw-ish. Nice! Then I'm sure this dish has a lot of complex flavours.
glorkon@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 318d
Absolutely. It is complex and pleasant. Best time to have it is in late June when they celebrate the opening of the new batch at Scheveningen (Den Haag).
We have pickled herring in Germany as well. You can buy it as grocery stores. It's labelled "nordische Art" ("northern style"), and totally not the same as the real thing from the Netherlands - much more salty, less complex and not in the same league at all. So if ever you go to Germany, don't confuse the two.
JadenSmith@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 318d
This is what I tell people: it is not that salty and I taste a bit of sweetness with it (that sort of mild sweetness, hope you know what I mean).
If I travel to Germany in the future, I would love to try Mett. That's one dish people here sometimes turn their heads at, however it sounds very nice from the descriptions.
I think more people should consider the whole "when in Rome, live as the Romans do" idea when traveling, food is a great way to appreciate a country or area.
glorkon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 318d
Mett is quite popular where I live (Berlin). It's basically just ground pork seasoned with a little salt. Absolutely nothing special tastewise, but when you grow up with it, it becomes sort of a comfort food. We put it on freshly baked sliced in half "Brötchen", add pepper and onions and sometimes pickles as well, depending on personal preference. Me and my pals sometimes jokingly call it "Nothack", literally "emergency minced meat", implying you always need some of it within easy reach.
kartoffelsaft@programming.dev · 5 pts · 318d
Here in the US I've gotten a lot of pickled herring over the years, and "mild" is NOT how I'd describe it. It's super sour and sweet (and creamy if you get ones with sour cream, which I usually do) One of my favorite foods, but now I'm worried that I've been eating something else lol.
incidentally had some in my fridge for reference
Maestro@fedia.io · 10 pts · 318d
That's something completely different. If it's super sour it's probably something like a rolmops. Also referred to as sour herring. It's very different from the fresh raw, slightly pickled herring.
Mavytan@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 317d
I'm not sure if pickled is the right description, it for sure doesn't give the right impression. It's more like a salted or cured product and relatively fresh. It has nothing to do with the pickled sour herring in jars which can be conserved for a long time.
Psythik@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 318d
Cut the tail off before serving and I'll give it a try. (To their credit, at least they removed the head.) It looks similar to the pickled herring that comes in a jar in the states, and I eat that shit like it's candy.
Ronno@feddit.nl · 7 pts · 317d
Cut the tail off? No, you take it by the tail, hold it over your head and eat it in one go. This is the way.
glorkon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 317d
It's already gutted and separated in two halves, the tail end is what holds the thing together. You grab it by the tail, swallow the fish, bite it off the tail and throw that tail away.
Also, I would very much doubt there is anything on par with Dutch herring. Just saying. I absolutely love that stuff.
PattyMcB@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 318d
I hope there's garlic in that
Maestro@fedia.io · 39 pts · 318d
Nope. It's raw fish (herring) with raw onion. The pickles are optional (and regional). You eat it by holding the tail, dipping it in the onion and then lifting it above your head and lowering it in your mouth: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Haring_03.jpg/1280px-Haring_03.jpg
Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works · 62 pts · 318d
Oh it's not raw. It spends between a day and a week in a barrel full of salt with some of its intestines. That way, the pancreatic enzymes can make the fish even tastier!
ByteJunk@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 318d
Thanks for that... 🤢
datavoid@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 318d
Can almost taste the worms!
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 318d
Sounds like Garum?
Akasazh@feddit.nl · 5 pts · 318d
No that's fermented.
Rothe@piefed.social · 4 pts · 318d
Both are fermented. It's just less fermented than garum.
Akasazh@feddit.nl · 3 pts · 318d
Let's just say that garum covers moet of the rotting phase of the fermentation process.
Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 318d
Yes, but muuuuuch shorter.
Stamets@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 318d
Do you know what? No.
Just no.
No.
brambc@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 318d
Or, just my opinion: yes!
Maestro@fedia.io · 3 pts · 318d
If you're ever in The Netherlands you should really give it a try. It's great!
ieGod@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 318d
Concur. I miss it.
blazeknave@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 318d
Like a cartoon alley cat in a bowtie and a fancy bib...
RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 318d
Garlic? The fuck
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 318d
counterpoint: i hope there's garlic in me. soon.
JadenSmith@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 318d
I love Dutch herring!
Most times of year it's referred to as Matjes Herring, which is the usual catch and tastes as nice as herring does.
At the right time of year, from around some time in June/July, you get Hollandse Nieuwe herring, where it has at least 6% fat. Has a melt in the mouth effect and even nicer.
I'm going to NL within a few weeks and cannot wait! It's the first thing I get, even before going to a coffeeshop.
It's also very good for settling my stomach and gut, as I get a lot of inflammation there. Sorts it out, can't explain the science behind that though.
baggachipz@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 318d
Gotta be served on a trash can lid for full effect
johnyreeferseed@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 318d
Looks like it's being served on an old facemask, I think the effect is there lol.
thericofactor@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 318d
Die Holländer sind seltsam.
SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social · 9 pts · 318d
Das sind nicht nur die Holländer. Quasi alles, was da oben an der Küste rumfleucht ist seltsam, sogar die Deutschen.
10MeterFeldweg@feddit.org · 8 pts · 318d
Keine Sorge, wir finden dafür alle weiter südlich merkwürdig und merkwürdiger, je näher es an die Berge geht.
SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social · 3 pts · 318d
Das ist ja auch richtig und wichtig 💖
Lumidaub@feddit.org · 3 pts · 318d
Zuviel Brokkoli.
TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 318d
TIL this is an actual food not a meme. It's just too simple of a food to be an exclusively Dutch specialty.
Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 317d
You described Dutch cuisine in general.
ArrrborDAY@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 318d
Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf · 9 pts · 318d
Seagull alert!
blave@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 318d
Yo, pickled herring is amazing.
BroBot9000@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 318d
Do you eat it in one gulp and pull out the tail and spine like in the cartoons too?
blave@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 318d
That is the traditional way to eat maajtjeharing (which is cured in salt like in the photo, not pickled).
blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 318d
Give it to us raw, and WRRRRRRRRRIGGLING
dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 318d
And you just eat the whole thing? Skin and all?
gerryflap@feddit.nl · 4 pts · 317d
Yes (apart from the tail, bones, and head). It's honestly very nice.
Ronno@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 317d
Yeah, everything but the tail.
Codpiece@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 318d
Is that the usual American response when they see food that isn’t ultra-processed?
Edit: apparently I meant ultra-processed.
SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 318d
This herring has been processed though. It has been cured in salt and put in a brine
Cethin@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 318d
Yeah, most food has been processed. That's why we have the term ultra-processed for most American food.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 17 pts · 318d
No, it quite literally looks like what cartoon alley cats eat in old cartoons.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 318d
It's definitely processed and also it was a funny joke because for Americans eating a fish mostly intact isn't all that common. I don't even like seafood and shockingly that doesn't mean I eat ultra processed food every meal. I know, hard to fathom something different from your own diet.
scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech · 1 pts · 318d
Most Americans eating fish isn't all that common. Ftfy. Most Americans eat beef, chicken, and pork. On average very very few eat fish regularly
slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org · 6 pts · 318d
Eww it's not even from a big brand and doesn't have 76 mystery ingredients
Pipster@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 318d
I think they referencing the traditional way to eat maatjes, lifting the whole thing by the tail and lowering it into your mouth
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 318d
I'm constantly amazed by what Americans call food.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 317d
I'm continually amazed by the weird ways people have found to be bigoted
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 0 pts · 318d
Kind of an ignorant take. You can get literally any nationality's food in America. This country is fucked, but at least for now, we still have some really fucking good food here.
CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world · -19 pts · 318d
You should probably understand what processed means if you want to toss shade.
Back to seriousness, it always amazes me the euros still toss shade about American food. It's some of the best of the planet. Certainly better than anything out of the Netherlands 🤣. As if you people have even earned a right to be in the same room as the rest of Europe much less the international stage.
You have flattened ice cream cones and crepes you have confused for pancakes.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 318d
I was with you until you shit on Dutch food. What a bizarre point of view.
CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world · -7 pts · 318d
Garbage compared to most of Western Europe. DE might be the only saving grace.
I'll still eat the crepes and waffle cones though. I guess the Indian is on par though.
RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 318d
Even to the last you have to demonstrate your ignorance.
The UK has by far the best Indian (of all varieties) in Europe, not NL. I mean, it's ok here, but nothing like in the UK. This is like culinary 101 man.
CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 318d
Do you know what on par means? Average.
Codpiece@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 318d
No it doesn’t. It means to be on the same level as something else.
RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 318d
Yes, and how to say it in several languages. But thank's for the concern.
Rothe@piefed.social · 4 pts · 318d
Aw, did the American get its feefees hurt?
CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 318d
I eat better than you.
Lumidaub@feddit.org · 4 pts · 318d
Username checks out...?
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org · 4 pts · 318d
camelbeard@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 318d
Haring definitely is a classic Dutch streetfood
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollandse_Nieuwe
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org · 3 pts · 318d
I stand corrected.
pigup@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 318d
Lekkerbekje is all I need to survive.