How to Make Delicious, Odorless Herring Salad at Home

Herring salad is a famous specialty of the Central Coast and Phu Quoc, loved by many for the natural sweetness of fresh fish, perfectly combined with raw vegetables and savory dipping sauce. When prepared correctly, the herring will not be fishy but will instead possess a distinct, fresh flavor. If you want to prepare this delicious dish yourself at home, let’s explore 2 simple ways to make herring salad in the article below from Ola Squid!

1. How to make Phu Quoc herring salad

Phu Quoc herring salad is renowned for its fresh fish meat and subtle richness, combined with shredded coconut and raw vegetables, creating a refreshing yet very flavorful dish.

1.1. Ingredients

The ingredients you need to prepare for a delicious and flavorful Phu Quoc herring salad include:

• 300g fresh herring
• 3 limes, 2 green bananas (astringent bananas)
• 1 tomato, 1 onion
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon minced shallots
• 1 tablespoon tapioca starch, 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon MSG, 1 teaspoon seasoning powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Raw vegetables to serve: lettuce, peppermint, basil,…
• A little grilled rice paper, 1 chicken egg

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1.2. Preparation steps

The method for making standard Phu Quoc-style herring salad is as follows:

Step 1 – Processing the herring: Once purchased, wash the herring, scale it, and remove the head, gills, and internal organs, then rinse again with water. To prevent the salad from being fishy, you should cut the fish’s belly and completely remove the innards. Then, soak the fish in water mixed with lime juice for about 5 minutes to neutralize the odor. Next, use a knife to fillet the fish meat on both sides and remove the bones.

Step 2 – Preparing other ingredients: 

• Raw vegetables like lettuce, peppermint, and basil should be picked, washed with water, and drained. 
• Peel the green bananas, slice them thinly, and soak them in diluted lime water to prevent browning. 
• Peel the onion, slice into thin strips, and soak in ice water to reduce the pungency. Wash the tomato, remove seeds, and mince.

Step 3 – Mixing the herring salad: 

• Place the herring and green bananas in a bowl, add sugar, seasoning powder, MSG, and lime juice, then mix gently and let it marinate for 10 – 15 minutes to let the fish cure. 
• After that, squeeze out the excess liquid from the fish (keep this liquid to make the sauce), then toss the fish with the onions and add some seasoning to taste. 
• Continue by adding minced chili, aromatic herbs, and roasted peanuts on top, and sprinkle with crushed grilled rice paper for extra crispiness.

Step 4 – Making the dipping sauce: Sauté minced garlic and shallots in cooking oil until fragrant, then add the minced tomatoes and sugar, cooking until softened. Add the reserved fish liquid along with a little water, stir well, and season with fish sauce. Once the mixture boils, add the beaten chicken egg and stir gently. Finally, mix tapioca starch with water and add it to the sauce to achieve a thick consistency.

Step 5 – Finalizing the dish: Plate the herring salad, decorate with raw vegetables and roasted peanuts. When enjoying, dip the salad into the rich tomato-egg sauce, which helps the dish become more balanced with its blend of sour, spicy, and the natural sweetness of the fish.

Reference: Collection of easy and delicious salad recipes for every party

2. Instructions for making Nam O herring salad – Da Nang

Nam O herring salad is a famous dish from the Nam O fishing village (Da Nang), loved by many diners for its fresh, bold, and distinct Central Coast flavor. Below are detailed instructions for you to prepare this enticing dish at home:

2.1. Required ingredients

To make an authentic Nam O herring salad, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 500g fresh herring
• 3 ginger roots, 3 galangal roots
• 3 garlic cloves, 5 chili peppers
• 3 tablespoons sugar, 5 tablespoons annatto oil
• 2 fresh limes, a little roasted white sesame seeds

2.2. Instructions

How to make a delicious, non-fishy Central Vietnamese herring salad:

Step 1 – Processing the herring: Once purchased, scale the herring thoroughly, remove the head, tail, and gills, then remove the internal organs. Rinse the fish with diluted saltwater for about 5 minutes to clean and remove any fishy odor. Once the fish is dry, use a knife to fillet the meat and remove the bones.

Step 2 – Preparing other ingredients: Wash the ginger, galangal, chili, and lime. Peel the ginger and galangal then grate them finely, mince the garlic, and slice the chilies to enhance the spiciness and aroma.

Step 3 – Curing the herring: Place the filleted herring in a bowl, add the grated ginger and chili, then mix gently. Next, add about 100ml of vinegar to cure the fish and marinate for about 30 minutes.

Step 4 – Preparing the dipping fish sauce: Combine minced garlic, chili, galangal, and sugar with fish sauce, stirring well to create a rich dipping mixture.

Step 5 – Mixing the herring salad: After the fish has been cured, drain the vinegar and squeeze in some lime juice to make the fish more fragrant and tender. Continue by adding the prepared fish sauce and mixing well with the fish. Finally, add the annatto oil and roasted sesame seeds, then toss gently to combine the ingredients.

See more: How to make sweet and sour squid salad that bursts with flavor at home

3. How to buy fresh herring for making salad

For a delicious and non-fishy herring salad, you should pay attention to the following when buying herring:

• When buying herring, prioritize fish with bright red gills, shiny scales, and firm attachment to the body. 
• The fish meat should be firm, have good elasticity when pressed gently, and the eyes should be clear, not cloudy.
• Additionally, you should choose medium-sized fish, as smaller fish usually have softer and fewer bones, which is ideal for making salad. Fresh fish usually has a characteristic light oceanic scent, without any strange or foul odors.
• Conversely, avoid buying fish with dark red or bruised gills, slimy skin, cloudy eyes, or unusual smells. These are signs that the fish has been sitting for a long time and is no longer fresh.

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4. Instructions for effectively removing fishy odor from herring

To ensure the herring salad retains its characteristic fresh flavor, proper preparation and odor removal are crucial steps. Below is a guide on how to effectively remove the fishy odor from herring:

• First, remove the innards, gills, scales, fins, and the black lining inside the belly. Then, rinse lightly with water, rub the fish with some salt for a few minutes, and rinse again to remove any slime and initial odor.
• Additionally, you can squeeze some lime juice or soak the fish in diluted saltwater with rice vinegar for 2 – 3 minutes for effective odor removal. Be careful not to soak for too long, as the acid in the lime can make the fish soft and lose its freshness.
• Another tip is to marinate the fish with a little white wine, then rinse before processing. This method not only helps reduce the fishy smell but also makes the meat more fragrant. 
• Furthermore, when preparing, combine it with aromatic spices such as ginger, pepper, onions, chili, cilantro, or acidic ingredients like lime, tamarind, vinegar,… to enhance the flavor and limit the fishy odor.
• For herring salad, to allow the fish to absorb the flavor better, marinate the fish with seasonings for about 10 – 15 minutes before mixing the salad.

Herring salad is a dish with a characteristic coastal flavor, appealing due to the harmonious combination of the fresh sweetness of the fish, the tangy sourness of lime, and various aromatic herbs and bold spices. Hopefully, these 2 recipes will help you prepare this dish yourself at home to treat your family and friends during gatherings. And don’t forget to visit the Culinary Corner category on the Ola Squid blog to constantly update the latest articles on delicious recipes, cooking tips, and much more. For those who love seafood snacks, check out our online shop to discover premium dried seafood products.