Mayonnaise-free shuba (herring under a fur coat)

 

Shuba is a traditional Ukrainian layered salad made from salted herring, beet, potato, and carrot. This dish is usually dressed with mayonnaise, but today we’re going to cook a mayonnaise-free version and cook our salad with sunflower oil.

Shuba is often made in most Slavic households and is also known in Ukraine as herring under a fur coat or seledka pod shuboi. This salad has been passed down from generations to generations and is a must have for major Ukrainian holidays.

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, no matter whether you’ve already eaten this salad or not, it’s a fantastic time to cook shuba and serve it on your table. The salad looks bright and festive. It is satisfying and healthy. Just perfect for holidays.

 

Ingredients:

  • 200 g (7 oz) carrot
  • 200 g (7 oz) potato
  • 200 g (7 oz) beetroot
  • 1/3 bunch of spring onion
  • a couple of fresh dill twigs
  • 200 g (7 oz) salted herring fillet
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil (for greasing)
  • ground black pepper – to taste
  • salt – to taste

 

Cooking

 

Wash all vegetables under running water thoroughly. Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add beetroot, carrot, and potato there. Boil the vegetables until tender and cool them. Peel and cut the veggies into medium pieces, keeping them separately. Rinse herring fillets and put them in a strainer to let the excess water drain. Scale the fish and shred it.

Put a ring mold or the ring from a springform pan on a serving plate. First place the whole portion of potatoes, arranging it evenly over the bottom and add some chopped spring onion. Then spread the herring with spring onion above (this will let potatoes soak in flavor from herring).

Top the fish with the carrot and onion, and finish the salad with a layer of beet. Sprinkle shuba with black pepper and salt to taste. Pour sunflower oil above the salad.

Decorate the herring under a fur coat with dill twigs and chopped fresh spring onion. Some people like to finish their shuba salads with the shredded eggs on top. It’s your choice!

Serve the salad chilled.

Enjoy your meal!

Have you liked the recipe for a layered herring salad?

Join and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with our freshest recipes, cooking tips, and entertaining articles related to the Ukrainian people, culture, and traditions!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Yummly, etc. to comment and share your favorite Ukrainian recipes with friends and relatives!