Kitchen Dictionary: herring

Herring are small, oily fish. They are typically found in shallow waters in North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. There are 200 species of herring, the majority of them being Atlantic. They move in vast schools, and in the spring they are found in Europe and America. Herring are caught then salted and smoked in large quantities. Herring are abundantly found in the Gulf of Maine, and spawning of herring begins in late March in Southeast Alaska and goes through until July.

Ingredient

Season: available year-round

How to select: Available in fish markets fresh or found in grocery stores sold in jars (pickled).

How to prepare: bake, grill

Matches well with: apples, bacon, chives, cream, hollandaise sauce, lemon, mustard, olive oil, onions, parsley, potatoes, shallots, sour cream, vinegar, white wine

Substitutions: Shad, smelt, mackerel or small trout