Shuba, known as “herring under a fur coat” (Russian: “сельдь под шубой” , “selyodka pod shuboy” ) where the word “fur coat” has nothing to do with clothing, but is an abbreviation: “Banishment and anathema to chauvinism and decadence“.
▶It is a layered salad made of spekesild (salted Atlantic herring), vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots, and beetroot), and mayonnaise, topped with layers of boiled eggs.
The prepared ingredients are arranged on large plates or in deep salad bowls in separate layers one on top of the other.
▶It is popular in Russia, Belarus, and other countries like Poland (known as Śledź Pod Pierzynką), Lithuania, and Latvia where it is particularly popular for holidays and is commonly served as “zakuska” during New Year’s Eve (Novy God) celebrations and Christmas in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
▶A culinary artifact of late Soviet cuisine that became widespread in the 1970s, becoming a festive dish and an attribute of the New Year’s table along with Olivier salad.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 6 Hours
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Russian
- Seasonality: Christmas, All Seasons
Ingredients
- 3 potatoes
- 3 carrots
- 2 red beets, cooked, boiled
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 1 lb herring, salted
- 1 onion
- 1 cup mayonnaise
Tools
- 1 Pastry Ring
Steps
Leave herring to soak in water for an hour and a half or two for desalting.
Boil the potatoes and carrots leaving them “firm”. Grate them.
Grate the beets as well.
Form the layers with the help of a pastry ring:
1. potatoes;
2. finely chopped onion and chopped herring;
3. carrots and beets mixed with mayonnaise.
Leave in the refrigerator for 6 hours and serve with crumbled hard-boiled egg on top.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What is spekesild?
It is Atlantic herring preserved with salt.
