What Is Literally A Red Herring And How Are They Made?

A red herring is a kipper that has been preserved by smoking the fish above a wood fire.

Unlike other white fish, the herring has its body oils spread throughout its flesh. This creates its distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It also means it has to be preserved, or cured, in certain ways.

Smoking herring is one method, and this gives us the kippers we are familiar with today. The other traditional method of preserving herring is to pack it in barrels with salt.

To create a red herring, the fish must be gutted, washed in cold running water and then transferred to pickle vats containing fresh water and salt. After pickling for ten minutes, remove the fish, stretch it flat-opened onto a tenter hook, and hang on a tenter stick over slow burning piles of light wood shavings.

However, be aware that open fires and oily fish are ideal ingredients for creating a major blaze.

Add Comment

Report