Rita's Baked Herring

Ingredients

• 1.maatjies herring fillets, taste for saltiness; if too salty soak ½ hour in milk first
• 2.milk, for soaking if too salty; or to dilute cream if too rich
• 3.flour, for dredging
• 4.butter or oil, for frying
• 5.2 bunch spring onions, chopped
• 6.250 millilitre cream, can dilute with milk if too rich

Method

1. 1.Taste the herring. If they are too salty, soak for ½ hour in some milk.
2. 2.Dip herring in flour and fry in butter or oil or a mixture of both.
3. 3.Place in baking dish. Do not pack too tightly.
4. 4.Fry the chopped spring onion in a little butter, add the cream and pour over herrings.
5. 5.If too rich, can dilute the cream with milk.
6. 6.Bake in a 180° oven until cream thickens – about 15 minutes.

Notes

• Maatjies (matjes) herring are salt-cured and can be quite salty — always taste first and soak if needed.
• The cream should thicken slightly in the oven, forming a sauce around the herrings.