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Fish, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce and steamed potatoes

Grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce is a fish dish for 4 people, ready in 35 minutes, rated easy, for about €3.20 per person. The key is scoring the skin before grilling and never letting the mustard sauce boil, so it keeps its flavor without turning bitter.

Tonight, grilled fresh herring with a creamy mustard sauce, served with steamed potatoes.

Grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce and steamed potatoes
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter

Grilled fresh herring has crisp skin and tender flesh, quite different from the smoked kippers most people know better. The creamy mustard sauce softens its strong flavor, with just enough tang to wake up the palate without overpowering it. The steamed potatoes, firm and plain, are the perfect base to soak up that sauce.

This is a cold season dish, ideal on a fall or winter weeknight when you want a comforting dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. Mon Chou picked it for adults who love whole fish and bold flavors, a bit less for kids who might be put off by the bones. Think weeknight dinner rather than a dinner party.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Fresh herring, gutted 4

Pantry

  • Strong mustardoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Heavy cream 15 cl
  • Butter 20 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallot 1
  • Potatoes 1 kg
  • Parsley 0.5 bunch

Allergens Fish, Mustard, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Steam the peeled potatoes. 20 min

    Steaming keeps them firm and full of flavor.

  2. Score the herring lightly, brush with oil, season with salt and pepper.

    A bit of mustard on the skin makes them even more flavorful.

  3. Grill them in the oven on broil or in a skillet, six to seven minutes per side. 14 min

    Turn them gently with a wide spatula.

  4. Melt the chopped shallot in the butter, add the cream and mustard, and let it thicken. 5 min

    Don't let the mustard boil, it turns bitter.

  5. Serve the herring topped with sauce, sprinkled with parsley, with the steamed potatoes.

    A spoonful of capers in the sauce adds a nice tang.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick herring with bright eyes and firm flesh, it should smell like the sea, not fishy.
  • Start the potatoes before you prep the herring, they take longer to cook than the fish.
  • If you broil in the oven, place the rack close to the heating element and watch closely, herring grills fast and can burn.

The variations

  • Swap the herring for fresh mackerel, it also holds up well on the grill and with mustard sauce.
  • For a dairy free version, use soy cream instead of heavy cream and swap the butter for a plant based fat.
  • To save time, cut the potatoes into small chunks, they'll be ready in 10 minutes instead of 20.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with vinaigrette
  • Crusty bread for the sauce
  • A glass of dry white wine

Storage

Keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days, grilled fish doesn't freeze well. Reheat gently in the oven or in a skillet over low heat to keep the flesh from drying out, and keep the sauce separate if you can.

Questions about this dish

Can I use mild mustard instead of strong mustard?

Yes, the sauce will just be milder and rounder in flavor. Taste at the end and add more if you want more kick.

Do I need to scale the herring before grilling?

Ask your fishmonger to gut and scale them, it's easier and cleaner. Otherwise, scrape the skin with the back of a knife under cold water.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

You can prepare the shallot and cream base ahead, but add the mustard at the last moment and reheat gently without boiling. This keeps the mustard from turning bitter.

What's the easiest way to remove the bones?

Once the herring is grilled, lift the top fillet with a fork, the central bone then lifts away in one piece with the tail. Kids will likely need help with this step.

How long does it take to make grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce and steamed potatoes?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce and steamed potatoes?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does grilled fresh herring with mustard sauce and steamed potatoes cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, mustard, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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