Wednesday 4 August 2021

Faux Sill Matjes.


                                  

I think I mentioned quite recently that my late Mother-in-Law used to give me a few tins of Swedish Sill for Christmas (above). She knew I loved them, and she had a kind heart.

I tried to buy some recently, but drew a blank. The net failed to provide them, and Ikea don't sell by mail order. I was stumped. However, I looked online for alternatives and found a 'cheats' recipe.


I bought a jar of my favourite Rollmops, emptied out half the vinegar, and added about a third of a cup of Brown Sugar, one Star Anise (it said 'Dill' but I didn't have any), then topped-up with Tawny Port. I left it for about a week.

This is the second jar I've done, and the result is pretty good. It doesn't have the same texture as the real thing, but the flavour isn't a long way off.

If there are any Sill fans out there who can't get to Ikea, this is not a bad method to try.

To those who have no idea what I'm talking about.... I apologise.




39 comments:

  1. Is this what we call Sild in Danish - pickled herrings? (Done at least 3 different ways.) We could get them in Lidl from time to time in UK.

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    1. The Swedish version is pickled in a sweet/sour sauce with a taste of Dill. I should think it's very similar to Sild. They are often eaten with tepid new Potatoes. Delicious.

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    2. That sounds very like one of the Danish versions, another has curry sauce.

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  2. I can get both Roll Mops and a sweet marinated version at Sainsbury. John West do herring in mustard and other sauces. I used to like the varieties of herring on offer in Norway for breakfast, most of them anyway. They did a couple of types that I think were rotten fish... Vile.

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    1. When I buy Rollmops, I always empty some of the vinegar, and replace it with brown sugar. Then after a week or so, they taste wonderful. The addition of Star Anise and Port makes them even better.

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  3. I just looked this up. I love Pickled Herring. We had this with along with our Polish dishes for a treat and at Easter.

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    1. I need to visit an Ikea store to stock up. I don't like not having any in store!

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. You are possibly right, but I am so used to my ABBA Sill, that I try to leave the preparation to them. I did once see what I thought was Sill in Waitrose in England, and when I asked the man if it was Sill, he replied "We don't sell Seal here Sir". I tried to explain, but gave up.

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  5. I know what you are talking about and love them very much. I saw such )Abba) on Amazon.

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    1. I tried Amazon but they wouldn't export to France.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I don't doubt it... they probably need to protect their remaining trees back in Sweden.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Maybe the poorer countries are pleased to receive foreign money for their wood!

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  7. Pickled herrings, my mother prepared them herself.

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    1. My mother used to make Soused Herrings, which I liked, but they were nothing like Sill.

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    2. Sill is pickled herring straight from the North Sea landed at Yarmouth. My mother pickled them in vinegar, sugar and spices. I remember them very clearly and we ate with bread and butter.

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    3. Sounds good, I've never tried making them from scratch with fresh fish. Maybe in Brighton!

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  8. Roll mops! I will stop reading right here.

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    1. My wife was given them once at school; not a single girl would eat them!

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  9. Just ate some sill just like it was, mildly salted.They sell it like that, too, so that people can make their own versions. I don't like matjess, it's too sweet. I think in a small corner shop has at least four-five different versions, and a any given supermarket has at least dozen different versions... yes, I like sill in other forms, so I've tested them all. Pity I can't eat much because of onions.

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    1. Where are you; in Sweden? I have just one can left in the fridge (one of the above)... I'm keeping it for a special occasion.

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  10. I accept your apology. I thought that a "still" was connected with the distillation of strong drink. Ah well, you learn something new every day.

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    1. It's that Yorkshire T getting in the way again.

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  11. When I was a child my mother would pickled them. rolled. They were delicious.

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    1. Yes, my mother called them 'soused'. I think they were put into hot, sweetened, vinegary, water, and left to cool. I shall have to make enquiries!

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  12. Replies
    1. If you ever happen to be in Ikea, buy yourself a tin. You might surprise yourself. They're delicious.

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    2. Well, I'll try almost anything once and I do buy the IKEA Horseradish Sauce.

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  13. Not my first thought when someone says they are a fan of abba.

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    1. My wife is an ABBA fan.... but she is Swedish!!

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  14. I did not know what sill was. I looked it up and decided that I do not want any, thanks.

    Going back to your last post, I have to ask...are you allowed to eat this? You're a British citizen, living in France, culturally appropriating Swedish food. FOR SHAME!!!! :D

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    1. Ms Eshe Kiama Zuri (of the Vegan Society) would no doubt have me shot at dawn.

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  15. Rollmops are pickled herrings, right? my mum used to buy them in jars for my stepfather. I prefer my herrings canned in a tomato sauce and I eat them on toast.

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    1. The one's I buy also have onions, and a slice of gherkin in the middle of each roll. The addition of brown sugar makes them much tastier.

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  16. No pickled herring for me. Thank you.

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    1. Sill is not really just 'pickled Herring'. It is sweet-ish, and almost 'herby'. It is very nice; try some, if you can find the tins above.

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