By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 2
768 cal · 5 min
Pickled Herring Smørrebrød
Recipe GLPRd1236e765cdda1
A classic Nordic open-faced sandwich featuring dense Danish rye bread topped with creamy butter, tangy pickled herring, vibrant red onion, and fresh dill. This simple yet elegant dish celebrates clean, traditional Scandinavian flavors with just a few quality ingredients.
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Ingredients
1 slice rugbrød (dense Danish sourdough rye bread), about 1/3-inch thick
1/2 teaspoon unsalted butter, slightly softened
5 pieces jarred pickled herring
Thinly sliced red onion, for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh dill, roughly chopped
Directions
Place the slice of rugbrød on a clean cutting board or serving plate.
Spread the softened unsalted butter evenly across the entire surface of the rye bread.
Arrange the pickled herring pieces on top of the buttered bread in a single layer.
Top the herring with a generous handful of thinly sliced red onion.
Garnish with freshly chopped dill, distributing it evenly across the sandwich.
Serve immediately while the butter is still soft and all flavors are at their brightest. Cut in half if desired for 2 servings.
Comments
Pickled herring is a special-trip ingredient at Charlotte grocers; Harris Teeter stocks it reliably in the international or seafood section, but Food Lion and Walmart often do not. The cost per serving runs $3 to $4 once you factor in quality rye bread and herring, which adds up fast for a simple open-faced sandwich. The five-minute claim is honest if you buy pre-pickled herring, though sourcing the herring locally means budgeting that store stop. This is a bold weeknight lunch for someone who loves fish, not a crowd-pleaser for hesitant eaters, and it does not reheat or keep well past the same day.
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