Selyodka Pod Shuboy (Селедка под шубой) literally translates to Herring Under a Fur Coat or Shuba. It’s a much loved Russian meal especially popular during New Year celebrations. A Russian shuba is a warm winter fur coat worn in Russia for hundreds of years. Herring Under a Fur Coat consists of layered potato, herring, carrots, beets, lots of mayonnaise and grated egg which makes the dish look like it’s covering the herring by a fur coat (a bright purple one).
In North America, we are used to celebrating Christmas as one of our biggest celebrations of the year. However in Russia, it’s the New Year that is the biggest celebration. I’m sure this is due to former communist times as an atheist state, banning Christian Christmas celebrations. Instead they chose to focus on celebrating the New Year. Christmas in Russia follows the Julian calendar and is celebrated on the 7th of January.
New Years feasts always included Herring Under a Fur Coat, Piroshki, Kholodets, Olivye (Olivier Salad), a popular honey type of cookie called Pryaniki and more! This is classic Russian food at it’s best!
You will either love Herring Under a Fur Coat, or you will hate it. The Russian climate is suited to growing root vegetables, and beet and potatoes feature heavily in our culture. Russians also have a love affair with mayonnaise, heading back to imperial Russian times. Herring Under a Fur Coat is a perfect marriage of ‘very Russian’ food tastes.
How to Make Herring Under a Fur Coat
You need a springform pan to make this layered salad. Some people make it in a bowl or casserole dish. Don’t be scared of the mayo! Russians love mayonnaise. I have 3 layers of mayonnaise in this layered salad, some people prefer to have only 2 layers of mayo. I kind of try to limit the use of mayonnaise, don’t worry and be generous with your mayo quantities. My recipe really uses the minimum mayo when making a salad of this size.
I also add salt and pepper in the middle of the salad. Quite often Herring Under a Fur Coat seems under-salted to me, so don’t be afraid to add a solid teaspoon of seasoning. It’s quite easy to build this salad, just prepare all the ingredients in advance.
The dill is optional as a garnish, however I think it’s adds more flavour and looks great. My last tip is to speed up the cooling time of the vegetables, simply put them into the freezer until they are cool. You can prepare the vegetables in advance and simply grate and layer your salad when ready.
Oh, and most recipes tell you to boil the vegetables unpeeled, then peel them after they are cooled. Have you ever tried to peel a soft carrot? I peel everything first, then boil them and achieve the same result. Save yourself some time and frustration! Although you can make it the traditional way, boil them all unpeeled then peel the soft vegetables.
I love Herring Under a Fur Coat, easier to make than it sounds. Everyone needs to try it at least once! I make a version of Shuba Salad with Salmon that tastes awesome too. A Russian classic, Dressed Herring is enjoyed at every celebration. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Grate the remaining potatoes over the mayonnaise mixture and evenly layer across the dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Grate the carrots over the potatoes and lightly cover with another layer of mayonnaise.
Finally, grate the beets evenly spread over the carrot mayo layer, and cover with the remaining mayonnaise.
Grate the eggs over the entire Shuba salad. Keep refrigerated until you are ready to serve. Best prepared the day before serving, but allow at least 3 hours in the fridge so the entire salad has had time to chill.
Garnish with chopped dill before serving.
Here is the easy order of layers - Potato, Herring, Onion, Mayo, Potato, Salt and Pepper, Mayo, Carrots, Beets, Mayo, Eggs.