Gehakte Herring

For the aristocracy of Czarist Russia, salt herring in its many forms was an essential part of the “zakuski” table, whose tasty titbits were considered ideal partners for a glass (or three) of vodka. For the poor Jews of the Pale of Settlement, herring was a cheap and nourishing form of protein – give the menfolk a couple of herrings a day and expensive meat could be saved for a Sabbath treat.

The traditional recipe for gehakte, or chopped, herring uses sweet digestive biscuits and