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    Home » Recipes » Handheld Meals

    Smoked Herring on Toast With Cream Cheese

    Published: August 5, 2020 Updated: August 5, 2020 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 21 Comments

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    Smoked herring fish and cream cheese on toast with sauerkraut, onion, capers and dill.

    Using a humble can of smoked herring along with some other flavourful ingredients, like cream cheese, sauerkraut, briny capers, onion and dill, you can whip up the most delicious smoked herring toast that’s perfect for a quick lunch or snack.

    Smoked herring fish and cream cheese on toast with sauerkraut, onion, capers and dill.

    Are you a fan of canned fish?

    I know we are!

    Canned fish is so versatile and tasty! And there’s a whole lotta options out there besides just canned salmon or tuna (not that those aren’t delicious too).

    Like most canned fish, I often enjoy smoked herring straight out of the tin, especially with a few olives on the side. Love it!

    When I’m not enjoying it that way, smoked herring on toast is simply divine.

    The Inspiration

    I remember a while back, hubby and I were watching one of those travel/food shows and the host visited Denmark. They went to a restaurant and picked up a bunch of sandwiches and enjoyed outside. Danish sandwiches, or Smørrebrød, is a popular dish over there (and I can totally see why).

    At its core, it involves a hearty bread (often Danish rye) with a good layer of butter, fish (often pickled herring or it could be processed meat) and spreads/cheeses/toppings. Essentially, you can mix and match with a bunch of different things.

    And, guess what? Danish open-faced sandwiches are traditionally enjoyed with a knife and fork … there is no picking up with your hands to eat (though I do).

    I’m not saying my recipe is necessarily a traditional Danish sandwich (because I did take some liberties), but this herring toast was definitely inspired by it. Bottom line, it tastes delicious and that’s essentially the end goal for me.

    You know how yummy smoked salmon is with cream cheese? Well, this herring recipe is something like that.

    With this open face herring sandwich, you get the smoky flavour from the herring (which are often known as “kippers” when the herring is whole and smoked). Then, there’s a generous slathering of cream cheese, along with other punchy ingredients, like sauerkraut, capers, onion and fresh dill. I mean, what’s not to love?

    Fan of fish on toast? Check out my sardines on toast recipe!

    Can of smoked herring.

    Do I Have To Use Cream Cheese?

    I love cream cheese with smoked fish, but if you prefer to use something else, go for it!

    As mentioned above, butter is quite popular for this type of fish sandwich. Slather on some good quality butter, instead of cream cheese, if you like.

    The whole idea of the butter is that it gives a good (tasty) layer so your toppings don’t make the bread soggy. But I find that cream cheese does the job just fine. Plus, these don’t last long anyway!

    For a non-dairy version, drizzle with some olive oil and pile on those toppings.

    Side note: those chives and dill in the pictures were pulled straight from our garden. How awesome is that?

    Tips and Variations

    • Toast your bread on both sides (unless you are lucky enough to get your hands on Danish rye, which is hearty enough not to be toasted). This makes for a sturdy base to hold all those toppings. Soft sandwich bread is not the thing to use here.
    • Unless you are using Danish rye, pick a nice artisanal bread from your local bakery. Kefir bread, pumpernickel, rye or sourdough are all great options.
    • Don’t be cheap with the cream cheese! Give your toast a good slather. It pairs beautifully with the smoked fish. I like to use a generous 2 tablespoons per slice (more if the slices are larger).
    • Ensure your cream cheese is softened so it’s nice and spreadable. You can even whip it, if you like, with a small food processor.
    • Squeeze your sauerkraut well of excess moisture. You don’t want soggy bread here.
    • This recipe yields about 3 smoked herring toasts. The quantity you yield may vary, depending on how large your slices of bread are.
    • Fresh dill was used, but if you don’t have on hand, try dried dill.
    • As a different pop of flavour, try mixing in a little horseradish into your cream cheese (and ditching the sauerkraut).
    Two smoked herring and cream cheese toasts next to herbs and a knife with cream cheese on it.

    More Easy Canned Fish Recipes

    • Salmon Salad Sandwich
    • Tuna Salad With Greek Yogurt
    • Cheesy Tuna Melt
    • Sardine Pasta

    If you make this smoked herring on toast, be sure to leave a comment below!

    Smoked herring fish and cream cheese on toast with sauerkraut, onion, capers and dill.

    Smoked Herring on Toast With Cream Cheese

    Dawn | Girl Heart Food
    Using a humble can of smoked herring along with some other flavourful ingredients, like cream cheese, sauerkraut, briny capers, onion and dill, you can whip up the most delicious smoked herring toast that's perfect for a quick lunch or snack.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 8 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Lunch, Snack
    Servings 3 toasts (approximately)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 slices bread (like light rye, pumpernickel, kefir or sourdough), each slice about 5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide
    • 6 tablespoons cream cheese, softened (⅓ cup, plus 1 tablespoon)
    • 6 tablespoons sauerkraut, drained well of excess moisture (⅓ cup, plus 1 tablespoon)
    • 1 (3-ounce) can golden smoked herring, about a 92 gram can
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
    • 1 teaspoon capers, drained
    • 1 teaspoon roughly chopped fresh dill, or sprinkling of dill weed (dried dill)
    • thinly sliced red onion, to taste
    • pinch freshly ground black pepper
    • Lemon olive oil or olive oil, garnish to taste (optional)

    Instructions

    • Toast bread on both sides.
    • Spread 2 tablespoons of cream cheese on each slice of toast.
    • Top each slice with 2 tablespoons of well drained sauerkraut.
    • Remove herring from the liquid in the can and distribute herring over sauerkraut.
    • Distribute chives, capers, dill and red onion over top of each toast.
    • Sprinkle with a pinch of black pepper. Drizzle with a little olive oil, if using. Serve and enjoy!
      Note: The quantity of toasts you yield may vary, depending on the size of your bread slices. Generally speaking, you will yield 2 to 3 toasts.

    Notes

    • Toast your bread on both sides (unless you are lucky enough to get your hands on Danish rye, which is hearty enough not to be toasted). This makes for a sturdy base to hold all those toppings. Soft sandwich bread is not the thing to use here.
    • Unless you are using Danish rye, use a nice artisanal bread from your local bakery. Kefir bread, pumpernickel, rye or sourdough are all great options.
    • Don’t be cheap with the cream cheese! Give your toast a good slather. It pairs beautifully with the smoked fish. I like to use a generous 2 tablespoons per slice (more if the slices are larger).
    • Ensure your cream cheese is softened so it’s nice and spreadable. You can even whip it, if you like, with a small food processor.
    • Squeeze your sauerkraut well of excess moisture. You don’t want soggy bread here.
    • This recipe yields about 3 smoked herring toasts. The quantity you yield may vary, depending on how large your slices of bread are.
    • Fresh dill was used, but if you don’t have on hand, try dried dill.

    A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

    Keyword canned fish recipe, herring recipe, kipper recipe

    Tried this recipe?

    If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      December 05, 2022 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      Really delicious, and super healthy! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Dawn | Girl Heart Food

        December 05, 2022 at 9:08 pm

        Thank you very much, Beth!! I’m so happy you enjoyed!! It’s such a yummy lunch or snack, isn’t it?

        Reply
    2. Brian

      April 19, 2022 at 4:24 am

      Hi Dawn. I smoked some fresh herring that I caught and put that on toasted rye with avocado. Topped with capers.
      Delicious.

      Reply
      • Dawn | Girl Heart Food

        April 24, 2022 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Brian! Sounds really yummy!!

        Reply
    3. Jenny R

      February 20, 2022 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent and so easy to make! My husband loved it too!😍

      Reply
      • Dawn | Girl Heart Food

        February 20, 2022 at 7:56 pm

        Thank you very much!! So glad you both enjoyed the recipe!!

        Reply
    4. Michelle | Sift & Simmer

      August 14, 2020 at 12:33 am

      5 stars
      I love canned fish! It’s so yummy and versatile. This looks so fresh and vibrant with the herbs and lemon oil 🙂 I’m gonna have to make this for lunch tomorrow! Thanks for the inspiration, Dawn!

      Reply
    5. Valentina

      August 11, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      5 stars
      I grew up always having jars of marinated herring in the refrigerator. I love it, and this recipes looks delicious. I will have to give the canned a go. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        Thank you Valentina! Enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      August 09, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      I eat a lot of canned tuna, but that’s about it. I need to expand my horizons a bit and try canned herring and then try this smoked herring on toast! I love the small touches you’ve added – dill, capers, chives! – to give it a boost of flavor.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:17 pm

        Thank you Kathy! It’s a yummy one for sure!

        Reply
    7. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers

      August 08, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely delicious! My husband would be all over this with the smoked herring and sauerkraut and all combined with cream cheese, is always a good thing 🙂

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Woo hoo! Thanks Jennifer. I think so too! 😉

        Reply
    8. Alex

      August 07, 2020 at 3:43 am

      5 stars
      Just what I would love for my lunch today – so good!! Love this on rye!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Yay! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Katherine | Love In My Oven

      August 07, 2020 at 12:04 am

      5 stars
      You make that can of fish in my pantry look awfully exciting!! I love the sauerkraut on this too. So good, Dawn! Great easy lunch!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:15 pm

        Lol…happy to hear it! Thanks Katherine!

        Reply
    10. Marissa

      August 06, 2020 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely big time fans of canned fish in our house (jarred too – anchovies!). And these toasts are a perfect example of how you can elevate a humble can of fish into something worth celebrating! Great lunch, but would also be perfect party fare!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:15 pm

        Yay! Thank you so much, Marissa. I think so too!

        Reply
    11. David @ Spiced

      August 06, 2020 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      A couple of years ago, we talked about taking a vacation to Denmark. In my research, I made a list of places where I wanted to try Smørrebrød. We didn’t end up going to Denmark, but I still love the Smørrebrød concept! This version sounds delicious. In fact, it reminds me a lot of a dip/spread that Laura makes using smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers. This is basically a meal version of that appetizer!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 19, 2020 at 1:14 pm

        It’s so good…and simple too. What’s not to love, right?? Thanks David!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Dawn! Welcome to Girl Heart Food, a food blog that's all about easy comfort food recipes (especially cheesy recipes) that'll satisfy your taste buds and make your belly happy. Have a look around and find something that'll inspire you to get into the kitchen and whip up something delicious to enjoy today!

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