Explore Guides
Local food map
Copenhagen (Denmark)
Hotels in area
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
480kcal
42gProtein
30gCarbs
20gFat
5gFibre
350 gServing
* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.
Allergens
🐟 Fish
Smoked Herring
How to order / say it
Say it
Røget sild — [roh-get sild]
Order
I'd like the smoked herring, please.
Locally
Jeg vil gerne have røget sild, tak.
Say locally
Traditionally smoked herring, often served with rye bread.
Why try it?
Smoked herring represents Denmark's rich maritime heritage and showcases the importance of seafood in Danish cuisine. Enjoyed especially in Bornholm, it highlights how locals have preserved fish for centuries.
How it tastes
The herring is smoky and salty, with a tender yet firm texture that pairs beautifully with the dense and slightly sour rye bread. It's often served with a swirl of mustard and plenty of fresh herbs.
Origin & History — first documented: 1800
Smoked herring has been common in Denmark since the medieval period, as smoking was a necessary way to preserve fish before refrigeration. It became particularly popular on the island of Bornholm in the 1800s.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🐟 500 g herring
- 🧂 10 g salt
- 🌾 4 slices rye bread
- 🫒 10 ml oil
- 🧄 50 g onion
- 🌿 10 g dill
Method
- 1 Clean the herring and remove any bones.
- 2 Salt the fish lightly and leave to rest for 2 hours.
- 3 Smoke the herring for about 1 hour using a traditional smoker.
- 4 Serve with rye bread, thinly sliced onion, and dill.
More from Bornholm
🐟
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Steamed fish with parsley sauce
Dampet fisk med persillesovs
DAHM-pet fish me PUR-sih-leh-soss
Simple steamed white fish served with creamy parsley sauce.
© Wikimedia Commons
Main course
Fish & Seafood
Danish Open Sandwich
Smørrebrød
SMUR-brahd
Rye bread topped with various combinations of toppings like meats, fish, and vegetables.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Red Porridge with Cream
Rødgrød med Fløde
RUE-groed med fluh-deh
A Danish dessert made from red berries and served with cream.
🐟
Soup
Fish & Seafood
Aarhus Fiskesuppe
Ow-hoos fees-keh-soop-peh
A rich fish soup with herbs and vegetables.
🥩
Main course
Meat
Aarhus Brændende Kærlighed
Ow-hoos brenn-den kair-leh-hed
Comforting potato mash with crispy bacon.
© Wikimedia Commons
Bread
Vegan
Danish Rye Bread
Rugbrød
ROO-bro
Dense, dark bread made from rye flour, often used for smørrebrød.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Vegetarian
Potato and Leek Soup
Kartoffel-porresuppe
kar-TOF-el POH-reh-soup
A creamy soup made with potatoes and leeks, a staple in Danish cuisine.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Danish Apple Cake
Æblekage
AY-bleh-ka-gah
Traditional Danish dessert layered with stewed apples, cake or breadcrumbs, and whipped cream.
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Vegetarian
Danish Steamed Dumplings
Klejner
KLAY-nur
Twisted fried pastries made from a lightly sweetened dough.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Wienerbrød
VEE-ner-broth
A flaky and buttery pastry often filled with custard or jam.