Recipe: Pickled Herring Fillets (Rollmops)

Rollmops
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12 fresh or salted herring fillets
2 cups white wine vinegar or tarragon-flavored vinegar
1 Tblsp sugar
1 Tblsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 Tblsp black peppercorns
1 1/2 teas coriander seeds, crushed
1 carrot, peeled & sliced into thin rounds
1 lemon, peeled & white pith removed, thinly sliced

If you are using salted fillets, place in large bowl and cover with cold water or milk. Let stand overnight in refrigerator, covered. Drain, rinse, dry with paper towels.
Place next 7 ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer, covered for 10 min. Remove from heat & cool.
In an earthenware or glass casserole (at least 4 in. deep) arrange 1/2 carrots and onions on bottom and cover with 6 herring fillets. Pour half the vinegar mixture over. Top with remaining carrots, onion and herring, then pour the remaining vinegar mixture on top. Arrange lemon slices on top.
Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in refrigerator at least 2 days, up to 1 week.