Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and if you find yourself in Austria on this day it’s highly likely you will be served… Herring Salad. The main ingredient is obviously herring (often pickled), and though there are different versions, think of a creamy texture with things like apple, gherkins, potatoes and beetroot mixed in.
How did this tradition develop, you ask?
Well… serving to help purify the body, fish, and particularly herring, was inexpensive back in the day, so the custom of dining on herring at the beginning of Lent developed. The other obvious reason for eating herring at this time is that is touted as a hangover cure following the overindulgence of Carnival. Now I’m all for a good hangover cure… but for me this is definitely not one of them!
Look, Herring Salad is not one of my favourite foods. I do enjoy the taste, but an entire serving of it is too much for me, in the same way I don’t enjoy an entire bowl of risotto. But regardless, it is definitely worth a taste!
an aussie in austria 