Cranberry-Herring Dip

A two-ingredient party dip of whole berry cranberry sauce and herring tidbits, chilled and served with crackers. Sweet, tart and briny.

Naturally gluten-freeDairy-freeLow-carbMake-ahead

Contains: fish. Based on the ingredients as written; check package labels, which can change.

From the recipe book of Sandra Mills, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook in our family.

Glass bowl of whole-berry cranberry sauce with pieces of herring, surrounded by crackers
  • Prep 5 min
  • Total 5 min
  • Yield About 3 1/2 cups

Updated

Jump to: Ingredients | Instructions | Cook's notes | Tips | Nutrition | Print recipe

This may be the simplest recipe in Sandra Mills's book, and one of the most distinctive: a can of whole berry cranberry sauce stirred together with a jar of herring tidbits and chilled.

The sweet-tart cranberries balance the briny herring. Serve it with crackers, rye toasts or cocktail pumpernickel.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) can of whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar of herring tidbits

Instructions

  1. Combine. Combine the cranberry sauce and herring tidbits.
  2. Chill and serve. Chill and serve.

Nutrition per 1/4 cup (estimated)

100Calories
7 gCarbohydrates
1 gFiber
6 gNet carbs
5 gProtein
6 gFat

Estimated per 1/4 cup (the recipe makes about 3 1/2 cups), using USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient. Net carbs are carbohydrates minus fiber. Optional ingredients, garnishes and anything served on the side are not included, and marinades are counted at about a third because most is discarded. Brands and portion sizes change the numbers.

Low-carbGluten-freeDairy-free

Cook's notes

Herring tidbits are bite-size pieces of pickled herring, sold in jars in the refrigerated case near the smoked fish, or on the shelf by the canned fish. Most come in wine sauce, which is what this dip expects; the sour cream kind works too and turns the dip creamy and pink, though it is no longer dairy-free.

Make it at least an hour before serving so the cranberry and the herring brine have time to blend, and stir it once more right before it goes out. Whole berry cranberry sauce gives the dip body; jellied sauce melts into a thin syrup, so it is not a good swap here.

On a holiday table it sits well next to chopped herring, a plate of cocktail rye or pumpernickel, and crackers. Keep it covered in the refrigerator and eat it within 3 days.

Tips

  • Herring tidbits in wine sauce are the usual choice; drain off some of the liquid if you like a thicker dip.
  • Serve with cocktail rye or pumpernickel.

Questions about this recipe

What are herring tidbits?
Small pieces of pickled herring sold in jars, usually in wine sauce or sour cream sauce. Look for them in the refrigerated case near the smoked fish.
How far ahead can I make cranberry-herring dip?
Up to a day ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator and stir it before serving.
Can I use jellied cranberry sauce?
Whole berry is better. Jellied sauce breaks down into a thin syrup and the dip loses its texture.

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