I don’t know… it sure tasted pickled to me, not just salted.
“I just ate some picked herring with a dutch cheese.”
“Was it gouda?”
“No, it was awful!”"
<<rimshot>>
[sub]My Netherlands-born grandma told me that one.[/sub]
It’s a tradition around here to eat it on New Year’s Eve, so I tend to forget about pickled herring until then, then eat a bunch for the next month or so.
I’ve never had it on real rye bread, only that awful “cocktail” rye bread, so I’m going to have to give that a shot.
Well, thanks to Johnny L.A. I bought a large jar in wine sauce today and am snacking on some right now.
Fantastic! I forgot just how good this treat is.
Generally straight out of the jar. When I was in Denmark, though, I learned to eat it like the locals, on slices of their dense rye bread. Delicious. My favorite was pickled herring in curry sauce, which I unfortunately have not been able to locate in the US.
Like this? (Shipping is prohibitive, but maybe you can search for the brand elsewhere.)
Not…quite. The Danish version was brighter yellow and had visible spices floating around in the sauce.
With a fork straight out of the jar.
Pickled herring is one of the most vile things I’ve ever eaten. When I was 11, I tried a little, and the next day I felt like vomiting just thinking about it.
If I let my 11 year old self’s tastes dictate what I enjoy as an adult, I’d truly be missing out on some delights. 
So true. I recall absolutely detesting pickles olives at around that age. I could eat a whole jar now.
And another empty jar has made its way to the recycle bin…
I wasn’t actually thinking strictly about foods when I posted that reply.
D’oh!