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–+ servings

Rollmops

ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 14 hours 50 minutes
Yield: 16 to 20 rollmops

Software

For the brine

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 pound trout filets, 1/2-inch thick from small, 6 to 8 ounce whole fish, scaled, skin on

For the pickle

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 8 whole allspice berries
  • 6 whole black peppercorns
  • 4 dried bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 16 to 20 cornichon and/or pickled onions, halved as needed
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

Specialized Hardware

  • 16 to 20 sturdy toothpicks

Procedure

  • Place the salt and water into a 4-quart container and stir until the salt has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the trout fillets, making sure they are submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Combine the water, vinegar, sugar, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes in a 2-quart saucepan set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid comes to a boil, approximately 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove the trout from the brine and rinse thoroughly under cold running water for 1 minute. Submerge the fillets in clean, cold water and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Drain and rinse the fillets. Pat dry. Lay the fillets in a single layer, skin-side down, and brush each with mustard. Place a cornichon or a pickled onion on the fillet, roll it up, and secure with 1 or 2 toothpicks. Alternate layers of rollmops and thinly sliced onion in a glass jar or ceramic crock.
  • Pour on the chilled pickling mixture, cover, and refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to 2 days. Drain and serve chilled with crusty bread.