Heeringas hapukoorega
Herring with Sour Cream
Yes, with a tweak: request *no potatoes or bread* as accompaniments. About 4g net carbs per serving, lower than 6 in 10 Estonian dishes.
What it is
A staple Estonian appetizer or light meal. Salted or pickled herring fillets served with a generous dollop of rich sour cream, often garnished with fresh dill or chives.
Key ingredients
Salted/pickled herring fillets, sour cream (full fat), fresh dill/chives.
How to make it keto
Crucially, request *no potatoes or bread* as accompaniments. Ensure sour cream is full-fat and unsweetened (standard in Estonia).
Say this to the waiter (Estonian)
Heeringas hapukoorega, palun ilma kartuli ja leivata.
Herring with sour cream, no potatoes or bread, please.
Watch out for
The biggest risk is the traditional potato accompaniment. Some pickled herring varieties can contain small amounts of sugar in the pickling brine. Sour cream is generally low carb, but check if any thickeners or additives are present (rare for plain sour cream).
Macros are estimates for a typical serving and vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients with staff, especially if you have allergies. Our ingredient lists are generated automatically and describe how a dish is typically made.
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