Форшмак
Herring Spread (Foršmak)
Yes, keto as served. About 4g net carbs per serving, lower than 8 in 10 Ukrainian dishes.
What it is
A savory, creamy spread made from finely chopped pickled herring, hard-boiled eggs, butter, and often onion. Traditionally served as an appetizer, rich in umami and fat.
Key ingredients
Pickled herring fillets, hard-boiled eggs, unsalted butter, onions, black pepper. (Sometimes very small amount of apple for flavor, but minimal for keto).
Optional tweaks
Ensure no potato or bread is used in the mixture (or if apple is used, only a minimal amount for flavor, verify). Request to be served without bread or crackers.
Watch out for
Traditional recipes sometimes include bread soaked in milk or grated potato. Apples are also sometimes used; verify these are omitted or kept to an absolute minimum. Pickled herring itself can have some sugar in the brine, but usually low carb overall.
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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