Smoked Mackerel Potato Salad (Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dish)
If you’re searching for a festive mackerel potato salad with a Nordic-Baltic twist, this smoked mackerel and potato salad is the one my family return to year after year. Light, vibrant, and full of texture, it’s a beautiful addition to your holiday table and one of the easiest dishes you can prepare for the season. As a true Lithuanian Christmas Eve recipe, it’s traditional, simple, and deeply nostalgic — exactly what Christmas Eve (Kūčios) feels like to so many Lithuanian families.
Ingredients
- 400 g (0.88 lb) baby potatoes waxy type, halved or quartered
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 1 dill pickle finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon chives finely chopped
- 2 smoked mackerel filets (approx 120g (4-5 oz) total), skin removed, flaked into bite-sized pieces
Mustard Dressing:
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender. Drain and let them steam in the colander.
- In the meantime, saute finely chopped red onion in a tablespoon of oil over low heat for 8-10 minutes, until softened but not browned.
- Prepare the dressing by combining olive oil, vinegar (or lemon juice) and wholegrain mustard in a small jar. Shake vigorously to emulsify.
- NOTE: you can assemble the salad when potatoes and onions are still warm, they will absorb the dressing better.
- Assemble the salad by placing boiled potatoes, sauteed red onion, chopped dill pickle, chives and flaked smoked mackerel in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour ⅔ of the dressing over the salad and mix gently.
- Tip the salad into a serving bowl, pour the rest of the dressing over and garnish with extra chives.