Śledzie w Oleju - Herring in Oil

Remove herring fillets from brine, rinse under cold running water for 2-3 minutes to remove excess salt.

Place rinsed fillets in bowl of cold water, soak for 2-4 hours depending on saltiness, changing water twice.

After soaking, pat herring fillets completely dry with paper towels.

Cut fillets into bite-sized pieces approximately 3-4cm wide for easy serving.

Peel onions, slice very thinly into rings using sharp knife or mandoline for uniform thickness.

In glass jar or ceramic container, create layer: herring pieces, onion rings, bay leaf, few allspice berries and peppercorns.

Repeat layering until all ingredients used, ending with onion layer on top.

In small bowl, mix oil with sugar until sugar dissolves completely.

Pour oil mixture over layered herring, ensuring all pieces are covered - add more oil if needed.

Cover container tightly with lid or plastic wrap, refrigerate at least 24 hours for flavors to meld.

After marinating, gently mix contents to redistribute oil and spices before serving.

Serve cold as appetizer with boiled potatoes, rye bread, and cold vodka.