Salt Herring Salad (Veneto)

Salads

Ingredients

Salted herrings - 1/2 pounds

Cooked or canned white beans - 2 cups

Onion, thinly sliced - 1

Black olives, pitted and halved - 3/4 cup

Salt and pepper

Olive oil - 1/4 cup

Wine vinegar - 4 tsp

Parsley, finely chopped - 2-3 sprigs

Hard boiled eggs, quartered - 2

Soak the herrings in cold water for at least 2 days, changing the water frequently to remove the salt and to soften them. Carefully remove the heads, tails and skin. Split the herrings in two lengthwise, and remove the dorsal fin. Cut the flesh into small pieces.

Place the pieces of herring in a shallow salad dish, add the beans, onion and olives, mix lightly and dress with a very little salt, plenty of pepper, olive oil and wine vinegar. Garnish with parsley and hard-boiled eggs.

Serves 4.