Few people know that the traditional and beloved by thousands of people salad “herring under a fur coat” has a political connotation. This dish was invented back in 1918, which, as you know, was a turning point for Russia. If you believe the folk legend, "fur coat" is not the name of a type of clothing, but an abbreviation.
An ingenious invention of an ordinary chef
Since the middle of the 19th century, inns have been a favorite resting place for the townspeople. Here they drank, swore, talked and sought the truth in every way. Often, visitors broke dishes, started fights, accused each other of harboring revolutionary ideas and sang the Internationale in a discordant chorus. One day, Anastas Bogomilov, a Moscow merchant and owner of several highly frequented eateries, decided that it was necessary to calm down the visitors and make the atmosphere in his establishments more calm. It happened in 1918. One of Anastas' employees, the cook Aristarkh Prokoptsev, decided that the easiest way to calm the rebels was to feed their stomachs. But not just like that, but with hidden implications.
According to legend, it was Prokoptsev who came up with the idea of creating the dish “herring under a fur coat”. Herring was a symbol of the proletariat (a widespread, affordable and popular product among the people), vegetables (potatoes, onions and carrots) personified the peasantry, and beets represented the red revolutionary banner. The popular French mayonnaise cold sauce was the link. It is not known exactly why he was chosen. According to one version, it was a sign of respect for those who made the Great French bourgeois revolution, according to the other, it was a reminder of the Entente.
The Entente, which included France, was considered the main external enemy of Bolshevism.
Why a fur coat? SHUBA is an abbreviation that stands for "Chauvinism and Decline - Boycott and Anathema."
Restaurant diners quickly appreciated the revolutionary salad. First, it was delicious. Secondly, it is inexpensive. And thirdly, it was an excellent snack for spirits. Due to the large amount of mayonnaise, people got drunk less, which means there were fewer fights. For the first time in the menu of Bogomilov's taverns, salad appeared before the new year 1919. Perhaps that is why “herring under a fur coat” has become a traditional dish for the New Year's table.
The history of the origin of the salad is a beautiful legend. How true she is, no one will ever know.
Classic salad recipe
To prepare the traditional salad "herring under a fur coat", you will need boiled vegetables (except onions), a fresh apple, herring and mayonnaise.
It is advisable that the mayonnaise is homemade. If you have to use a store, it is better to take the one where the percentage of fat is higher.
You will need:
- 200 g herring fillet;
- 200 g of apples;
- 200 g of boiled beets;
- 200 g of boiled potatoes;
- 200 g of boiled carrots;
- 100 g onions;
- mayonnaise.
After the vegetables are cooked, they need to be cooled, peeled and alternately grated on a coarse grater. The onion is cut as finely as possible. The herring fillet should be cut into medium-sized cubes: no more than 1x1 cm. The apple needs to be peeled and grated on a fine grater. The dish is best laid out on a flat salad bowl. The first layer in the classic recipe is potatoes, then herring, onions, carrots, apples and beets. Each layer is greased with fatty mayonnaise.
The classic recipe is known to many, but every housewife still makes “herring under a fur coat” in her own way. Some put a pickled cucumber instead of an apple, others exclude onions from the ingredients, and still others make cheese one of the layers. Some chefs try to "refine" the dish and instead of herring they put salmon, salmon and even seafood like shrimp and squid. Housewives are also happy to experiment. On the Internet, you can find many original recipes based on the classic: "Herring in a sheepskin coat", "Fur coat without herring", "Herring in a new fur coat", "Herring in a raincoat".
