Herring in Oil

Description
In Romanian: Scrumbii in ulei

Ingredients

 * 2 lbs / 1 kg herrings
 * 3 – 4 lemons
 * 2 bay leaves
 * 5 – 6 juniper berries
 * 2 teaspoons salt
 * oil as needed

Directions

 * 1) Clean, wash the herrings, remove the heads and tails and cut in medium sized pieces.
 * 2) Salt and let sit for an hour.
 * 3) Place the fish pieces in a dry bowl, pour the lemon juice over them and let sit for another 20 – 30 minutes.
 * 4) Then start putting the fish pieces in a jar, layering fish pieces with a bay leaf, 2 – 3 juniper berries, some lemon juice and oil so as to cover each fish layer.
 * 5) Do this until all fish pieces are used up.
 * 6) Pour a two finger wide layer of oil, cover the jar with a plate and steam it for 25 – 30 minutes (counting from when the water starts boiling).
 * 7) Serve cold.
 * 8) This can be kept over the winter; in this case, tie the jar with cellophane first and then steam.
 * 9) You may prepare a sour soup for two out of the heads and tails.