Main Course · Dinner · European ·

Flavorful Finnish Kalakukko with Herring and Rye Crust

Name: Flavorful Finnish Kalakukko with Herring and Rye Crust
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 270 min
Total time: 360 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Rye flour, 3 cups; All-purpose flour, 1 cup; Salt, 1 tsp; Water, 1 cup; Butter, melted, 2 tbsp; Fresh herring, 500g, cleaned and boned; Smoked bacon, chopped, 250g; Salt, 2 tbsp; Ground white pepper, 1 tbsp; Butter, melted, 2 tbsp; Egg, beaten (for glaze)

Kalakukko is a classic Finnish dish combining fish and pork, enveloped in a hearty, rustic rye crust.

5(688 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 29, 2026

Flavorful Finnish Kalakukko with Herring and Rye Crust — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 30 min

Cook

4 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Rye Crust

For the Filling

For Sealing and Finishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 624 kcal
Protein: 31 g
Carbs: 53.3 g
Fat: 33.3 g
Fiber: 6.8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3745 kcal
Protein: 186 g
Carbs: 320 g
Fat: 199.5 g
Fiber: 41 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Rye flour 3 cups	984	30	216	3	36
All-purpose flour 1 cup	455	13	95	1	3
Salt 1 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Water 1 cup	0	0	0	0	0
Butter, melted 2 tbsp	204	0	0	23	0
Fresh herring 500g, cleaned and boned	800	100	0	46	0
Smoked bacon, chopped 250g	1005	36	2	98	0
Salt 2 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0
Ground white pepper 1 tbsp	25	1	6	0.5	2
Butter, melted 2 tbsp	204	0	0	23	0
Egg, beaten (for glaze)	68	6	1	5	0

These are estimates and not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Making the Rye Crust

1
Combine dry ingredients
In a large bowl, combine rye flour, all-purpose flour, and salt.
2
Add wet ingredients
Slowly add water and melted butter, mixing into a firm dough.
3
Knead and rest
Knead until smooth and set aside, covered, to rest for 20 minutes.

Preparing the Filling

1
Prepare the herring
Pat the herring dry with paper towels and slice them into pieces.
Tip: Ensure the fish is deboned thoroughly to avoid any choking hazards.
2
Mix filling
In a bowl, mix herring slices with bacon, salt, and white pepper.
Tip: A touch of dill can add an extra layer of freshness to the filling.
3
Marinate
Let the mixture marinate for 15 minutes to blend flavors.

How to Make Flavorful Finnish Kalakukko with Herring and Rye Crust

Total time: 6 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Assembling the Kalakukko
Roll out the dough to form a large oval. Place the filling in the center and fold the sides to seal the pie.
2
Initial Baking
Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F) and place the prepared kalakukko on a baking tray. Brush with the beaten egg.
3
Slow Baking
Lower oven temperature to 150°C (302°F) after 1 hour. Bake for an additional 3 hours.