We have a very dear friend who is from Sweden – every year he hosts a party and one of the starters is always cured salmon. He orders a whole Norwegian salmon from Seafood On Sail and prepares it. As he tells it, gravad means grave and lax is salmon. The salmon would traditionally be covered with salt and buried in the ground, underneath the snow until cured. We however, don’t have snow low enough, or often enough for that method! But, this recipe for Gravadlax is perfect and easy to do.
In fact, this recipe is so good that every time we get fresh salmon we make this at home. I am reluctant to buy this fish as it involves a lot of air miles to get here. I would love to try the curing method with other fish but that is something on my to do list for now. Have you ever tried curing fish that is not salmon? If so, what did you use, and how did it work out? I think mackerel will be great to cure, or even our local trout.
Gravadlax – Cured Salmon
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg salmon fillet - skin on
- 20 mls Vodka
- 15 mls fresh dill chopped
- 1 lime, zest only
- coarse salt
For the cure mixture
- 170 g coarse salt
- 170 g fructose
- 15 mls white pepper
- 40 mls fresh dill chopped
- 1 lemon, zest only
For the sauce:
- 45 mls wholegrain mustard
- 15 mls fructose
- pinch of salt
- 15 mls red wine vinegar
- 45 mls fresh dill chopped
- 50 mls olive oil
Method
- remove the pin bones from the salmon
- line a large container with rock salt
- combine the cure mixture and sprinkle half of this over the salt
- brush the salmon with the vodka
- lay it on top of the salt, skin side down
- spread the remaining cure mixture evenly over the salmon - if you have the tail section of the salmon do not put too much on the tail otherwise it will be over cured
- cover the top with cling film and use tins to weigh the fish down
- refrigerate for 2 days
- rinse the curing mixture off the salmon and pat dry
- sprinkle with 15mls dill and lime zest, press in lightly and refrigerate until needed
- make the sauce by whisking together the mustard, fructose, salt and vinegar
- add the dill and the oil
To serve:
- cut the salmon as thinly as possible, diagonally towards the tail
- serve with the dill sauce on fresh rye bread or with boiled potatoes
Notes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
I have never cured a salmon before – it sounds fabulous and the sauce equally as fabulous.
:-)Mandy
and so easy to do!
I agree with Mandy. As we have little snow here, too, this recipe sounds really perfect! 🙂
it is lovely!
I didn’t know the origin of the name, thanks 🙂
It makes so much sense when you know the meaning 🙂