A big welcome to all me readers, faithfuls and first-timers for a wonderfully happy and healthy 2015 with fabulous food and gorgeous gardens. I think that probably a good way to start it off is with my horoscope for the year that a friend sent on to me – she knows me very well!
Homemade gravlax is a dish that never fails to impress, and yet it is so simple to make, wonderfully versatile and simply delicious to eat. Coming from the Nordic culture of food preservation it is traditionally served on rye bread with a mustard and dill sauce.
It was our annual street party last night that involves taking a chair, a bottle of something cold and a plate of food to share, so I decided on some blinis – little leavened pikelets topped with cured salmon and sour cream.
How to make Gravlax?
500g thick cut, fresh salmon with the skin on – you can use fresh trout too.
1/4 cup of vodka
1 bunch of dill or fennel fronds roughly cut
1/3 cup sea salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
1. Mix the curing ingredients together in a non-reactive dish
2. Lay the salmon in, skin side up
3. Cover in cling film and weight it down with something heavy on top. Leave overnight.
4. In the morning, turn the fish over and return to fridge for another few hours. Don’t leave longer than 24 hours.
5. When you are ready to use it, scrape the fish clean and dab with paper towel to remove any excess curing stuff. DO NOT WASH!
6. Cut into thin slices down towards the skin. Left whole will keep for up to a week in the fridge.
NOTE: You may need to remove any bones with a pair of tweezers – I find this easier to do after it has been cured. After curing the salmon will take on a richer colour, firmer texture and more translucent quality – as you can see!
TOP TIP: For an even more sensational colour – add some grated fresh beetroot to the curing mix.
