Gravlax (Dill-cured Salmon)
Rick Stein's traditional gravlax (dill-cured salmon) recipe makes a wonderful dinner party or Christmas starter. Served with boiled potatoes, it also works as a simple supper dish.
From the book
My Kitchen Table: 100 Fish and Seafood Recipes
Rick Stein's easy, classic fish dishes
Learn to cook fish perfectly with simple instructions
Recipes for every level of skill
Introduction
I like a thick, green crust of dill and peppercorns, as it looks so appetising when the salmon is sliced and served with some of the mustard and horseradish sauce alongside.You might like to serve the gravlax with some boiled new potatoes to make a more substantial course.
Ingredients
| 2 x 750g (1lb 10oz) | unskinned salmon fillets |
| 1 | large bunch of dill, roughly chopped |
| 100g (4oz) | coarse sea salt |
| 75g (3oz) | caster sugar |
| 2 tbsp | crushed white peppercorns |
| For the horseradish and mustard sauce: | |
| 2 tsp | finely grated horseradish (fresh or from a jar) |
| 2 tsp | finely grated onion |
| 1 tsp | Dijon mustard |
| 1 tsp | caster sugar |
| 2 tbsp | white wine vinegar |
| 1 | good pinch of salt |
| 175ml (6fl oz) | double cream |
Method
Put one of the salmon fillets, skin side down, onto a large sheet of clingfilm. Mix the dill with the salt, sugar and crushed peppercorns and spread it over the cut face of the salmon. Place the other fillet on top, skin side up.
Tightly wrap the fish in two or three layers of clingfilm and lift it onto a large, shallow tray. Rest a slightly smaller tray or chopping board on top of the fish and weigh it down. Chill for 2 days, turning the fish every 12 hours so the briny mixture that will develop inside the parcel bastes the fish.
To make the horseradish and mustard sauce, stir together all the ingredients except the cream. Whip the cream into soft peaks, stir in the horseradish mixture, cover and chill.
To serve, remove the fish from the briny mixture and slice it very thinly, as you would smoked salmon. Arrange a few slices of the gravlax on each plate and serve with some of the sauce.
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