
Gravlax Cured Salmon Appetizer Recipe
Gravlax- Cured Salmon Appetizer
Gravlax is a Scandinavian cured salmon appetizer. Salt and sugar are used as brine to cure and preserve the salmon. It’s a straightforward dish. After two days, the cured salmon is ready to eat. It can be enjoyed by itself, with crackers and cream cheese or a charcuterie assortment.
Gravlax Recipe
Yields: 4 servings
- 1 pound wild salmon boneless fillet with skin on
- 2 ounces Kosher salt
- 2 ounces organic raw cane sugar
- ¼ teaspoon organic fresh ground black pepper
- 1-ounce organic fresh dill, roughly chopped (optional)
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur (optional)
Kitchen Equipment
- Measuring bowls/cups/spoons for mise en place ingredients
- Bowl
- Food scale
- Tongs
- Baking sheet
- Cutting board
- Chef knife
- Plastic wrap
- Plates
- Forks
Production Steps
- Sanitize the kitchen (sink, countertops, stovetop/oven, cupboard handles, phone, computer).
- Mise en place ingredients.
- Layer baking sheet pan with plastic wrap.
- Mix salt, sugar, and pepper in a bowl.
- Sprinkle half of the rub on the baking sheet.
- Place the salmon (skin down) on the rub mixture.
- Cover the salmon with the remaining rub mixture.
- Optional to sprinkle dill.
- Pour elderflower liqueur over the fillet.
- Wrap the fish with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Flip the fillet after 24 hours.
- Refrigerate for another 24 hours.
- Remove from the refrigerator.
- Drain the liquid accumulated.
- Rinse the curing mixture from the fish.
- Slice the fillet into thin slices to serve.
Farmed vs. Wild Salmon
We’ve all heard about the two different types of salmon. But what are the differences?
Farm-raised salmon, or Atlantic, are grown in tanks or freshwater enclosures. They are bred to be eaten. Moreover, they have a variety of textures and nutrients, such as omega-3s, due to the fish’s diet. However, they have higher amounts of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), a type of POP (persistent organic pollutants).
Pacific salmon, such as chinook (king), sockeye, coho, pink, and chum, are examples of wild salmon. Wild-caught salmon is taken from the water using nets or hand-lines. They grow in their natural surrounding. Further, they aren’t fed particular food or additives. Despite that, wild salmon also contains contaminants, but at lower levels. Therefore, fish, as a whole, should be eaten in moderation.
Personally, wild seafood, in general, is my preference.
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References
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Fish faceoff: Wild salmon vs. farmed salmon. Retrieved from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/fish-faceoff-wild-salmon-vs-farmed-salmon/
Ratini, M. (2021). Difference between wild and farm-raised salmon. Retrieved: https://www.webmd.com/diet/difference-between-wild-and-farmed-salmon