Cured Salmon Gravlax
Cured Salmon is a fantastic and delicious appetizer recipe. The flavor and texture are similar to smoked salmon, but Gravlax is prepared differently and it's easily made at home. We especially love it because:
- not overly cured and delicious
- not overly salty or sweet
- gluten free and dairy free
- such a delicious weekend project (it's cured in a fridge for 24 hours)
- stores really well
- simple recipe for any day of the year
- great for celebrations (Christmas, birthdays, New Year's eve...)
- serve as a healthy breakfast or appetizer
What is Gravlax
Gravlax is a Nordic cured salmon. The flavor and texture are similar to smoked salmon but Gravlax is prepared differently and it's easily made at home. In comparison to smoked salmon, the cured salmon flavor is less intense. Cured Salmon is covered in cure mixture made of salt, sugar and herbs. While curing, the salmon releases a lot of water which helps develop an intense salmon flavor. It's also important to buy the freshest possible salmon fillet.
HOW TO PREPARE GLAVLAX
Making Gravlax at home is incredibly easy:
- Sprinkle the cure mixture (salt, sugar, herbs) over the whole salmon fillet
- Place it the fridge for 24 hours
- Rinse under cold running water and tap dry
- Place in the fridge for 1 - 2 hours
- Cut on thin slices and enjoy
How to make Gravlax at home?
When salmon is covered in cure mixture, transfer it to a vacuum bag and vacuum seal the bag. This way the salmon fillet will be tightly closed which will prevent the salmon from catching any bacteria or other flavors from the fridge. Also, if you decide to use this method, you won't need to top the salmon with weights or other heavy objects.
Trasfer the salmon filled covered with cure mixture to a large vacuum bag. Vacuum seal the bag. We are using a powerful Slovenian Vacuum Machine SV2000 from Status Metlika, which is perfect for this kind of recipes because it's powerful enough, yet still easy and simple to use. The process won't take you more than a minute, but it will improve the overall recipe making time.
What to eat with Gravlax?
Gravlax is a great choice for a healthy(er) breakfast or an incredibly fabulous appetizer. Serve it to your guests and they will for sure be impressed. Here are some ideas what to eat with cured salmon:
- homemade mayo
- spelt english muffins
- crackers with seeds
- homemade bagels
- rye bread
- horseradish sauce
- serve in a sandwich with poached egg and hollandaise sauce
Storing and freezing
Gravlax lasts in the fridge for quite some time. It stores really well. You can serve your Salmon Gravlax immediately or vacuum it again and store it. Store in a fridge for up to 3 weeks or place in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost by bringing it to room temperature.
Other tasty Salmon recipes to try
- Pan-fried Salmon with Aromatic Couscous
- Salmon Wellington
- Sandwich with Salmon, Egg and Hollandaise Sauce
- Potato Salad with Smoked Salmon
Thanks to Status Metlika for the amazing vacuum machine and vacuum bags. All the opinions are ours and we only share our honest opinions and recommendations for great products that we actually use
METHOD
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cure mix
Add fennel seeds, coriander seeds and juniper berries to a pan. Place over low heat and cook for about 30 seconds, then remove from the heat and crush them using a pestle and mortar. Finely chop the dill. In a small bowl stir to combine salt, sugar and smoked paprika. Add the ground seeds and berries and zest of one lime, stir to combine.
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cured salmon
Sprinkle half of the cure mixture over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the salmon on top of the cure mix skin side down. Sprinkle the rest of the cure mix over the salmon and press the cure mix into the salmon fillet so it incorporates as much of the mixture as possible. Transfer the salmon fillet to a large vacuum bag, making sure the fillet is covered in cure mix. Vacuum the salmon fillet using a Vacuum machine. We used a powerful Slovenian Vacuum Machine SV2000 from Status Metlika. Place in a fridge for 24 - 48 hours.
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serve
Remove the cured salmon fillet from the fridge. Open the vacuum bag and rinse the salmon under cold running water to remove all the cure mixture. Tap dry using a paper towel. Place on a wire rack or large tray and place in the fridge for 1 - 2 hours. Use a very sharp knife to thinly slice the gravlax and serve.
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store
You can serve your Salmon Gravlax immediately or vacuum it again and store it. Store in a fridge for up to 3 weeks or place in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost by bringing it to room temperature.
