Ingredients
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1 kilogram salmon filletscaled, pin bones removed, skin on
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50 grams granulated sugar
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100 grams Sea Salt
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10 grams Black Peppercorns
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1 bunch dill
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2 lemonsjuice and grated zest
Directions
This recipe is a staple in many kitchens and really an old way of preserving the freshly caught fish. It is all based on the marriage of salt and sugar, which will cure the salmon or any other fish for that matter, and therefore preserve it. In general you can not go wrong when applying a 2:1 ratio salt over sugar when curing any fish. The time of the curing process although is quite essential and depends very much on the thickness of the fish fillet to be cured. Smoked salmon, especially from farmed salmon, is often quite fatty, but curing the salmon fillet removes a lot of the fatty structures in the meat and the resulting cured salmon is leaner, easier to cut and a delight to eat.
- In a bowl, mix the sugar, salt, dill and lemon zest.
- Lay the salmon fillet into a deep dish (it will loose water and therefore you want to ensure that the fish is in a deep dish and can hold the resulting brine).
- Sprinkle with the lemon juice and then pack tightly with the sugar-salt mixture.
- Place in the refrigerator and let marinate for at least 36 hours.
- Remove the fish from the brine and wash thoroughly. At this stage the cured salmon is ready for serving but can easily be wrapped in plastic foil and kept in the refrigerator for a up to 5 days.
Note There are some interesting flavors that can be added to the curing process. You must ensure however, that the 2:1 ratio of salt and sugar will not be altered. Vodka or Aquavit can be added to the brine – very “Nordic” chic; Szechuan pepper or fresh or pickled ginger or sake for Asian taste nuances; double the amount of dill, juniper berries and allspice for Scandinavian authenticity and more.
