Nordic Gravlax With Caraway Coriander Recipes

EASY GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, salt, peppercorns, and coriander seeds in a small bowl. Set aside. Place the salmon fillets on a parchment-lined work surface, and remove any remaining bones.
• Cover the flesh side of each with the spice mixture, gently rubbing it onto the flesh.
• Spread the dill on top of the spices; pour the aquavit or vodka over the dill.
• Place one fillet on top of the other, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
• Place the wrapped fillets in a glass or enamel pan. Place a heavy object, such as a canned good, in a smaller pan, and place on top of the fish. Transfer both pans to the refrigerator, and chill for 12 hours. Remove the fish from the pan; pour off the liquid that has accumulated in the pan and discard. Turn the fish over, and place the weighted pan back on top of the fish. Continue to refrigerate for 3 more days, turning the fish over every 12 hours.
• After 3 days, remove and discard the plastic wrap. Scrape the dill and spices from the surface of both fillets. To serve, slice each fillet on the diagonal, as thinly as possible. Wrap the remaining gravlax in plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

VINCENT HODGINS'S MOROCCAN SPICED GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Place the fennel, anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, clove and cardamom in a dry skillet, and toast over medium heat, shaking the pan frequently, until the mixture is aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Grind all the spices together, then mix with the cinnamon, sugar, salt and pepper. Place the salmon, skin side down, on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Cover the flesh side of the salmon with the spice mixture, making sure to coat it completely.
• Wrap the fish well, and refrigerate for 48 hours.
• Unwrap salmon, and rinse off the cure. Dry, then slice on the bias (see illustration). Serve plain or with lemon wedges, creme fraiche, sour cream or a light vinaigrette.

NORDIC GRAVLAX WITH CARAWAY & CORIANDER

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water and 4 tbsp salt. Add salmon and let stand 10 minutes.
• In a skillet, toast RawSpiceBar's Gravlax Spices, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, stir together salt, sugar & RawSpiceBar's Gravlax Spices until thoroughly combined.
• Remove salmon and pat dry with paper towels. Turn salmon skin side up and sprinkle about half of spice mixture, rubbing in with fingers.
• Arrange half the dill all over the bottom of a baking dish large enough to hold salmon. Set salmon skin side down on bed of dill. Rub remaining spice mixture on top and top with remaining dill. Cover with plastic and top with a weight. Refrigerate for 1 day.
• Unpack salmon and turn skin-side up. Re-pack with dill, cover with plastic and set weight back on top. Refrigerate until salmon is cured, 1 day longer for a lighter cure and 2 days longer for slightly more cure.
• For the dill sauce: in a blender, combine vinegar with dill, mustard, and sugar and blend until dill is very finely chopped. Add oil and blend until a smooth sauce is formed. Season with salt and pepper.
• Unpack salmon, removing dill, and set on a work surface. Using a very sharp slicing knife, cut gravlax on the bias into thin slices. Arrange on slices of pumpernickel bread and drizzle sauce on top. Serve.