Gravlax

Gravlax
4.8 (4 ratings)
Spiced gravlax must chill for 48 hours before you brush off the excess spice and slice your fish paper-thin. This recipe by Leah Eskin was originally published in the Chicago Tribune
Prep Time
25
minutes
Cook Time
1
minute
Servings
6
Gravlax
Total time: 26 minutes
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoon citrus or plain vodka, optional
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 3 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 pound center-cut salmon fillet, pin bones removed
Directions
  1. Line a small glass baking dish with a long stretch of plastic wrap.
  2. Slice the salmon in half crosswise and set both halves, skin side down, on the plastic.
  3. Pour vodka (if using) onto salmon.
  4. Toss together dill, salt, sugar, pepper and zest.
  5. Pat this spice mix all over the fish.
  6. Fold one chunk onto the other, flesh sides touching, skin sides out, like a salmon sandwich.
  7. Wrap this sandwich tightly in the plastic wrap.
  8. Cover dish.
  9. Chill 48 hours, turning the sandwich over every 12 hours or so.
  10. Unwrap salmon.
  11. Brush off excess spice rub.
  12. Pat dry.
  13. Slice gravlax against the grain into paper-thin ribbons, leaving behind the skin.
  14. The gravlax is nice Hanukkah-style garnishing potato pancakes; Swedish-style on buttered black bread; or Sunday-style with bagels and cream cheese.