A Recipe From Dave ~ Gravlax
Gravlax
• 2 pounds fresh salmon, center cut from The Fish Guys
• 1 large bunch of dill, plus 1/4 cup chopped dill for serving
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons white peppercorns, crushed
• 1 tablespoon whole fennel seeds
• Zest of 2 lemons
• Pumpernickel bread, for serving
• Mustard Sauce
Directions:
Cut the salmon in half crosswise and place half the fish skin side down in a deep dish. Wash and shake dry the dill and place it on the fish. Combine the salt, sugar, lemon zest, crushed peppercorns, and fennel seeds in a small bowl. Vigorously mix the dry ingredients to “bruise” the lemon zest and sprinkle it evenly over the piece of fish. Place the other half of salmon over the dill, skin side up. Tightly wrap the salmon in plastic wrap. Place a smaller pan on top of the plastic wrap and weight it with some heavy cans. Refrigerate the salmon for at least 2 and up to 3 days, turning it every 12 hours and basting it with the liquid that collects.
Lay each piece of salmon flat on a cutting board, remove the bunch of dill, and sprinkle the top with chopped dill. With a long thin slicing knife, slice the salmon in long thin slices as you would for smoked salmon. Serve with dark pumpernickel bread and a mustard sauce of your choice. You can also serve with chopped red onion and capers, if desired.
