Beetroot Cured Salmon Gravadlax Food

BEETROOT-CURED SALMON GRAVADLAX

Steps:

• Preparation: Weigh the salmon accurately, to check that you have the right quantity of sugar and salt for the cure. The sugar and salt combined in equal quantities should be 50 per cent of the weight of your fish. Remove the pin bones from the salmon and score the skin in 4 places to allow the cure to be absorbed. Wash, peel and roughly chop the beetroot. Peel the zest from the orange and reserve, then halve the fruit and squeeze the juice. Method: Put the sugar and salt into a food processor. Add the beetroot, tea leaves and dill with the orange zest and juice, and blend to a fine pulp. Lay the salmon skin-side down in a shallow ceramic dish and cover completely with the cure mixture. Cover the dish with clingfilm and leave the salmon to cure for 4 days in the fridge, turning the fish and basting it with the cure mixture after 2 days. When the curing time is up, scrape the cure off the salmon and lift the fish out of the dish. Rinse the remaining cure away under cold running water, then pat the fish dry with a cloth - the flesh will be bright red and firm to the touch. Starting at the wider end of the salmon, slice thinly with a sharp knife angled slightly towards the opposite end of the fish, stopping just before you get to the skin. I then lay these slices on a plate (allowing 6 slices per person) and accompany them with sourdough bread and pots of goodies like caper berries and pickled beetroot. Tip: If beetroot isn't your thing, simply omit it and add whatever takes your fancy - as long as the flavours are pronounced. A few of my favourite ingredients are star anise, grapefruit and basil. Treat the grapefruit like the orange in the recipe, and blend to a pulp in the food processor with the star anise, a handful of basil leaves, the sugar and salt. The blend will not be eaten, so chunky pieces are fine.

DAZZLING BEETROOT-CURED SALMON

Steps:

• Lay the salmon fillets, skin side down, on a board and brush your hand along it. If you feel any little pin bones pinch them out with your fingers or tweezers. In a bowl, mix all of the other ingredients for the salmon together to make the cure.
• Stretch two large sheets of cling film over a work surface and spoon over some of the cure. Lay one of the fillets, skin side down, on the cure, then pack over most of the cure, and sandwich with the remaining fillet, skin side up. Top with the last of the cure and wrap both fillets together tightly with lots of cling film. Place in a container with sides, like a large roasting tray, put a smaller tray on top and weigh it down with a couple of tins. Leave in the fridge for at least three days or up to a week. Don't be alarmed by the amount of liquid that leaks out, this is normal. Once a day, pour away the liquid, turn the salmon and re-apply the weights.
• To serve, unwrap the salmon from the cling film and brush off the marinade. Slice the salmon into thin slivers. Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together with some salt and pepper. Toss all the salad ingredients together and serve each guest with a few slices of salmon, a handful of salad and drizzle with the dressing. Once made the salmon will sit happily in the fridge for up to a week and can be used just like smoked salmon.

BEETROOT & BLACKBERRY CURED SALMON

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the ingredients for the beetroot and berry cure. Unravel some cling film but keep it attached to the roll. Spoon a bit of the cure on the cling film then lay the salmon, skin-side down, on top and pack the rest of cure over the flesh. Roll the fish tightly in cling film to create a package. Put the package in a shallow baking dish or shallow-sided tray and lay another tray on top. Weigh the tray down with a couple of tins and put in the fridge for two days, turning the salmon over occasionally.
• On the second day, remove the salmon from its wrapping and scrape off any excess cure. Gently rinse the remaining cure off the salmon and pat dry with kitchen towel. In a bowl, combine the chopped dill with the peppercorns, horseradish and gin. Prepare another piece of cling film for the salmon and cover all over with the herb mix. Wrap the salmon up again as before. Put it in the baking tray, weigh it down, and leave, for at least another 8 hrs. Remove the salmon from its wrapping and transfer to a board. Finely slice and serve with sourdough crackers and pickles. Will keep in the fridge for up to three days.