Vodka Dill Gravlax Food

GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Combine the salt, dill, orange and lime zests, pepper, and vodka in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Place the salmon, skin side down, on several large sheets of plastic wrap, and pack the salt curing mixture over the entire cut of the salmon. Press the mixture firmly onto the fish, wrap tightly in the plastic, and place, skin side up, on a baking sheet. Place something heavy, like a large iron skillet, on top to help infuse the salmon with the mixture. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and brush the salt off. Rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove the cure. Sprinkle the salmon with the sugar and pack it in firmly with your hands. Rewrap in plastic, place on a baking sheet, and refrigerate for at least 1 week before serving. (The gravlax will keep up to two weeks, well wrapped and refrigerated.)
• To serve, unwrap the gravlax and using a long, very sharp knife, slice diagonally in paper-thin slices and place on a platter with toast points. Set out small dishes of capers, chopped red onions, dill, hard-boiled egg whites, and hard-boiled egg yolks for accompaniments.

CITRUS-AND-DILL GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Place dill bunch in a food processor and finely grate grapefruit and lemon zest directly into bowl; save fruit for another use. Add salt, brown sugar, and peppercorns and process until combined (you can also chop the dill by hand and mix it with the other ingredients in a medium bowl).
• Place a large sheet of parchment paper on a large rimmed baking sheet and pour one-third of cure lengthwise down the center of parchment. Lay salmon skin side down on top of cure and pack remaining cure in an even layer onto flesh side. Fold parchment up and over fish and cover with another sheet of parchment paper. Wrap tightly with plastic. Place another large rimmed baking sheet on top of fish and set a heavy pot or cast-iron skillet in baking sheet to weigh down. Chill 3 days.
• Unpack fish and wipe off cure with a damp kitchen towel (do not rinse). Slice very thinly with a long sharp knife, wiping down blade occasionally with another kitchen towel to keep it clean. Arrange salmon on a platter; serve with bagels, bialys, bread, cream cheese, red onion, capers, dill sprigs, and/or lemon wedges if desired.
• Do Ahead
• Wrap leftover salmon and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

GRAVLOX

Steps:

• Drape plastic wrap over a glass baking dish. Cut salmon in half lengthwise, and place one half in dish, skin side down. Mix together salt, brown sugar and pepper. Sprinkle half of mixture over salmon in the dish, cover with the chopped dill, and pour the vodka over the whole mixture.
• Sprinkle the remaining salt mixture over the remaining half of salmon. Place over the salmon in the dish, skin side up. Fold the plastic wrap snuggly over the entire salmon. Place a board over the fish and weigh it down with a heavy object.
• Refrigerate fish for 24 to 36 hours, turning every 12 hours. To serve, separate the filets, and carefully brush off the salt, sugar and dill. Cut into very thin slices with a sharp knife.

HOMEMADE GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Combine the dill, sugar, vodka, salt and lime zest in a small bowl and stir until well mixed.
• Spread the mixture over the salmon flesh. Cut the side of salmon in half crosswise. Fold each piece in half so the flesh is touching and the marinade is on the interior. Wrap the pieces tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 days.
• Slice the salmon thinly on a bias and serve.

GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Into a zipper-lock bag, pour salt, sugar and dill. Squish around until combined. Add vodka, squish around some more. Add salmon to the bag. Rub and press some of the marinade over the salmon flesh. Press the two pieces together sandwich style. Rub the rest of the marinade over the skin side of the salmon. Seal the bag. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
• Every time I thought of making gravlax at home, I nixed the idea because I couldn?t imagine trying to stuff a whole salmon into my refrigerator. My mother says to me one day, "Why don?t you just try a pound, Kathleen? You?re not feeding an army." .

GRAVADLAX WITH BEETROOT, DILL AND VODKA

Steps:

• Place salmon on chopping board with skin facing down.
• mix salt and sugar and rub evenly over both sides of the fish.
• In a small bowl mix the beet, orange, and chopped dill and press the mixture all over the salmon.
• wrap with clingfilm and then with foil, put on a plate and place a plate on top with a weight on the plate. Chill for 36 hours.
• After chilling unwrap the fish and remove coating if you wish or simply slice the fillet thinly and serve.
• If desired garnish with endive leaves, grated red radish, finely sliced shallots and dill sprigs.