Elevate Your Entertaining with Home-Cured Salmon
Impress your guests with a stunning dish that’s surprisingly easy to prepare. A beautifully presented piece of salmon, garnished with fresh dill fronds, is sure to wow at your next gathering. Whether you serve it as canapés, an appetizer, or as part of a refreshing salad, this home-cured salmon is sure to please.
Selecting the Perfect Salmon
When choosing a salmon fillet, opt for Alaskan wild salmon over farm-raised Atlantic salmon. This variety offers a richer flavor and firmer texture, making it ideal for curing. For more information on the different types of salmon, refer to our comprehensive guide.
A Game Plan for Success
Once cured, this salmon will remain fresh for 4 to 5 days, allowing you to incorporate it into a variety of dishes. Use it in place of smoked salmon in recipes like Heirloom Pea Pancakes, Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches, or Smoked Salmon and Mozzarella Calzone. Alternatively, enjoy it on its own, paired with Marinated Potatoes and Fennel, or as a topping for your favorite bagel spread.
The Curing Process
To begin, combine kosher salt, granulated sugar, and lightly crushed white peppercorns in a medium bowl. Rub approximately 1/4 cup of this mixture onto both sides of the salmon fillet. Next, mix together chopped dill, parsley, and lemon zest in a separate bowl. Place half of this herb mixture in the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish, followed by half of the remaining sugar-salt mixture. Position the salmon on top, then cover with the remaining sugar-salt mixture and herbs.
The Waiting Game
Place a weight, such as a heavy pan or large cans, on top of the salmon to ensure even curing. Refrigerate for 10 to 12 hours, then remove the dish and drain off any excess liquid. Scrape the salt and herb mixture off the top of the salmon, flip it over, and reapply the mixture. Return the dish to the refrigerator for an additional 12 hours.
The Final Touches
Once the curing process is complete, remove the salmon from the pan, rinse under cold water, and pat dry. Slice thinly and serve as desired. For a step-by-step guide, watch our video on curing salmon, and learn how to remove pin bones from fish with ease.
Recipe Details
Yield: 12 servings
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 40 minutes, plus 24 hours for curing
Active Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups kosher salt
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons lightly crushed white peppercorns
- 1 (1- to 2-pound) salmon fillet, skin on (scales removed) and pin bones removed
- 1 bunch dill (including stems), coarsely chopped
- 1 bunch Italian parsley (including stems), coarsely chopped
- Zest of 1 medium lemon
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