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Swedish Gravlax Recipe (Cured Salmon)

A goof-proof recipe for Swedish Gravlax, also known as lox or cured salmon. This approach to curing salmon is simple, traditional, and results in the tastiest salmon with beautiful texture.

Swedish Gravlax (cured salmon) Recipe | https://www.theroastedroot.net

Trying out food from other cultures is a hobby of mine.

There are only so many burgers and salad you can eat before your belly goes AWOL and demands more interesting food.

You have seen an abundance of Thai, Indian, Moroccan, and (of course) Mexican-inspired recipes on this site, but never have you ever seen a Nordic recipe.

For this reason, I decided to try my hand at Swedish Gravlax, and lemme just tell you: the obsession is real.

Swedish Gravlax (cured salmon) | https://www.theroastedroot.net

Gravlax….what the heck is it?

What is Gravlax?:

Gravlax is cured raw salmon, also known as lox. 

You simply take a high-quality sushi grade salmon fillet, pack it with salt, sugar, and dill, wrap it up all tight like you’re swaddling a baby, then let it sit in your refer for two days. 

If you’re using a huge piece of salmon, you can cut it in half, pack the top with the salt/sugar/dill and lay the two pieces on top of each other (with the flesh touching) before wrapping it.

You want to be sure you use a sushi-grade or a previously frozen (at -10 degrees F) salmon fillet  in order to ensure there are no funky critters (parasites) in the salmon, because it stays raw.

And that’s it! That’s all it takes for an 1.) Swedish-inspired appetizer 2.) Delicious raw recipe and 3.) Brownie points for being utterly completely awesome for curing your own fish.

Swedish Gravlax (cured salmon) | https://www.theroastedroot.net

I enjoyed my gavlax on crackers with cottage cheese and capers, but you can also go the bagel and cream cheese route, or even add the salmon to your morning breakfast or dinner salad.

There are plenty of ways of enjoying this delish dish!

If you love salmon recipes, also check out my Easy Smoked Salmon and my Grilled Salmon Recipe.

Swedish Gravlax (cured salmon) Recipe | https://www.theroastedroot.net

Swedish Gravlax Recipe

Have you ever cured salmon?? Don't worry, it's easy! This Swedish Gravlax recipe will show you the way.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Time: 2 days
Total Time: 2 days 15 minutes
8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch fresh dill, stems removed
  • 1 lb frozen salmon filet, thawed

For Serving

  • Fun cracker or rustic crusty bread
  • Cottage cheese, or your favorite soft cheese
  • Fresh dill
  • Capers
  • slices Lime

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, mix together the salt, sugar, and ground black pepper.
  • Rinse and pat dry the salmon fillet and lay it on a long piece of plastic wrap.
  • Sprinkle all of the salt/sugar/pepper mixture on top of the salmon fillet.
  • Lay the fresh dill on top and tightly (but gently) wrap the salmon so that there is no air inside.
  • Place the salmon on a plate and refrigerate for two days.
  • Unwrap the salmon and rinse off the salt and sugar and pat the fillet dry. Discard the dill.
  • Using a sharp knife, slice the fillet diagonally so that you end up with the widest and longest cuts. Serve these slices by themselves, or on a cracker with capers, dill, and cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving - Calories: 105kcal - Carbohydrates: 3g - Protein: 16g - Fat: 3g - Sugar: 3g
Course: Lifestyle
Cuisine: Swedish
Keyword: appetizer, cured salmon recipe, Gravlax, Swedish gravlax
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Julia
Recipe Rating




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Ashley - baker by nature

Tuesday 17th of September 2013

Yes! I could totally eat this every single day!

Abby

Tuesday 17th of September 2013

I love your adventurousness!! I might just have to go grab me a bagel now - but I bet it won't be half as good as your homemade version. Homemade it the ultimate trump card.

Julia

Thursday 19th of September 2013

The difficulty in making this homemade is the wait time, though...you mean I have to wait 2 days before I can eat it?? C'moooooooooon! Seriously, gravlax are awesome, but the bagel shop around the corner is great, too! :)

Monet

Monday 16th of September 2013

Wasn't it so fun to learn about Nordic food? I had a friend from high school from Sweden. He was the sweetest guy. I wish he would have cooked with us more! Thank you for sharing! Another delicious post and a great start to the week. I hope you had a beautiful Monday!

Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain

Monday 16th of September 2013

I could live off gravlax for the rest of my life!! This recipe sings to me!!

dishing up the dirt

Monday 16th of September 2013

I've always wanted to go to Sweden. I'm a sucker for salmon and dill together and these crackers sound like the perfect snack.

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