Best 5 Juniper Flavored Gravlax Recipes

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Gravlax, a Nordic dish with a rich history, is a cured salmon that has been flavored with a mixture of salt, sugar, and herbs. This traditional method of preserving salmon results in a slightly firm, flavorful fish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or main course. The juniper-flavored gravlax recipe presented in this article adds a unique twist to the classic dish. Juniper berries, known for their distinctive piney aroma, impart a subtle yet noticeable flavor to the cured salmon. Alongside the juniper-flavored gravlax recipe, the article also includes two additional gravlax recipes: one featuring traditional herbs and spices, and another with a zesty citrus twist. These variations offer a range of flavor profiles, catering to different palates and preferences. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner looking to impress your guests, this article provides detailed instructions and helpful tips to guide you through the process of making delicious gravlax at home.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

JUNIPER-AND-GIN GRAVLAX



Juniper-and-Gin Gravlax image

Curing your own salmon is worth the effort. This Swedish-inspired version calls for marinating the fish with citrus zest, juniper berries, dill, and gin. You'll be proud to serve this homemade treat as an appetizer at your next dinner party.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Time P3DT45m

Yield Serves 8 to 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons packed grated zest from 2 lemons, 2 limes, and 1 orange
1 tablespoon coarsely ground pepper
2 tablespoons coarsely ground juniper berries
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup gin, such as Hendrick's
1 1/2 to 2 pounds sushi-grade salmon, skin on, pin bones removed
Meyer-Lemon Relish, for serving
Salmon roe, crackers or crostini, capers, creme fraiche, shaved fennel, and sliced red onion, for serving

Steps:

  • Combine salt, sugar, zest, pepper, juniper, and dill in a bowl. Add gin; stir until mixture resembles wet sand.
  • Rinse salmon and pat dry. Line a baking sheet with plastic; scatter one-third of sugar mixture on it. Lay salmon, skin-side down, on sugar mixture; spread remaining mixture evenly over top. Wrap tightly in the plastic; place a second baking sheet on top and weigh down with canned goods. Refrigerate, flipping fish and pouring off excess liquid every 24 hours, for 3 days. Rinse excess sugar mixture off salmon; pat dry.
  • Place fish flesh-side down, and slide the tip of a long, sharp knife between flesh and skin at a short end. Using a paper towel to grip, gently pull skin off. Flip fish; thinly slice at a 45-degree angle. Serve with relish, roe, crackers, capers, creme fraiche, fennel, and onion.

JUNIPER-FLAVORED GRAVLAX



Juniper-Flavored Gravlax image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories     appetizer

Time 2h45m

Yield 12 to 16 first courses

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cracked white peppercorns
2 teaspoons juniper berries, crushed
2 pounds center-cut salmon fillet, skin on
3 bunches fresh dill
2 tablespoons gin

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine the salt, sugar, peppercorns and juniper. Using your hands, rub 1 cup of the mixture all over the salmon. Transfer to a glass baking dish and cover with the remaining mixture. Scatter dill over the salmon and set aside at room temperature for 2 1/2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.
  • When ready to serve, remove plastic and discard dill. Transfer the salmon to a cutting board and drizzle with the gin. Slice thinly on the diagonal. Serve with bread and garnishes of choice.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 171, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 176 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams

GIN AND JUNIPER CURED SALMON - SCANDINAVIAN GRAVLAX



Gin and Juniper Cured Salmon - Scandinavian Gravlax image

This is a slightly different Gravlax recipe than normal, as it uses gin and juniper for a clean, sophisticated and fresh taste - if you are not keen on gin - you could use vodka instead! Junipers can also be replaced by a few extra peppercorns. Gravlax (pronounced grov-lox) is from the Swedish name for this dish. Norwegians call it gravlaks and the Danish refer to it as Gravad laks. It literally means "buried salmon" and the name refers to the traditional method of preparation for this food: fresh salmon was heavy salted and buried in dry sand to ferment and cure.

Provided by French Tart

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time P2DT10m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 kg fresh salmon, tail
2 ounces maldon crystal salt
3 ounces granulated sugar
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black peppercorns
6 tablespoons gin
2 teaspoons crushed juniper berries
2 tablespoons fresh dill, roughly chopped
mayonnaise
whole grain mustard
sugar
fresh dill

Steps:

  • Remove the bone from the salmon, leaving two triangular fillets with the skin intact.
  • To make the curing mixture, mix together the Maldon Crystal Salt, sugar and peppercorns,juniper berries and the gin.
  • Place the salmon, skin side down, on a board and place half of the curing mixture over the surface of each fillet, pressing it well into the flesh. Now cover each fillet with the chopped dill.
  • Place one fillet on top of the other to make a sandwich with the dill in the centre and the skin on the outside. Wrap tightly in Clingfilm and place on a shallow dish or plate. Place a plate over the top and weight with a heavy tin. Put in the fridge for 24 - 48 hours turning the gravalax twice during the curing time.
  • Unwrap the gravlax and slice thinly Serve with rye bread and a sauce made from equal quantities of mayonnaise and wholegrain mustard mixed with a little sugar and chopped dill.

GRAVADLAX



Gravadlax image

Cure your own salmon, Scandinavian-style, with dill, juniper, and lemon and serve with a mustard sauce

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Time P2D

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 x 500g pieces skin-on organic salmon fillet, both cut from the centre of the fish. Ask your fishmonger to pin-bone it for you
75g flaky sea salt
75g golden caster sugar
1 tsp black peppercorn, roughly crushed
zest of 1 lemon
8 juniper berries, crushed (optional)
small bunch (about 20g) dill, roughly chopped
2 tbsp gin (optional)
pumpernickel sauce, to serve
small bunch (about 20g) dill, roughly chopped
4 tbsp each Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, honey and sunflower oil
2 tbsp muscovado sugar

Steps:

  • Pat the salmon dry with kitchen paper and run your hands over the flesh to see if there are any stray small bones - if there are, use a pair of tweezers to pull them out. Set the salmon fillets aside.
  • Tip the salt, sugar, peppercorns, lemon zest, juniper and dill into a food processor and blitz until you have a bright green, wet salt mixture or 'cure'. Unravel some cling film but keep it attached to the roll. Lay the first fillet of salmon skin-side down and then pack the cure over the flesh. Drizzle with gin, if using and top with the 2nd fillet, flesh-side down. Roll the sandwiched fillets tightly in cling film to create a package.
  • Place the fish in a shallow baking dish or shallow-sided tray and lay another tray on top. Weigh the tray down with a couple of tins or bottles and place in the fridge for at least 48 hrs or up to 4 days, turning the fish over every 12 hours or so. The longer you leave it, the more cured it will become.
  • To make the sauce, tip all the sauce ingredients into a blender. Blitz until you have a thickened dressing.
  • To serve, unwrap the fish and brush off the marinade with kitchen paper. Rinse it if you like. You can slice the fish classically into long thin slices, leaving the skin behind, or remove the skin it and slice it straight down. Serve the sliced fish on a large platter or individual plates with pumpernickel bread, dill and mustard sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288 calories, Fat 15.9 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2.5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 15.2 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15.2 grams sugar, Fiber 0.1 grams fiber, Protein 20.8 grams protein, Sodium 4.3 milligram of sodium

ARCTIC CHAR GRAVLAX WITH WHITE GRAPEFRUIT



Arctic Char Gravlax with White Grapefruit image

Gravlax, typically made with salmon, gets an aromatic twist with grapefruit zest and crushed green peppercorns. Plan to make this at least 3 days ahead to let the fish cure.

Provided by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 2-pound side of arctic char, skin on, pinbones removed
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons finely grated white or pink grapefruit zest
3 tablespoons kosher salt plus more
2 tablespoons muscovado sugar or light brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried whole green peppercorns, crushed
1 tablespoon juniper berries, well crushed
1/2 cup crème fraîche
3 teaspoons minced fresh dill, divided
Crackers or toasts (preferably rye)
Ingredient info: Juniper berries are sold in the spice section of better supermarkets.

Steps:

  • Place arctic char skin side down on a large piece of plastic wrap. Mix 3 tablespoons grapefruit zest, 3 tablespoons salt, both sugars, 1 tablespoon crushed green peppercorns, and crushed juniper berries in a small bowl; sprinkle mixture over fish, spreading evenly and pressing gently so spices adhere. Wrap plastic tightly around fish, then wrap with another large sheet of plastic. Gently poke 24 small holes through plastic (not fish) on both sides of fish with a thin skewer or the tip of a sharp knife to allow juices to escape. Put fish on a rimmed baking sheet. Top with another rimmed baking sheet; weigh it down with two 15-ounce canned goods. Refrigerate for 2 days, turning fish after 1 day.
  • Remove canned goods and top baking sheet. Unwrap and discard plastic, keeping cure intact. Rewrap in clean plastic and poke holes in plastic as before. Place in a clean resealable plastic bag; refrigerate, skin side up. Chill for 1 more day. Gently scrape off cure.
  • Whisk crème fraîche, 2 teaspoons dill, and remaining 1 teaspoon crushed green peppercorns in a small bowl. Season with salt. Thinly slice gravlax on a diagonal and serve on crackers. Top with crème fraîche and garnish with remaining 2 teaspoons grapefruit zest and 1 teaspoon dill.

Tips:

  • Start with fresh, high-quality salmon. This will ensure that your gravlax turns out flavorful and delicious.
  • Use a sharp knife to slice the salmon. This will help to prevent the fish from tearing.
  • Be generous with the salt and sugar. This is what will cure the salmon and give it its characteristic flavor.
  • Wrap the salmon tightly in plastic wrap. This will help to keep the flavors in and prevent the fish from drying out.
  • Cure the salmon for at least 24 hours, but no longer than 72 hours. The longer you cure the salmon, the more intense the flavor will be.
  • Serve the gravlax with a variety of accompaniments, such as crackers, bread, blinis, or vegetables.

Conclusion:

Juniper-flavored gravlax is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use fresh salmon and can be served as an appetizer, main course, or snack. With its unique flavor and delicate texture, juniper-flavored gravlax is sure to impress your guests.

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