Homemade Marinated Salmon
Comments: Unlike smoking of fish, which dries-out and shrinks fish, marinating of fish keeps it moist and fish holds its shape.
Marinated salmon can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Serve marinated salmon into really thin slices, over a slice of pumpernickel bread spread with dill butter [mixture of softened butter and freshly chopped dill sprig].
Servings: 16
IngredientsPreparation
  • 1 [8-pound / 3.4-kg] salmon with skin but boned, into 2 fillets
  • 1/4 cup [60 mL] roasted whole dill seeds
  • 1/4 cup [60 mL] roasted whole caraway seeds
  • 1/4 cup [60 mL] freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup [200 g] sugar
  • 1/2 cup [125 mL] salt
  • 5 large bunch fresh dill, coriander or chervil sprigs
  • 1/4 cup [60 mL] Vodka, Aquavit or Gin
  • Lay one sheet parchemin onto a working surface.
  • Lay salmon fillets onto parchemin; check and remove any remaining bone.
  • Into a medium bowl, mix together roasted whole dill and caraway seeds, freshly ground black pepper, sugar and salt.
  • Lay one salmon fillet into a large glass dish.
  • Evenly sprinkle fillet with dill seeds mixture.
  • Evenly arrange fresh dill, coriander or chervil sprigs all over salmon fillet.
  • Evenly pour in Vodka, Aquavit or Gin.
  • Arrange remaining salmon fillet, head to tail on top of first fillet.
  • Tightly cover salmon fillets with plastic wrap, directely on top of fillets.
  • Arrange a heavy object, such as a book, into a smaller glass dish.
  • Top salmon fillets with 'heavy' dish, to flatten salmon fillets.
  • Refrigerate the whole thing for 12 hours.
  • Turn salmon fillets over, tightly cover salmon fillets once more with plastic wrap, directely on top of fillets, then top once more with 'heavy' dish.
  • Refrigerate for 2 1/2 to 3 days, repeating turning procedings every 12 hours.
  • After 4 days, remove from refrigerator, unwrap and transfer salmon fillets side-by-side onto a baking sheet already lined with a parchemin.
  • Scrape to well remove anything covering salmon fillets [dill seeds, caraway seeds and fresh dill, coriander or chervil sprigs].
  • Slice salmon fillets diagonally, and serve.