How to prepare the perfect gravlax salmon these Holidays?
Gravlax is one of those recipes that always impresses... when in reality, it's the simplest starter in the world!
No cooking, no special equipment, just a good piece of salmon, a few herbs, salt, sugar and a little patience. It's ideal during Christmas Holiday festivities: elegant, fresh, light and, above all, ready in advance, which frees up an enormous amount of time.
Served with warm toast, a few sprigs of dill and a squeeze of lemon, gravlax immediately sets a festive mood, without you having to run into the kitchen. Here's how to make a homemade salmon gravlax that's a hit every time ;)
Simple ingredients for homemade gravlax
For a small fillet, you will need :
- 5.3 oz salmon fillet
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup salt
- 1 pinch of pepper
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill
- 1 Tbsp pink peppercorns
- lemon juice
Optional but very good : a little lemon zest for a touch of freshness.
Preparation: simple, fast... and without turning on the oven
- Mix salt, sugar, pink berries, pepper and dill.
- Place the salmon in a dish and cover completely with the mixture.
- Cover well, then marinate in the fridge for 24 hours.
- During marinating, some juice will form: this is normal! You can drain it once if necessary.
- After resting, quickly rinse the salmon under cold running water, then dry thoroughly.
- Slice very thinly on the bias, like a smoked salmon.
Why is it the perfect Christmas starter?
No cooking → zero stress.
Can be prepared the day before → New Year's best friend.
Elegant and light → perfect before an often hearty meal.
Very economical compared to store-bought smoked salmon.
Guaranteed "wow" effect with minimum effort.
Ideas for serving it beautifully on Christmas Eve
To make your gravlax even more festive:
- Serve it on blinis, toast or thinly sliced on an elegant plate.
- Add a squeeze of lemon, a few dill sprigs and a little zest.
- Serve with a little mustard-dill sauce (very Scandinavian, very Christmasy).
- Add a few capers or very thin slices of red onion.
- Serve with a dry white wine or brut Champagne.
Visually, it's magnificent, and takes less than 3 minutes to assemble!
A chic appetizer... almost 4 times less expensive than store-bought!
Gravlax is exactly what we love about Christmas: a festive dish that doesn't require a huge budget or technical know-how. It's an instant table-topper, a crowd-pleaser, and can be prepared ahead of time, which, in December, is worth its weight in gold :)
Adèle Peyches
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