Citrus Cured Gravlax With Toasted Fennel Seeds Recipes

Steps:

• Rub Cointreau over flesh side of salmon. In a half-gallon zip-top plastic bag, combine sugar, salt and fennel. Add zests, thyme and bay leaf; mix well.
• Put salmon in bag, gently roll to coat, then press sugar-salt mixture into meat. Place plastic bag on a plate, put a weight on top (like a heavy skillet) and refrigerate overnight or for about 12 to 14 hours.
• When ready to serve, remove bag from refrigerator and thoroughly scrape off citrus-salt mixture, dabbing with a damp cloth if necessary. Before serving, slice gravlax paper-thin on a diagonal and serve on crackers, with a dollop of citrus crème fraîche with tarragon.

Steps:

• Mix the salt, sugar, dill, lemon zest and grapefruit zest together in a bowl. Line a platter or small baking pan with plastic wrap and spread about a third of the salt mixture on top of the plastic in the general size and shape of the salmon. Lay the salmon on top and make 5 to 6 shallow slits into the flesh using the tip of a paring knife, then rub the orange liqueur on top. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining salt mixture and wrap the plastic over the fish to cover it completely. Place the wrapped salmon inside a ziptop bag, remove as much of the air as possible and seal the bag. Put a plate on top of the wrapped fish and weigh it down with a small can or something similar. Refrigerate for 24 hours (the fish will release some liquid as it sits).
• After 24 hours, scrape the salt mixture off the top of the fish and wipe the surface with a damp paper towel. Serve immediately or wrap in plastic and keep refrigerated up to 5 days.
• When ready to serve, use a very sharp knife to make thin slices on a bias. Serve with the Lemon Creme Fraiche, toast points, red onions and lemon wedges.
• Combine the creme fraiche, lemon zest and juice and chives in a small bowl; season with salt.

Steps:

• Make the dressing first. Put the mustard, honey, garlic, vinegar and some seasoning in a cup, and whisk in the oil in a steady stream. Stir in the cream, then check the seasoning - it should be sweet-sour.
• Put some of the lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Peel the celeriac and cut the flesh into matchsticks, tossing these in the lemon juice as you go to stop the flesh discolouring.
• Quarter the fennel and remove any coarse outer leaves. Trim the tips, reserving any tufty fronds. Cut out the core from each piece. Using a very sharp knife or a mandolin, slice the fennel lengthways - the slices should be almost transparent. Toss with the celeriac and add some more lemon juice.
• Cut the onion as finely as possible (it's best to do this on a mandolin too). Halve the apples, core and cut into matchsticks (there's no need to peel them). Add to the bowl with the onions, and add a little more lemon juice (to keep the apple from turning brown). Chop any fennel fronds and add along with the dill. Toss with the dressing.
• Divide the salad between eight plates with some gravadlax alongside, or serve the gravadlax and offer the salad in a large bowl.