Recipe: Freshly-Salted Salmon (Graavilohi)

the appetizer:

Due to the harsh climate, traditional Finnish cuisine included many grains and berries. Today contemporary Finns enjoy a wide variety of modern foods typical of Western Europe. Hunting and fishing are popular in Finland, with fish, moose and deer plentiful, but restaurants also serve reindeer.

Finland

Freshly-Salted Salmon (Graavilohi)

Preparation time: about 25 minutes
Salting time: 1-3 days
Not suitable for freezing

Large piece of salmon, about 4-1/2 lb. (2 kg)
1/3 cup (1 dl) coarse salt
4 Tbsp sugar
3-4 tsp roughly-ground white pepper
Plenty of fresh dill

1. Fillet the salmon unless bought ready filleted. Do not, however, remove the skin.

2. Wipe the fillets with paper towels without rinsing.

3. Place one of the fillets, skin side down, on the bottom of a dish sprinkled with salt. Place the other fillet, skin side up, on top. Sprinkle the rest of the salt and dill over the fish. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Put a small weight on top and store in a cool place for 1-3 days.

4. Scrape off the seasoning and cut the fillets, leaving the skin intact, into thin, oblique slices before serving.

Hint: Freshly-salted salmon does not require any sort of dressing, especially when served at Christmas. However, mustard dressing goes very well with this dish.

Prepare as follows, just before serving: Mix together 3 tablespoons darkish prepared mustard, 2 tablespoons sugar and 4 tablespoons wine vinegar. Add 3/4 cup (2 dl) oil, preferably olive oil, in a thin stream beating continuously. Last of all, mix in plenty of finely-chopped fresh dill.