Gravlax: Cured Salmon

We have a little tradition at our place - every year we watch the Eurovision final, and every year we cook a meal from the country that is hosting the show. This year was Sweden, so  a Swedish feast was in order.

We started with a lovely entree of Gravlax with a mustard and dill sauce. This is actually very easy to make, though you do have to plan in advance as the curing process takes time. Sadly, my picture does not do the gravlax justice - these are the leftovers from the entree plate!! We were too carried away to take photos earlier lol.

Ingredients

Gravlax ingredients

1kg fresh salmon, filleted and boned, with the skin on.
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 tsp crushed peppercorns
2 cups chopped fresh dill
fresh dill fronds to garnish

Mustard and dill sauce

100g Swedish mustard (you can substitute dijon if you cannot get Swedish)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp salt
ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
100g fresh dill fronds

Method

To make the gravlax

• Pinbone the salmon to remove any residual bones
•  mix the salt and sugar together.
•  sprinkle half the mixture of sugar/salt onto a sheet of foil. Place the salmon on the mixture, skin side down.
•  sprinkle the crushed pepper and dill on the salmon, then cover with the rest of the sugar/salt mixture. 
•  Wrap the salmon tightly in foil and place in fridge for 48 hours. Turn the salmon once every 12 hours. 

To make the sauce

put the sugar, mustard, vinegar, and salt and pepper, into a bowl and mix together. Slowly drizzle in the oil into the mixture, whisking it all the time until you have a thick and shiny sauce. Stir the dill fronds through the mixture.

To serve

Take the salmon out of the foil and wipe of the remaining curing mixture. Finely slice it from on end at an angle of 45 degrees. The skin will be quite tough, so it is important to remember to only cut off the flesh.

Garnish with dill fronds and serve with the sauce.

Pumpkin Soup

There is nothing like a warm bowl of pumpkin soup on a cold autumns evening. This is savoury and filling, and a perfect way to use up those many pumpkins my little garden grew!

serves 4

Ingredients

750g pumpkin
250g potato
2 onions chopped
1 litre chicken or vegetable stock
1 litre water

Method

Saute onions, add in pumpkin and potato. Cover with stock and water, and boil until everything is soft.
Puree to soft consistency.
add in 1 tbs of cream and stir to combine.

Serve with crusty bread.

Coconut and ginger squash and rice

This coconut and ginger squash and rice recipe was born out of my rather desperate need to find new ways of incorporating spaghetti squash into dishes, after growing a glut of them. It is a really yummy dish, and goes well with curries. It is also delicious as a dish in its own right.

Ingredients

1 shallot, finely sliced
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 little finger sized nob of ginger finely chopped
2 cups jasmine rice, cooked
2 cups spaghetti squash, cooked

1 tin of coconut milk
1/2 cup of zucchini, cubed

Method

saute shallot, garlic, and ginger until translucent
add in zucchini and saute till golden
add in rice, squash, coconut milk.
combine and toss until warm.

Cabbage and Pasta

I have to apologise at the lack of photo here. You see, we love this so much, that as soon as it was cooked we ate it all up!!!

Seriously wonderful, quick, easy, and delicious comfort food.

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked pasta (any sort will be fine - we usually use bowties or macaroni)
2 onions finely sliced
1 tbs caraway seeds
1/2 cup of sour cream
3 or 4 cups of finely sliced red cabbage
oil for frying + a small knob of butter for extra flavour
salt and pepper to taste

Method

Saute onions gently in the oil + butter until they are soft, sweet and translucent.

Stir in the caraway seeds. Add in the cabbage and cook until tender.

Add in the pasta, stir to combine. Then add in the sour cream, and stir through. If it is a bit "dry" and not saucy enough to coat add in a splash of water or milk. It should not be a runny sauce, but it should coat/cling to the pasta and cabbage.

Eat and enjoy!

Chestnut and sage soup

As we start heading towards Autumn I start dreaming of soup... and this one is truly luxurious. It has a wonderful texture, and a warming nutty and sweet-savoury taste. It takes a bit of time and effort to roast an peel the chestnuts, but other than that this soup is a breeze.

Serves 2 for main, 4 for entree....

Ingredients

1 tbs olive oil with a small knob of butter
1 onion finely chopped
6 chopped sage leaves
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 litre of stock - vegetable or chicken is best
500g roasted and peeled chestnuts.

optional: sour cream or creme fraiche to serve, plus a few extra sage leaves (if you take the time to fry them crispy, they make an awesome granish)

Method

Fry onions in the oil & butter until soft, sweet and translucent. Add in the garlic clove and stir for a minute.

Add in the sage leaves and chestnuts, and stock. Cook for 15 minutes or until the chestnuts are soft and mushy. season with salt and pepper to taste.

Puree the mixture until it is the consistency you desire.Serve with crusty bread, a dollop of sour cream, and enjoy.

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Baked eggs with creamy spinach

 

Ingredients

300g baby spinach
2 tablespoons crumbled boursin (or cream cheese, with chopped garlic and chives)
4 tbs cream
4 eggs
  
Buttered toast, to serve

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Lightly grease four 3/4 cup-capacity ovenproof dishes.


Place spinach in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high (100%) for 1 minute 30 seconds or until just wilted. Transfer spinach to a sieve. Using the back of a spoon, press down on spinach to drain excess liquid.


Divide spinach between prepared dishes. Sprinkle each with cheese and add a tablespoon of cream.
 
Gently crack 1 egg into each dish. Season with salt and pepper. Place dishes on a baking tray. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until eggwhite is just set. Remove from oven. Stand for 2 minutes. Serve with toast.



Note: I love love love my new little mini baking dishes - they are sooo cute!!

Zucchini and Rosemary Frittata

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 large eggs
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon  fresh rosemary leaves
1/4 cup grated cheese
 

Method

Heat oil in a frypan over medium-high heat; add garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add rosemary leaves and zucchini; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring continuously. Season with salt and pepper.
 
whisk together the eggs, egg whites,  and season with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the zucchini and cook, just until the eggs begin to set, about 3 minutes.
 
Sprinkle cheese evenly over the top. Place pan under the broiler for 3 minutes or until the fritatta rises slightly and becomes light and settled. The eggs should not be runny. Transfer to a serving plate, cut into pie-shaped wedges, and serve.

Goes great with a fresh salad!