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Citrus-cured Yarra Valley salmon, caviar with baby beetrootAs featured on 'Paddock to Plate' Season 1 ![]() 30 minutes + 24 hours curing prep. ![]() ![]() 15 minutes cooking ![]() ![]() Serves 4-6 |
Ingredients
- 1 small side of salmon (about 900g), belly trimmed
- 150 g white sugar
- 100 g table salt
- 20 black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
- 20 coriander seeds, coarsely crushed
- 1 lemon rind, finely grated on a microplane
- 1 lime rind, finely grated on a microplane
- 1 orange rind, finely grated on a microplane
- ½ cup dill, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 teaspoons white sugar
- 3 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 500 ml water
- 8 baby beetroot, small tender leaves trimmed and reserved
- 2 oranges, segmented
- Handful of endive leaves
- Crème fraiche
- 50 g Yarra Valley salmon caviar
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Salt and pepper
Method
- Mix sugar, salt, crushed peppercorns and coriander seeds, citrus rinds and half the dill in a bowl to combine well. Spread half the curing mixture in the base of a tray large enough to fit the salmon snugly. Place salmon, skin-side down, in tray, then spread remaining curing mixture over the flesh, rubbing in as you go. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to cure (you’ll need to cure for at least 12 hours for a light cure and up to 24 hours for a more intense cure).
- To cook the baby beetroot, stir the sugar, vinegar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves and then bring to the boil. Add the beetroot and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until tender. To check if ready, pierce with a skewer, then set aside to cool in the liquid. Drain beetroot and peel (use disposable gloves if you want to avoid stained hands), cut into halves and set aside.
- Rinse curing mixture off the salmon under cold running water, pat dry thoroughly with absorbent paper. Remove pin-bones with fish tweezers, then spread mustard over salmon flesh with the back of a spoon. Scatter remaining dill over and press to cover.
- To slice the salmon, starting at one end of the salmon fillet, cut straight down through the flesh with a thin sharp knife until you hit the skin, slicing at 2mm intervals (don’t cut all the way through, the flesh should still be attached to the skin). To remove the skin, cut down through the first incision then slice between the skin and the flesh, keeping your knife flat and cutting along to remove the skin in a single piece (discard skin).