Gravlax Recipe: Easy Scandinavian Cured Salmon with Dill (59) 2026

Gravlax is a Scandinavian classic of cured salmon, scented with dill, pepper, sugar, salt and a splash of vodka. The fish marinates for a few days in the fridge, turning firm, silky and deeply savory.

This version keeps things simple: a quick rub, a weighted rest, then a rinse and a finish of olive oil, dill and pepper. Serve it thinly sliced as an appetizer with bread, or as part of a smörgåsbord spread.

Ingredients for Gravlax

Makes 12 servings

• ½ tablespoon peppercorns
• 35 g dill (25 g for marinating and 10 g for finishing)
• 125 g sugar
• 125 g coarse salt
• 1 tablespoon vodka (optional)
• 500 g salmon loin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

How to Make Gravlax Step by Step

1. Make the marinade

For the marinade, crush half a tablespoon of black peppercorns with 25 g of dill, then mix with 125 g of sugar, 125 g of coarse salt and 1 tablespoon of vodka.

2. Cut the salmon

Cut 500 g of salmon loin in half lengthwise and place it on plastic wrap.

3. Coat and rest

Spread the marinade over the entire surface of the salmon, wrap it well in plastic wrap, place it on a tray with a weight on top — a milk carton, for example — and let it rest in the fridge for 2 to 4 days, turning it every 24 hours and removing any liquid it releases.

4. Rinse and oil

After the resting time, remove the plastic wrap and rinse the salmon, removing the layer of salt. Dry it with paper towels and brush it with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

5. Finish with dill and pepper

Sprinkle the salmon with the remaining 10 g of chopped dill and a little ground pepper.

6. Serve

Slice the gravlax thinly and serve as an appetizer.

Tips for the Best Gravlax

Marinating time

The salmon can marinate for 2 to 4 days. After 4 days you get a more cured salmon with a darker color and a stronger flavor. To make gravlax in 4 days, use coarse salt; fine salt would penetrate too quickly and make it too salty. If you only have fine salt, do not marinate for more than 2 days. The thickness of the salmon also matters: a thicker loin will be less cured than a thinner tail piece.

Flavor variations

Gravlax can be marinated in other ways for different nuances, such as adding crushed raw beetroot to the marinade or adding lemon zest for a more citrusy note.

Food safety

To avoid the risk of anisakis, keep the salmon frozen for at least 5 days at -20 ºC or lower before preparing this recipe.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

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For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

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After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

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And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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