CURED SALMON WITH FENNEL AND CARROT SALAD

Cured Salmon with Fennel and Carrot Salad image

Provided by Renee Erickson

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Salmon:
1 1/4 cups kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped fennel fronds
1/4 cup gin or aquavit
1 1 1/2-pound piece skin-on salmon fillet
Salad and assembly:
2 medium carrots, peeled, very thinly sliced
1 medium fennel bulb, very thinly sliced, plus 1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds
1 lemon, very thinly sliced
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Fennel flowers or fennel pollen (optional)

Steps:

Salmon:
Mix salt, sugar, fennel fronds, and gin in a medium bowl (mixture should feel like wet sand). Spread half of salt mixture in a shallow baking dish. Place salmon on top and cover with remaining salt mixture.
Press a sheet of plastic wrap over salmon and place a smaller dish or heavy pan on top (it should be small enough to fit inside the dish so it rests directly on top of salmon). Add a couple of heavy cans to empty baking dish to weigh down salmon. Chill, turning occasionally, until flesh is firm and slightly darkened in color, 1-2 days. Rinse salmon and pat dry.
Do ahead: Salmon can be cured 1 week ahead. Tightly wrap and chill.
Salad and assembly:
Toss carrots, fennel bulb, and lemon slices with oil and lemon juice in a large bowl; season with salt and let sit at room temperature until slightly softened, about 30 minutes.
Thinly slice cured salmon at an angle against the grain.
Season yogurt with salt, spread on plates, and top with cured salmon, fennel and carrot salad, fennel fronds, and fennel flowers, if using.