Homemade Lox

Homemade Cured Fresh Salmon Fillet

The term lox comes from the German word Lachs, meaning “salmon”. Lox is salmon that has been cured in salts, sugars and spices and is typically sliced thin and served on a bagel with cream cheese, dried onions and capers. Although this healthy recipe needs to be prepared a few days in advance you will have the satisfaction of telling your family and friends that the delicious bagel and lox they are eating was homemade by you. So get to the store and find the perfect pink salmon and get stared!

Also be sure to try my Cream Poached Salmon recipe and Salmon Burger for some other delicious ways to serve salmon.

cooking information

• Yield: Enough for 24 Bagels
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 2 Days

all ingredients

• 2 Sides of Salmon (Skin Removed)
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Cup Kosher Salt
• 1 Cup Cracked Black Peppercorns
• 1 Bunch Fresh Dill
• 1 Bunch Fresh Chives

recipe instruction

1. In a mixing bowl combine sugar, salt, and black pepper.

2. Cut each side of salmon in half width-wise. Using plastic wrap, create a bed of the dry ingredients and a fist full of the fresh chives and dill. Lay one section of salmon on top. Continue to layer the salmon, dry ingredients, and fresh herbs on top of each other.

3. Once all of the salmon has been seasoned and is covered, tightly wrap in plastic wrap. You need to make sure that the plastic wrap is tight and no air can reach the fresh fish.

4. Place the salmon in a bowl and place a weighted bowl on top of the wrapped salmon to create pressure. (The salmon will be cooked because the extra moisture will be drawn out by the salt and the weight on top. I filled a smaller bowl with water and let rest on top. )

5. Leave in your refrigerator for 2 days, DO NOT TOUCH.

6. Once the 2 days have passed, drain the extra liquid from the bowl and unwrap your salmon. Remove excess salt concoction and herbs, you can use a slow steady stream of cold water to help you remove the excess.

7. Thinly slice, serve and enjoy.

cooking tips

• Make sure when you are buying the salmon to smell it and make sure it is great quality. It shouldn’t smell fishy at all and should have a beautiful color to it, no slime.
• Ask the man behind the counter to please remove the skin from the fish and any pin bones, this will make it less work for you and they are professionals.
• Serve on a fresh bagel with diced red onions, capers, and cream cheese for a real experience!