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Cured Char with Gin

Ingredients

1 pound (455 g) skin-on arctic char fillet, pinboned (or you can use sockeye salmon)
1/3 cup (65 g) packed brown sugar
1/3 cup (65 g) granulated sugar
1/3 cup (75 g) salt
1 tablespoon peppercorns
3 tablespoons gin
1/2 cup (20 g) chopped fresh dill

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    If you have 1 fillet, cut it into 2 equal pieces. If you have 2 fillets, they should be of equal size. In a small bowl, mix together the sugars, salt, peppercorns, and gin to form a paste. Divide the paste evenly among the 4 sides of the fish pieces. Using half of the dill, cover the flesh side of both pieces, and then join the sides together. Slip the sandwiched pieces into a lock-top plastic bag, press out the air, and seal closed. Place the bag between 2 plates, place the setup in the fridge, and leave for 8 hours.

    Step 2

    Remove the fish from the bag, rinse well under cool water, and pat dry. Cover with the remaining dill, slip the fish into a new bag, and refrigerate again for at least 8 or up to 10 hours so the cure can even out.

    Step 3

    Remove the fish from the bag, slice thinly, and serve.

Cookbook cover of The Art of Living According to Joe Beef: A Cookbook of Sorts by Frédéric Morin, David McMillan, and Meredith Erickson.
Reprinted with permission from The Art of Living According to Joe Beef by Frédéric Morin, David McMillan & Meredith Erickson, copyright © 2011. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
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