It’s easier to see how brilliant Charles Dickens is by reading a lesser rival. Just as it’s simpler to appreciate home by going away, silence by listening to Sir Paul McCartney and freshly caught fish by eating tinned tuna. For that reason here are some pink/crimson/red things eaten and enjoyed in my house in the past couple of days. All of them were delightful, but none comes close in startling pinkness to what I have in store for you in a moment.
Maybe the beetroot gave the game away. I’ve just made searingly pink beetroot-cured gravadlax which takes the pinkometer into new zones on the dial. As the Mayor of London Boris Johnson might have said, ‘pink-omania is about to go zoink.’
BEETROOT CURED GRAVADLAX
There are various combinations of ingredients that work well, but this is how I like it best:
- 600 – 700g salmon fillet
- 300g raw beetroot, peeled and roughly grated
- 100g sea salt flakes
- 90g sugar
- A few turns of freshly ground black pepper
- Freshly grated horseradish – about 40g
- 1 bunch of dill, chopped
- Zest of one lemon
- 50ml gin
You can leave the skin on, or remove it. It’s really up to you. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Tip half the beetroot mixture onto an oval plate just a little bit bigger than the fish and then place the salmon on top, making sure the underside is completely covered. A plastic container would also work, although you may find it difficult to remove the pink stains later! Use the remaining beetroot mixture to cover the top of the fish. Cover the whole lot with a double layer of cling film and place weights on the top – I use another plate with a few tins stacked on it. Put the fish in the fridge and after 24 hours it will be ready. Wash off all the curing ingredients, pat the fish dry and then slice and eat. I like to serve it with a little thick natural yoghurt into which I’ve grated some more fresh horseradish, along with some salt and pepper.
It will keep in the fridge, covered, for around a week.
Now that is pink. Love the Paul McCartney remark, so very true. I bet the Queen is sick to death of him singing hey Jude everywhere she goes.
It certainly is pink, Sue. And I know PM is a national treasure, but… You’ve summoned up a very funny image of the long suffering Queen!
Oh, Sue you are hysterical! I am so enjoying this post and then your comment….
Oh boy you made me laugh out loud! I’m still laughing at the appreciating silence by listening to Paul McCartney! And the Pinkometer. Makes me want to come over and cook with you. The photos are simply stunning!! Beautiful! And the gravlax sounds amazing. I love gravlax and your beety suprise is intriguing. Lovely!
I’ll hold you to that – the next time you’re in the UK!
Fabulous colour with some really outstanding shots in there. Looks a splendid twist on normal gravadlax. I think the media are being very kind to Paul McCartney because his voice has long gone. He must know mustn’t he?
I’d like to think that he knows, but that he’s enjoying it anyway. But even if his Olympic moment was slightly alarming, at least Stella McCartney’s fashion contribution to Team GB has been stunning
Stunning! I’ve never tried making Gravadlax but you’re beetroot version has just encouraged me to try. I’ve never been a huge fan of Paul’s but I did have a bit of a bop to Hey Jude at the ceremony!
Good for you, Ren. I thought Danny Boyle did the most brilliant job – a luminous way to mark the start of the Olympics.
Wow, that is just stunningly gorgeous (and also delicious, I’m sure). Pink and orange together is such glorious overload!
Thanks Mikal – it’s not exactly shy and retiring, you’re right.
silence by listening to Sir Paul McCartney….oooh cutting! Love the pink theme and the recipe.
I don’t think he’ll mind, do you? So glad you like the look of it, Sally.
You have a way of putting a smile on my face and giggle out loud. Yes I was chuckling at the PM remark too. I’ve made Gravadlax recently but never thought of highlighting it with beetroot – now that is pushing PINK beyond limits on my pinkometer. Love it!
I love this review funny & informative in equal measures…. I want this book. If the knitting book I am working on with Octopus books is as beautiful as this one I will be very very happy.
And I like the sound of pinkomania going zoink! The gravad lax looks absolutely gorgeous – I’ve always had a sneaking fondness for pink and orange together.
I completely agree – I love pink and orange as a combination, Kit