With the sun set to make an appearance this weekend, why not celebrate by firing up the barbecue and trying your hand at a deliciously light portions of fresh fish infused with citrus flavours and molasses.
For a delightful finishing touch, garnish your catch with a selection of bright Mediterranean vegetables for the perfect summer seafood dish.
Serves: four to six people
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Additional prep time (curing process ): 12 hours
Grill temperature: 100°C
Core temperature: 55°C
Grill method: Indirect
Equipment: Wood chips
Ingredients
500g salmon fillet
100ml gin
1 medium beetroot
Zest of 1 orange
1tsp dried juniper berries
40g fine sea salt
70g molasses sugar
In the kitchen
Skin the salmon fillet and cut the salmon into five thin fillets.
Add the gin to a large mixing bowl.
Wash, peel, and grate beetroot into the bowl.
Add orange crushed juniper berries, salt, and sugar.
Add the salmon fillets to the bowl and coat with the mixture.
Allow salmon to cure in the fridge overnight (your additional prep time ).
Remove from the fridge, gently wash off the cure, and pat dry with paper towel.
At the barbecue
Prepare the barbecue for indirect heat, approximately 100°C. If you are using a charcoal barbecue, use just one third of a chimney starter of briquettes.
Add a handful of wood chips to the coals of your charcoal barbecue, or to the smoker box if you are using a gas model. Always allow the wood smoke to develop before adding food into the cook box.
Smoke the fish until it is just cooked through. If using a digital temperature probe, you will be looking for a core temperature of 55°C.
Serving suggestion
Serve on top of toast and finish with sour cream and fresh herbs.
