Scandinavian · appetizer
Gravlax
Gravlax reads sweetness 5.9, umami 5.6 and herbaceous 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian appetizer, about 60 hr 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.5 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.9 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 0.8 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 4.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.3 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 5.9 · Umami 5.6 · Herbaceous 5.0 · Richness 4.6 · Salinity 4.3 · Marine & Briny 4.0 · Floral 1.3 · Heat 1.0 · Warm Spice 1.0 · Smoke 0.8
What's in it (7)
- 2 lbs fresh salmon fillet skin-on
- 1/4 cup coarse salt
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 large bunch fresh dill
- 2 tbsp aquavit
- mustard-dill sauce for serving
Time & effort: about 60 hr 15 min (15 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 166.2 kcal, 16.2 g protein, 8.4 g fat, 4.2 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Combine salt, sugar, and white pepper, then coat the salmon generously on all sides along with a thick layer of fresh dill.
- Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate with a weight on top for 48–72 hours, flipping once a day.
- Scrape off the cure, slice thinly on the bias, and serve with mustard-dill sauce on dark rye.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) — Scandinavian
- Ensalada Rusa — Spanish
- Shrimp Tempura Donburi — Japanese
- Chicken Thighs With Saffron, Green Olives, And Mint — Middle Eastern
- Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) — Japanese
Keep reading: what sweetness, umami, herbaceous mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.