gravlax

American  

[grahv-lahks] / ˈgrɑv lɑks /

noun

Scandinavian Cooking.

1. boned salmon, cured by marinating in sugar, salt, pepper, and other spices, especially dill.

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gravlax British  

/ ˈɡrævˌlæks /

noun

1. dry-cured salmon, marinated in salt, sugar, and spices, as served in Scandinavia

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Etymology

Origin of gravlax

1960–65; < Swedish gravlax, Norwegian gravlaks, equivalent to grav- (compare Swedish grava, Norwegian grave to dig, bury) + lax, laks salmon; lox ¹; the salmon was originally cured by burying it

Example Sentences

If you're making your own gravlax as a weekend project, try swapping out half of the salt rub for vanilla salt.

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2023

The Morris’s head chef, Gavin Schmidt, cures salmon in chartreuse to create a sort of alpine gravlax.

From New York Times • Aug. 30, 2019

Oil-cured wild Alaskan king salmon becomes delicate, lox-like gravlax paired with celery root crème fraîche and coffee flour toast that’s as dark as pumpernickel, but nuttier and faintly cocoa-flavored.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2017

And while it might be fun to hop a flight to Stavanger, making gravlax or ash-roasted celeriac in your own kitchen is pretty fun too — and a lot cheaper and easier.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2015

My fave: salmon, pickled red onions and gravlax mustard on woody Swedish knackebrod.

From Washington Post • Jan. 22, 2015