Martha Stewart's Salmon Recipe
(This recipe is simple and the result invariably delicious. It is imperative, however, that extremely fresh salmon be used as well as fresh herbs.)

1 8-pound boned salmon, cut into 2 fillets, skin on

1/4 cup anise seed

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup caraway seed

1/4 cup freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup coarse kosher salt

5 large bunches of fresh dill, coriander, or chervil

1/4 cup vodka, aquavit or gin

Place the salmon fillets on a parchment-lined work surface. Remove any remaining bones from fillets. In a medium bowl, mix together spices, sugar and salt.

Place one of the fillets in a large glass or enamel pan. Cover the fillet with the spice mixture. Spread dill on top of the spices, then pour the vodka, gin or aquavit on top of dill.

Place second fillet on top of the first, in the opposite direction (heads to tails). Cover entire pan tightly with plastic wrap. Place a heavy object into a smaller pan. Lay pan on top of fish and place both pans in refrigerator.

After 12 hours, remove the fish from the pan, rewrap them tightly with plastic wrap and turn over. Place the weighted pan on top of the fish. Continue to refrigerate for 2 ¹/₂--3 ¹/₂ more days, turning fish over every 12 hours.

After four days, remove fish from refrigerator and unwrap on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Remove top fillet and scrape dill and spices from the surface of both fillets. To serve, slice each fillet on the diagonal into thin pieces. Serves 16.

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