Chef Aaron’s Wild King Salmon Lomi Lomi

For the Salmon:

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime zested
  • 1 pound wild salmon fillet (skin removed), rinsed and patted dry

For the Salad:

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Chopped macadamia nuts, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

  1. Cure the salmon: Mix the lime zest, salt and sugar in a bowl. Place 2 long pieces of plastic wrap on a work surface, overlapping them to form a cross. Put half of the cilantro sprigs in the middle of the plastic wrap and top with half of the salt-sugar mixture. Press the salmon into the mixture, making sure the bottom of the fish is covered with salt and sugar. Sprinkle the salmon with the remaining salt-sugar mixture and rub it in, then place the rest of the cilantro on top. Wrap tightly in the plastic and refrigerate for 24 hours.
  2. The next day, unwrap the salmon, rinse off the salt and pat dry. Cut into 1/4-to-1/2-inch cubes.
  3. Make the salad: Toss the salmon, cilantro, tomatoes, sweet onions, scallions, jalapeno, vegetable and sesame oils and lime juice in a bowl. (Traditionally, the cured salmon is flaked and “massaged” with the other ingredients by hand.) Garnish the salad with chopped macadamia nuts and wasabi drizzle, if desired