How to Smoke Fish
How to Smoke Fish
Smoking is one of the oldest methods of preserving fish. Fish smoking was initially used as a preservative to prevent fish from going bad. Early forms of fish smoking required heavy cures and smoking because since there was no refrigeration, smoking was the only option to keep fish fresh. The fish had to be able to last in a room temperature environment or cellar for storage.
However, now the smokey and unique flavor is a desired taste among fish lovers. The curation methods today are much lighter, so refrigeration is most likely necessary until use. You can also freeze your smoked fish to extend its shelf life even more. Salmon, tuna, trout, sturgeon, and catfish are all popular fish to smoke.
How to Make Smoked Fish
Cure smoked fish in a combination of salt, sugar, and nitrites. A cook will need access to a smoker and some tasty fresh fish. Specific brine recipes may vary and often have a personalized touch, but smoking fish does follow some concrete principles.
Start with a basic brine mixture, and build from there. Some common additional ingredients range from garlic, lemon juice, rum, soy sauce, onion powder, and or garlic salt.
Smoked Fish Recipe
Basic Brine:
- ½ cup of non-iodized salt
- ½ cup of sugar
- 1 quart of water
- 1 ½ cups of crumbled smoked fish
- ½ cup of milk
- 8 oz of softened cream cheese
- ¼ of minced onions
- 1 chopped up celery stalk
- 1 tbsp. of minced parsley
- 3 tbsp. of pickle relish
- ½ tsp. of lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce