Foods of the World Forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Other Food-Related Topics > Curing of Meats, Charcuterie and Smokehouse Specialties
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Smoked salmon
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

This site is completely supported by donations; there are no corporate sponsors. We would be honoured if you would consider a small donation, to be used exclusively for forum expenses.



Thank you, from the Foods of the World Forums!

Smoked salmon

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
pitrow View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 22 November 2010
Location: Newberg, Oregon
Status: Offline
Points: 1078
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote pitrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Smoked salmon
    Posted: 25 January 2012 at 15:12
Smoked salmon is a pretty traditional thing up here in the pacific northwest going back to the days when the Indians called this area home. I did this salmon up a couple years ago, but seeing as there isn't a good smoked salmon post here, I thought I'd add it.

There are several different ways to have smoked salmon, from basically a hot baked salmon with smoke flavor, to cold smoked salmon, salmon jerky or salmon candy as it's sometimes called. Around here when you say smoked salmon it usually refers to a cold smoked product that's been dehydrated almost to the point of jerky, but not quite. That is what I'll be making here.

There are also lots and lots of different ways to brine the salmon prior to smoking: wet, dry, different ingredients, etc. I prefer a basic dry brine that just contains brown sugar, salt and sometimes some garlic.

Start by selecting a nice cut of salmon. I prefer sockeye when given the chance, but any will work really. These are the ones I'm working with today, I believe the one in the upper right is a sockeye and the other three fillets are altlantic.


The first step is to remove all the pin bones. Technically you don't have to  because they should dissolve in the brine, but I like to do it anyway just in case. Run your fingers along the top part of the fish from front to back and you should be able to feel any pin bones left in. Use pliers to pull them out.

Next for me is to cut them into manageable size pieces, though sometimes I like to leave the fillets whole for parties and such. I also like to cut slashes in the flesh about a fingers width apart, I think it lets the brine penetrate better and makes it easier for people to break off a piece when it's time to eat. If you do it, make sure you don't cut through the skin though.

Now it's brine time. Make sure you make enough brine to completely cover all the fish. It'll depend on the container you're brining them in and how tight you can pack them as to how much to make. My brine is 4 parts dark brown sugar to 1 part pickling and canning salt (by volume). You can pretty much use any kind of salt, but stay away from iodonized salt and rock salt as either one can impart off (metalic) flavors to the fish. If you use a more course grained salt you may need to adjust the amount of salt up to make up for the fact that there's more air space in a cup of course grain versus fine grain.  As I mentioned I also sometimes throw in few cloves of minced garlic. Mix it all up well.

Your brining container should be plastic, enamel coated, or any non-reactive metal. Start by putting down a layer of brine mix. Then a layer of fish, skin side down. Put down another layer of brine mix, and if you've cut the slashes into the flesh try to get some of it down into the slashes as well. Then put on another layer of fish, skin side up this time. You want to alternate the layers so flesh touches flesh and skin touches skin. Keep doing the brine-fish-brine-fish layering until you're out of fish, and finish it with a good layer of brine on top. Put the container into the fridge (or if it's cold enough the garage will work too) overnight.

The next day, take the fish out of the brine (it will have turned to a slimy goop) and rinse them well. Place them out to dry while you prepare the smoker. The purpose for this is to let the fish form what is called a pelicle, and that's basically a coating of dried protein that helps the smoke adhere and locks in flavor.

Here are my fish out and rinsed. The Atlantics:


The Sockeye, notice the much deeper red color


Now for the smoker. I like to smoke my salmon over alder or maple because it gives a nice smokey flavor without overpowering it. Other good choices would be cherry, apple or any fruit tree really. But stay away from hickory and mesquite, they are much too strong for salmon. Try to keep the temps in your smoker pretty low. I usually shoot for 120-140 degrees (F). At that temp it'll take a couple of hours to smoke it. I don't usually go for a temperature, but I go by how it feels. If you poke the thick part of a cut with your finger it should feel firm and not squishy. The thinner cuts from the tail will go faster so you might have to take them out before the thicker cuts are done. I try to arrange them so similar size cuts are on the same rack so I can just take the whole rack out at once when they're done.

And here's the finished product



I like to serve mine with crackers and cream cheese, sometimes a little wasabi too, for the daring guests.



Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 January 2012 at 15:26
mike - this is a great, instructive post! i don't get the chance to do much salmon, but i am willing to bet it would work perfectly for trout. i did a post on trout a few years ago, but yours has much more detail and i'll givce it a try.
 
i love the looks of the finished salmon - absolutely can't be beat!
 
with superbowl coming up, i'm going to be doing my yearly gravlax project:
 
 
more detail (and pictures) here:
 
 
last year, i was going to see about smoking one of the fillets, and will most likely give that a try, this year - will see about using some of the techniques discussed here!
 
thanks for posting a perfect, "signature" post on this forum! Clap
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
Hoser View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 06 February 2010
Location: Cumberland, RI
Status: Offline
Points: 3454
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hoser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 January 2012 at 02:38
Looks terrific! I hope salmon goes on sale out here soon.
I have not smoked any in quite some time.
Go ahead...play with your food!
Back to Top
gonefishin View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 20 September 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 1778
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gonefishin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 March 2013 at 18:16
    Looks absolutely delicious!

    Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy The Food!
Back to Top
Margi Cintrano View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 03 February 2012
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 6357
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Margi Cintrano Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 March 2013 at 01:27
Good Morning Pitrow,
 
Thank you so much for your fabulous pictorial on Smoked Salmon, a fave of ourĀ“s ...
 
Yes, northwest Pacific and Alaskan salmon are wonderful. We import wild Alaskan Salmon on Iberian Peninsula from The Alaskan Seafood Organization and it is predominately utilized in Sashimi at Japanese restaurants ... and it is considered a delicacy here ...LOL 
 
Quite a bit different in color, texture and taste profile from the Norwegian ... a more profound red color. Norwegian is lighter in hue and more of a coral tone.
 
 
Kind regards, and thanks for the wonderful
post.
Margi.
 
 
 
Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 July 2013 at 14:04
Mike - I was watching a documentary the other day, which included a short segment on traditional smoked salmon - I recall that it looked a lot like yours, the only difference being that the salmon in the documentary was "drier," or more dehydrated. The "segments" formed by the verticle slashes was peeled off the skin, making the whole side-fillet a convenient package.
 
I'd say you've got it down pretty well ~ the next batch of large trout I get is going to be treated as demonstrated above! Thumbs Up
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
HistoricFoodie View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 21 February 2012
Location: Kentucky
Status: Offline
Points: 4940
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 April 2014 at 05:57
I'd somehow missed this entire thread. And agree, Mike: A really great post.

One trick that was a real "aha!" moment for me. If you lay the filet on an inverted round bowl it will cause any pin bones to stand up and be more visible. Then its a simple matter of pulling them.
But we hae meat and we can eat
And sae the Lord be thanket
Back to Top
pitrow View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 22 November 2010
Location: Newberg, Oregon
Status: Offline
Points: 1078
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pitrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 April 2014 at 09:11
Originally posted by HistoricFoodie HistoricFoodie wrote:

I'd somehow missed this entire thread. And agree, Mike: A really great post.

One trick that was a real "aha!" moment for me. If you lay the filet on an inverted round bowl it will cause any pin bones to stand up and be more visible. Then its a simple matter of pulling them.


That's a great tip! I often have problems with the ones that are right at surface level, trying to get a hold of them with the pliers is a real pain. This should do the trick wonderfully! Thanks!
Mike
Life in PitRow - My often neglected, somewhat eccentric, occasionally outstanding blog
Back to Top
HistoricFoodie View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 21 February 2012
Location: Kentucky
Status: Offline
Points: 4940
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 April 2014 at 11:20
Wish I could take credit for it, Mike. I'd seen it, the first time, on a cooking show many years ago, and incorporated into my own bag of tricks.

My only regret is not knowing it when I lived in northern Illinois. I did a lot of salmon and steelhead fishing on Lake Michigan and its tributaries, and spent many an hour being frustrated by those bones.

But we hae meat and we can eat
And sae the Lord be thanket
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.098 seconds.