I have seen a few requests for smoking recipes.
This is a recipe I have used to cold smoke salmon, it is
directed at a Bradley smoker but if you can convert your hot
smokers to cold smoker by the addition of some laundry drier
hose and a satellite smoking box it is delicious.
I have cut and paste this recipe so please excuse any format
problems
Best Smoked Salmon (LOX)
From Spyguy
After searching for various recipes for good LOX, I finally created this
one which is a compilation of many I have heard of, tried and modified.
Making good smoked salmon isn't a mystery or a matter of luck; it's a
matter of patience and time. With this recipe I have been consistent with my
results.
This process is for cold smoking salmon (LOX) only.
After speaking to a few people, who do this for a living I got the
process they use but they wouldn't give up the recipe so I created my own.
You may add any flavor you want to the wet brine. More garlic, or soy
sauce, lemon, coriander seeds; there are no rules for flavor. You may use
more or less brown sugar depending on your tastes, but try mine as is and
adjust after you try it. For those who try it you won't be sorry. Please post
your results, and feel free to share this with others but please give credit
where it is due.
IMPORTANT: Please read these instructions over a few times
before you attempt to use this recipe, it will help you understand the
process.
I HAVE TRIED TO EMPHASIZE AND DETAIL THE CRITICAL
STEPS AND WHERE TEMPERATURE IS IMPORTANT.
If I overdid the details, you’ll get no apology from me. When I did it for my
first time, I would have killed for details; details; details.
These instructions are for an average sized fish of 10-12 lbs (before
being filleted).
Coho is best but I have used Atlantic with success as well. For smaller fish
shorten the time and for bigger fish lengthen time.
SALMON PREPARATION:
If you are filleting whole salmon, leave skin on and remove pin
bones (a small pair of clean needle nose pliers works best for
removing bones that are still in the flesh). If you are buying filleted
salmon, purchase whole fillets with skin on, and remove any
remaining bones. Rinse if you want and pat dry (not completely
dry). Leave fillets whole at this point with the skin on.
BRINING: (Two-Step process)
Step One - Dry Brine Ingredients:
5 lbs. Kosher or canning salt
6 lbs. Dark brown sugar
Directions:
1. Mix salt and sugar well, using your hands to break up the
chunks of brown sugar. This will be used for dry brining the
fish. You must use COARSE (non iodized) OR KOSHER
SALT. Any left over dry mix can be place in a sealed
container or Ziploc bags. It will keep for a long time until
you need it again.
2. Using a small container that is just wide and long enough
to lay your whole fillets flat; spread an even 1/2” layer of
the dry brine mix on the bottom (I use a Rubbermaid
container just long enough for the fillets and wide enough
for two side by side). Lay the first layer of fillets skin side
down on the dry mix. Now cover fillets with more dry mix
(1/2"😉. Place next layer of fillets on top with skin side up
(meat to meat). Cover with 1/2" dry mix. Make sure fish is
completely covered in the mix (that's why the size of your
container is important so you don't waste excess mix).
Continue to layer the fish. You can place them anyway you
like as long as they are relatively straight and flat. This
process will remove excess moisture from the fish and
really firm it up.
3. Place fish in the refrigerator for 7-8 hours.
IMPORTANT: If you forget this part of the
process and dry brine for too long, you will ruin
your fish. Set a timer or maybe two of them so you
don't forget.
4. After the 7-8 hours have passed you will see a
considerable amount of syrupy liquid in the bottom of the
container (the moisture from the fish) now take it out of the
refrigerator, and remove 1 fillet at a time and cut in half (so
it fits the Bradley smoker) rinse the mixture off the fish
completely. Fish will seem hard, firm and considerably
smaller than when you started. Discard the syrupy liquid
from the dry brine process (do not reuse).
This next step will change the texture again.
Step 2 - Wet Brine Ingredients:
3.5 gal. Water
6 cups Kosher or Coarse (non-iodine) Salt
6 cups Brown Sugar
1-2 cups Real Maple syrup
1/4 cup Whole black peppercorns
2 Cloves garlic
Chopped fresh dill, to taste
While Dry Brining the fish in the in the refrigerator, begin to
prepare your wet brine.
Directions - Prepare Wet Brine Solution:
1. In a 5 gallon food bucket (or non-metal container large
enough to hold your fish and brine), mix all ingredients well,
making sure that all the salt and sugar is completely
dissolved.
IMPORTANT: check salinity (salt concentration)
- a fresh raw egg (in the shell) will float in the
mixture. If it doesn't add another 1/2 cup salt and
mix well, then recheck to see if the egg will float. If
it still doesn't float add another 1/2 cup salt repeat
as needed until the egg floats. Let the brine set for
at least 5 hours before using it.
2.Place filets that have been dry brined, rinsed, and halved,
into the wet brine. Cover with a plate so all fish are
completely submerged. Brine for 7-9 hours.
REFRIGERATION at this point is optional as
the dry brine has pretty much "cooked the fish"
already. I do recommend at some point near the
middle of the wet process, you move the fillets
around in the bucket in case some fillets are a little
close. When they are done, they need to be
freshened (this removes excess salt).
Freshening Your Fillet:
1. Remove the fillets from the brine and rinse in fresh water.
Discard brine and rinse out your bucket (or container that
you wet brined the fish in), making sure all spices,
peppercorns etc are removed.
2. Now put the fillets back in the bucket and fill with clean
water. Let the water run into the bucket (do not use too
much pressure or you will damage the fish) for 1/2 hour
stirring the fish gently with your hand every 7-10 minutes.
TASTE a small piece of the fish. If still too salty
rinse for another 10 minutes but no more or the fish
will begin to waterlog (swell). I do mine for 30
minutes and consistently have excellent results.
Drying Before Smoking:
1. Remove fish from wet brine. Pat dry with paper towel.
2. Using your Bradley racks (Teflon coated ones work
best), turn the racks upside down and lay the fish on the
racks skin side down.
IT IS IMPORTANT to use the racks upside
down, this way the fish will be suspended and be
able to air dry top and bottom.
3. Allow fish to dry for approx 1 hour.
WENT THE FISH BECOMES A LITTLE
STICKY on the meat side they are done and ready
for smoke.
4. COLD SMOKE ONLY! You may smoke from 1-3
hours depending on your preferences and tastes with alder
smoke.
MAKE SURE THE HEATING ELEMENT
(auxiliary burner) IS OFF in the Bradley Unit, or
better yet unplugged it from the smoke generator. I
use a Polder barbeque thermometer with the
remote pager and have the probe hanging through
the top vent and the pager to notify me if the temp
gets to 75.
WATCH THE TEMPERATURE CAREFULLY IF IT GOES
ABOVE 80 DEGREE F YOUR FISH IS RUINED.
5. Fill the drip bowl with ice and add a good block of ice
between the bottom shelf and the lower plate; (even if you
cover 2/3 of the holes in the plate, it has no effect on the
smoke reaching the fish). As the ice melts it drips into the
bowl (not on the smoke burner) good design by Bradley.
Place a large aluminum pan under the drip bowl to catch
any water will overflow from the water bowl. Doing it this
way maintains 60-75 degrees when it’s -10 outside. When
my pager goes off telling me it’s too warm, I know the ice
has melted and I need to add more. You could use the
bottom shelf and place an ice filled aluminum pan on the
rack, but that way you lose the ability to use the bottom
shelf. That's up to you. Just watch the temperature (do I
need to say it again)
With this recipe you can make the highest quality LOX you will ever eat.
The finished color in almost RED (with COHO) due to the carmel in the
brown sugar coloring the fish during the dry brine process. The final texture
is like velvet and slices really well. I slice mine at approx 1/8" thick or a little
more. Incidentally I recommend the SALMON and HAM knife available at
IKEA for $25.00 but keep it sharp and clean.
I promise you won't be disappointed. However labor intensive it is you
will thank me. This is a 2 step brining process before cold smoking. I just
smoked 60 lbs of fresh Alaska COHO fillet On Valentines day. This is my
method. If you have any questions let me know.
Enjoy!
Mitch Unger
For smaller batches Mary Veithurst provided this useful recipe for the
wet brine.
Makes enough for at least two small fillets.
Wet Brine Ingredients:
9-1/3 cup Water
1 cup Kosher or Coarse (non-iodine) Salt
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Real Maple syrup
1 Tbsp. Whole black peppercorns
1/2 Clove garlic
Chopped fresh dill, to taste (substitute dry dill weed, if fresh
dill is not available)
Mary Veithurst comments:
I followed spyguy’s instructions. When freshening your filets,
because only 2 small fillets were used only freshened them for 15 –
20 minutes. You can do this in a big pot in the kitchen sink without
running water. Just let them soak. If you have a lot more fish then
use the running water method. After freshening, the filets will looked
a lot lighter in color, but this will change as they dried. Air dry for
6-12 hours, during this time you can sprinkle on some dill if you
like.
“The final result was beautiful to look at with a deep red
color. The texture was firm (not mushy) and sliced well with
a sharp knife. The flavor was wonderful and tasted great
with cream cheese, a few capers and some thin slices of
red onion. Next time I’m going to increase the garlic,
pepper and dill in the wet brine to see what kind of affect it
has on the finished product. I also froze one of these fillets
to see how it affects the texture/flavor. I’ve been told that
lox freezes well. Thank you, Mitch, for your detailed
directions and delicious recipe."