Hot Smoked Salmon Picnic Loaf Food

HOT SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• The night before serving, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons salt, the peppercorns, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on a large flat ceramic or glass dish. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the salmon. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• At least 1 1/2 hours before you plan to cook the salmon, soak the wood chips in water.
• Thirty minutes before you¿re ready to cook, heat the charcoal. Place a double layer of coals on one side of the grill, light them, and allow them to burn until the coals are gray on the outside. (I use a charcoal chimney to light the coals.) Sprinkle half the soaked wood chips on the hot coals (you will see lots of smoke). On the other side of the grill, place the foil pan and pour in 1 cup water. Place the cooking grate over the coals and the pan.
• Scrape most of the sugar mixture off the salmon and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Place the salmon skin-side down on the side of the grill directly over the foil pan. Put the lid on the grill, making sure the top and bottom vents are open. Smoke the salmon for 10 minutes. Add the remaining wood chips directly on the coals and cook for 5 to 10 more minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon, until it's firm to the touch and barely cooked. Don't overcook the salmon or it will be dry!
• Transfer the salmon to a clean platter and immediately cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the skin, if desired, and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold with the Fresh Dill Sauce.
• Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Puree for a few seconds, until well mixed. Add the cucumber and puree for another few seconds, until combined. Pour into a container and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop.

QUICK HOT SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• This can be easily be done outside on a charcoal grill if it has a cover that can be pulled down. Just add the wood chips to the hot coals and place the seasoned fish on the grill which has been oiled. Place the fish not directly over the fire but rather cook over indirect heat to hot smoke efficiently. Pull the cover down and cooksmoke to desired doneness.
• For indoor cooking preheat the oven to 325 degrees and open windows wide.
• Place the soaked chips in the bottom of a heavy duty roasting pan.
• Season the fish with the salt, pepper and sugar. Put the fish, skin side down, on a roasting rack and place the rack into the pan with the chips on the bottom. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Place the pan over the direct heat of the stove top and heat until the chips begin to emit a woodsy odor. Put the covered pan into the oven and hot smoke until done about 20 minutes.
• Serve with roasted new potatoes and creme fraiche and chives.

SALMON PICNIC PLATTER

Steps:

• Hard boil the eggs by cooking them in boiling water for 8 mins, then cool quickly under cold running water and peel. Halve the eggs and pop the yolks into a bowl. Mash the yolks with the mayonnaise, cayenne pepper and some seasoning. Spoon or pipe the mixture back into the egg halves and chill until you need them.
• Flake the cooked salmon into large chunks and put it on a platter with the hot-smoked salmon and the eggs.
• Spread the bottom half of the rolls with cream cheese, then add the smoked salmon and a squeeze of lemon juice and top with the other half of the roll. Cut each one in half.
• Peel and slice the cucumber. Mix the yogurt with the dill, lemon zest and some seasoning, then stir in the cucumber. Pile the mixture into the centre of the platter. Serve with extra bread, rolls or wraps and lemon wedges.

SMOKY AND SPICY ROASTED SALMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel and place them in an ovenproof baking dish large enough to hold them without crowding.
• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, salt, mustard powder, paprika, chili powder, pepper and garlic powder; mix well with a fork.
• Sprinkle the spice rub over the fillets, then turn them, pressing gently, to coat all sides with the rub. Brush the fillets all over with the olive oil.
• Roast the salmon for 12 to 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until it flakes easily and is just cooked in the center. Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes, then sprinkle lightly with salt and serve.