Salmon Brine Thats Oh So Fine Food

SALMON BRINE THAT'S OH-SO-FINE

Steps:

• Place peppercorns in a plastic bag and seal. Crush peppercorns on a work surface using a rolling pin.
• Combine water, crushed peppercorns, salt, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, white sugar, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and onion powder in a large bowl; stir until sugars and salt dissolve completely.

SMOKED SALMON BRINE

Steps:

• In a suitable container, combine all ingredients, except salmon and wood chips. Mix well, add salmon, cover and refrigerate 8 or more hours. Drain and transfer to smoker, putting thicker pieces on the bottom shelves. Smoke 10 to 12 hours, refilling wood chips in smoker pan 2 to 3 times.

SUGAR-AND-SPICE BRINED SALMON

Steps:

• 1. At least 2 hours and up to 8 hours before you plan to smoke the fish, combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Place the salmon in a plastic bag or shallow dish, pour the marinade over it, and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour. Leave it longer to intensify the seasoning.
• 2. Prepare the smoker for barbecuing, bringing the temperature to 180°F to 200°F.
• 3. Remove the salmon from the refrigerator, and drain it, reserving the marinade if you plan to baste the fish. Leave any clinging spices on the surface of the salmon. Let the fish sit uncovered at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.
• 4. If you are using the marinade as a mop, stir the brine together with 1 cup water in a small saucepan and boil vigorously for a few minutes.
• 5. Transfer the salmon to the smoker, skin side down. Cook for 45 to 55 minutes, mopping it after 10 and 30 minutes in a wood-burning pit, or as appropriate for your style of smoker. Have a large spatula and a platter ready for taking the salmon off the smoker, since it will be fragile when done. We prefer to serve the salmon with some of the whole spices clinging to it. The fish can be eaten immediately or refrigerated and later served chilled. If you are using the fresh dill, arrange it on a serving platter. Top the dill with the salmon, and serve.

SAVORY SALMON BRINE FOR SMOKING

Steps:

• Prepare fish, tie strips together, etc.
• Combine all ingredients and let stand one hour.
• Marinate fish in brine for 12-24 hours, stirring or agitating every 2 hours or so. Usually go for 24 hours.
• Remove fish from brine and rinse brine off thoroughly in cold, running water.
• Let fish air dry for at least 1 hour, until the flesh gets a "tacky" surface on it.
• Place fish in smoker (do not use a barbecue). Distribute fish over racks evenly to make sure there is plenty of space between pieces.
• Fill chip pan with a 50/50 mix of alder and apple chips. A pan of chips usually takes 1 hour to burn out. Replace chips as they burn out for the first 5 hours, then every 4-6 hours for the rest of the smoking time.
• A salmon fillet will take between 8-24 hours to smoke depending on the size of the fillet and the desired amount of doneness. A 10-lb. salmon will yield 2 3.5-pound fillets that will take at least 12 hours to smoke for a soft texture. We smoke this salmon for a minimum of 24 hours to get a hard, smoked texture. (Depending on the weather, this could take 3-5 days.).