Dry Cured Smoked Salmon Recipes

HOW TO MAKE DRY BRINE SMOKED SALMON; EASY RECIPE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl combine kosher salt, sugars and fresh cracked pepper and set aside.
• Prepare a large piece of heavy duty foil that will completely cover the salmon when wrapped. I like to use double thickness foil.
• Prepare a large piece of plastic wrap that will also cover the salmon when wrapped. Place the plastic wrap on top of the foil.
• Put about 3/4 cup of dry brine on top of plastic wrap and spread out to the length of the salmon.
• Place salmon (skin side down) on top of dry brine.
• Pour about 1/2 cup dry brine on top of salmon and spread evenly.
• Place the other salmon filet on top of the dry brine (skin side up). Then put the rest of the dry brine on top and distribute evenly.
• Fold over plastic wrap and close ends tightly.
• Then fold over foil tightly and place salmon in the refrigerator for 6 hours. To be safe place the salmon on a plate lined with paper towels to catch any fluid that may escape from the wrapped fish while in the refrigerator.
• Remove salmon from the refrigerator and carefully unwrap. Rinse well under cold water to remove excess salt. It's best to run under the water for a good 2-3 minutes making sure all salt is removed.

HOW TO MAKE GRAVLAX

Steps:

• Rinse fish fillet under running water, pat dry with paper towel.
• Sprinkle with coarse salt both sides of the fillet, pressing the salt into the fish.
• Mix liquid smoke & water. Pour on top of the fish.
• Allow the fish to cure in the fridge, overnight (24 hours). Depending on the thickness of your fish it might take more or less time.
• Rinse excess salt. Pat dry with paper towel. Slice thinly & serve.
• Store in closed container, refrigerated, for up to a week.

SMOKED SALMON BRINE

Steps:

• 1. Mix all ingredients together well. I use a fork to make sure everything is stirred together well.
• 2. Can use it right away or store in an airtight container.
• 3. HOW TO DRY BRINE AND SMOKE YOUR SALMON.
• 4. Cut salmon into fillet-size pieces (about the size of your hand or palm. Leave the skin on and rinse well under cold water.
• 5. Drain and pat as dry as possible with paper towels. Place salmon, skin-side-down in a plastic tray (I use a meat lug). You'll want something with high sides to hold all the moisture that will be drawn out of the fish.
• 6. Completely cover the salmon with the dry brine mixture. Be sure to pat mix around the sides as well. You want to cover up as much of the meat as possible. Cover the tray/fish with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge or a very cold place for 24 hours.
• 7. Remove plastic wrap and thoroughly rinse fish under cold water. Remove as much of the brine as possible from the fish. Dry the fillets with paper towels (you want it as dry as possible). Let sit on a tray for 2-3 hours or until a sticky pellicle can be seen/felt on the skin of the fish.
• 8. Bring the smoker up to 200 degrees. Use ONLY alder wood chips when smoking fish. Get the smoker smoking and, working quickly, put the trays of fish in the smoker. Smoke for 2 hours and allow the temperature to come down to 70 or below.

SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together salt, sugar, brown sugar and peppercorns. Spread extra-wide aluminum foil a little longer than the length of the fish and top with an equally long layer of plastic wrap. Sprinkle 1/3 of the rub onto the plastic. Lay 1 side of the fish skin down onto the rub. Sprinkle 1/3 of the rub onto the flesh of the salmon. Place second side of salmon, flesh down onto the first side. Use the remaining rub to cover the skin on the top piece. Fold plastic over to cover then close edges of foil together and crimp tightly around the fish. Place wrapped fish onto a plank or sheet pan and top with another plank or pan. Weigh with a heavy phone book or a brick or two and refrigerate for 12 hours. Flip the fish over and refrigerate another 12 hours. Some juice will leak out during the process so make sure there's a place for the runoff to gather. Unwrap fish and rinse off the cure with cold water. Pat salmon with paper towels then place in a cool, dry place (not the refrigerator) until the surface of the fish is dry and matte-like, 1 to 3 hours depending on humidity. A fan may be used to speed the process. Smoke fish (see Note) over smoldering hardwood chips or sawdust, keeping the temperature inside the smoker between 150 degrees F and 160 degrees F until the thickest part of the fish registers 150 degrees. Serve immediately or cool to room temperature, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Cook's Note: Trout, mackerel, and bluefish also smoke well.

QUICK CURED SALMON

Steps:

• Whisk water, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl until sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
• Cut salmon along one side of the center connective tissue to the skin but not through. Turn the knife parallel to the cutting board and cut salmon meat from skin. Repeat for remaining side and discard skin and connective tissue. Cut each fillet into 1/4-inch slices.
• Working in batches of 5, place slices in brine for 3 minutes. Remove cured slices using a slotted spoon to a wire rack and blot gently with paper towels. Arrange salmon in a single layer on a platter, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, 2 hours to overnight.

DRY-BRINED SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup brown sugar and kosher salt together in a small bowl.
• Spread a thin layer of the brown sugar mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch baking pan. Arrange 2 to 3 salmon fillets on top; cover with some of the brown sugar mixture. Repeat layers until all the salmon fillets are coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat a smoker to 195 degrees F (91 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Rinse brown sugar mixture off salmon fillets. Brush fillets lightly with honey and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar on top.
• Pour cola-flavored beverage into the smoker's water pan; add water to within 1 inch of the top. Place half of the wood chips around the perimeter of the hot charcoal. Place salmon on the cooking racks.
• Cook salmon, adding more wood chips if needed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 2 hours. Cool before serving, at least 15 minutes.