SMOKING FISH BRINE RECIPES

Steps:

• Mix the water and ingredients together in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil to help dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from heat and let cool in the fridge for 3-4 hours.
• Rinse the salmon fillet in cold water. If the salmon still has skin, remove it at this time.
• Cut the salmon into 3” wide by 4-5” length strips. I find this is an ideal portion size and the smoke penetrates the salmon evenly.
• Once the brine is cooled place the salmon into the large pot of brine. Cover and refrigerate for 8-12 hours.
• After the brining process, remove the salmon and lightly dry it. Place the salmon on some racks and let sit on the counter for 4 hours. This lets the salmon dry evenly and creates a shiny skin called pellicle. This is a crucial step because the smoke will adhere to the salmon properly.
• Preheat your smoker: I start my smoker at 100F. I typically use maple wood for smoking Salmon.
• Once the smoker is ready I lightly oil the grills so the salmon will not stick. Place the salmon in the smoker for two hours. After the two hours move the smoker temperature to 140F and smoke another two hours. Then turn the smoker to 175F and smoke for two more hours. This is a total of six hours.
• If your smoker can not operate at such a low temp, smoke the salmon for 4-5 hours at 165F, or 3-4 hours at 225F.
• Remove the salmon and place on racks to cool on your counter. Rest for one hour. After the resting, you are ready to enjoy. Refrigerate the remaining portions.

Steps:

• Classic Brine
• Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the salt. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool. You can add a little ice to speed up the process.
• Once completely cool, (DO NOT add while warm) pour the brine over the meat in a large, non-reactive bowl. Cover and transfer to the refrigerator for 8 to 48 hours depending on weight of meat.
• Before cooking, rinse the meat with cool water.
• Garlic and Herb Salt
• Mince the herbs and garlic as finely as you can. Add to a bowl with the kosher salt, cracked pepper, and lemon zest. Mix well and spread the salt across a sheet tray in a thin layer. Allow to dry out overnight and store in an airtight container. For faster drying time you can place inside a dehydrator on the lowest setting.
• This recipe makes roughly half a cup. When ready to use, season gamebirds over and under the skin with only as much salt as needed to lightly cover. You don’t want to make it so salty that it needs rinsing. Let the seasoned meat rest in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours uncovered. Pat the skin very dry before cooking.