Smoked Brined Salmon Recipes

BRINE FOR SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Pour the water into a large bowl or small bucket. If you must use a pot, use one that does not contain aluminum. Stir in the kosher salt, white sugar, brown sugar, lemon pepper, parsley and seasoning mix. Add the garlic, hot pepper sauce, lemons, oranges, lime and onion.
• Soak your salmon in this brine in the refrigerator for 12 to 36 hours. Smoke using your desired method (see Cook's Note).

SMOKED SALMON BRINE + HOW-TO VIDEO

Steps:

• To a large bowl, add sugar, kosher salt, soy sauce, water, wine, onion and garlic powders, pepper and tabasco sauce. Use a whisk to incorporate and thoroughly dissolve the sugar and salt.
• Pour a little of the brine in the bottom of a 13x9-inch pan. Transfer salmon to the pan and pour remaining brine over the salmon to cover. Refrigerate for 8 hours.

SMOKED BRINED SALMON

Steps:

• In large heavy-duty resealable plastic food-storage bag, mix sugar, salt, orange peel, onion, peppercorns and 4 cups water. Seal bag and squeeze to mix until sugar and salt have dissolved. Place salmon in bag of brine; seal bag. Refrigerate at least 3 hours but no longer than 4 hours.
• Cover wood chunks with water; soak at least 30 minutes.
• Drain wood chunks. Prepare and heat smoker using wood chunks and adding water to water pan following manufacturer's directions.
• Meanwhile, remove salmon from brine; discard brine. Blot salmon dry with paper towels. Brush both sides of salmon with oil. Place salmon, skin side down. Sprinkle with paprika and pepper.
• Place salmon, skin side down, on top grill rack in smoker. Cover and smoke about 1 hour or until salmon flakes easily with a fork. If smoking stops, add additional wood chunks through side door of smoker.
• Place salmon, skin side up, on foil. Peel skin from fish and discard. Use foil to turn fish onto serving platter.

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.

BRINE FOR SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Place sugar in water and stir until incorporated. Add other ingredients and stir until mixed well. Place a 1 lb piece of fresh salmon into a baking dish (that just fits the fish) and pour the brine over top. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Disregard brine and smoke the fish as per the recommendations of your smoker.

DRY BRINED SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Cut salmon into 1/2-inch strips.
• Prepare dry brine: Combine sugar, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sea salt, garlic, orange zest, ginger, black pepper, cayenne, and chile flakes in a bowl. Put 1/2 inch of brine on the bottom of a large dish. Layer salmon strips on top and cover with remaining brine. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours.
• Take salmon out of the brine and place on wire racks; discard brine. Dry in front of a fan for at least 24 hours; the longer you dry the better texture the salmon will be.
• When ready to smoke the salmon, preheat a smoker to 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• At the same time, combine brown sugar, honey, red wine, rum, cayenne, and black pepper for glaze in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until thick, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Brush salmon with glaze and put in the preheated smoker. Smoke, brushing with glaze every hour, until salmon is dry to the touch, 4 to 5 hours.