Stines Smoked Shellfish Brine Recipes

SMOKED FISH ( BRINE RECIPE AND SMOKING DIRECTIONS)

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients very well until sugar is disolved.
• Split the fish into halves and soak them for about 12 hours (more or less) in the refrigerator.
• Prepare your fire using charcoal and a mix of old birch (with bark removed) or apple wood or you can use just charcoal.
• Place fish in smoker and allow to smoke for about 6-8 hours for smoking, depending on the outside temperature and how hot your smoker gets of course.

BRINED AND SMOKED SMELT

Steps:

• Rinse the smelt in cool running water. Set aside.
• Place all of the remaining ingredients, except the ice, into the electric kettle. Bring to a boil. Add the ice and stir until the mixture is cooled. Transfer the liquid to a 1-gallon ziptop bag along with the smelt. Seal and place in a container so that all of the fish are in the brine. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove the smelt from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Place them onto a paper towel lined sheet pan, layering with paper towels in between if they won't fit in one layer. Allow to dry in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, place the smelt onto racks, belly side down, separating them by at least 1/4-inch and place into a smoker. Turn the smoker on so that it maintains a temperature of 150 to 160 degrees F. Adjust heat as needed and cook for approximately 3 hours or until desired level of doneness.

FISH BRINE

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Submerge the fish in the brine, weighting it down with a plate if need be, and brine according to these guidelines: • Trout, shrimp, sardines, and other delicate seafood: 15 minutes • Bass, barramundi, sablefish, and other flaky fillets: 20 minutes • Halibut, mahimahi, bluefish, and other flaky, meaty fillets: 30 minutes • Salmon, mackerel, Arctic char, and other meaty, full-flavored fish: 35 minutes • Amberjack, cobia, swordfish, and other dense, steak-like fish: 40 minutes

PHILLIP SCHULZ'S BRINE CURE FOR SMOKED BLUEFISH

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a ceramic, glass or stainless-steel bowl. Mr. Schulz marinates large bluefish fillets, more than 1 pound each, 2 days in this brine. Smaller fillets can be marinated 1 day or overnight.