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is One Chatty Farker
I never saw alligator coming.
It looks sooooo good, but "Lesser Known"??? I know I said your super beefy beef ribs would be in, but Tri-Tip is pushing it.
I never saw alligator coming.
This one is a slight variation of some other cooks, but I've never actually seen a post on it specifically. It is salmon candy made from the salmon belly. For those who have cured and smoked salmon, you realize that the belly portion is very different from the rest. It is thin and fatty and when it is smoked with sugar, you have something similar to candy. The nearest I can liken it to is pig candy, but I actually prefer salmon candy. I begin with a salmon (I've already trimmed off the tail). The best portion is nearest the head, but I will trim off the entire bottom section.
I make a cure of 4:1, brown sugar:Kosher salt. It normally takes about 2 cups total.
I place the salmon pieces in a bag coated both sides in dry cure, put some weights on it (bags of brown sugar, usually) and place it back in the fridge overnight. Next morning, I rinse the pieces, pat them dry and let them rest a couple hours while I prepare the smoker.
I make a small fire with a big chunk of cherry wood for smoke. I aim for 175*, but anywhere between 150* and 200* is pretty good. I then coat both sides of the salmon with real maple syrup.
And a healthy coating of fresh ground pepper.
To make candy, I add another coating of maple syrup after the pepper, then I smoke for between 2-4 hours (until done). This is normally about 145* IT, but I know it when I see it.
And what does that belly look like?
You can eat it with crackers, but I normally just eat the candy plain.