Tatanka
Knows what a fatty is.
Picked up a steelhead (rainbow trout to you Westerners) at Costco yesterday for my first fish smoke. I was going to start with salmon but their prices were stupid high for wild caught salmon, and about every other kind of meat, too (July 4 prices.)
Photo 1: Curing rub was simply 1 cup kosher salt, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 tbsp. of dill, and two crushed bay leaves mixed well and applied heavily, with fillets laid flesh down in the rest of the mix for curing. Photo1.
After 4 hours of curing (it will be 3 in the future; a little too salty), rinsed the fillets, dried, and returned to frig overnight. Made a 1/3 chimney fire in the WSM, added a piece of Applewood and a piece of Cherry; kept the unit at about 175-190F for about 3 hours, removing the two smaller pieces when the big/thick piece reached 145F IT and then pulling it at a 155F IT. Photo2: Let it rest til room temp and was pleased with the result: Firm, naturally a bit oily, and with a near perfect flavor.
Photo 3: A healthy native Minnesota meal for Independence Day!
[I have no idea why this farkin' system turns my photos sideways! They were taken and stored right side up!]
Photo 1: Curing rub was simply 1 cup kosher salt, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 tbsp. of dill, and two crushed bay leaves mixed well and applied heavily, with fillets laid flesh down in the rest of the mix for curing. Photo1.
After 4 hours of curing (it will be 3 in the future; a little too salty), rinsed the fillets, dried, and returned to frig overnight. Made a 1/3 chimney fire in the WSM, added a piece of Applewood and a piece of Cherry; kept the unit at about 175-190F for about 3 hours, removing the two smaller pieces when the big/thick piece reached 145F IT and then pulling it at a 155F IT. Photo2: Let it rest til room temp and was pleased with the result: Firm, naturally a bit oily, and with a near perfect flavor.
Photo 3: A healthy native Minnesota meal for Independence Day!
[I have no idea why this farkin' system turns my photos sideways! They were taken and stored right side up!]