Anonymous Tue May 23 19:39:06 2006

***FISH CURE***

1 cup pickling salt

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon crumbled bay leaf

2 garlic cloves -- pressed

ALL COLD-SMOKED FISH NEED TO BE CURED. COLD SMOKING DOESN\'T COOK FISH,

JUST FLAVORS IT. Now for the process: Prepare the fish as you would for hot-smoking,

using a cure or brine. In this case, however, you must add curing salts, unless the cure

already has a high salt content. Combine the ingredients, and rub well into fish. Place in a

NON-METAL container for several hours or overnight, depending on the size and amount of

fish. Rinse fish well in cold water, rubbing slightly to release excess salt. Pat dry, then

allow to air-dry for several hours until fish acquires a glaze. Smoke as follows. Preheat the

smokehouse while fish is drying. You can use any mild wood for this, cherry, alder, or

apple. Temperature in the smoke chamber should be 70F with a light smoke. After the fish

has been smoked for approx. 12 hours a heavier smoke can be applied. Smoking time can

take from 24 hours to 2 WEEKS, depending on the type and size of fish, and how dry you

want it. The longer the smoking time,

the longer the fish will keep. Fish can be placed in a smoke chamber and lightly smoked for

about 8 hours at 80 - 90F, then densely smoked another 4 hours as you gradually increase

the temperature to 130-150F. Hold the smoke chamber temperature for another 2 or 3

hours, or until the fish turns a shiny brown. Cold smoking the fish before hot smoking it will

give the hot smoked fish a stronger smoke flavor. To store cold-smoked fish, wrap each

piece in plastic wrap and foil, then refrigerate or freeze it. Posted to the BBQ List on July 10,

1998 by Mark Qualman