Steelhead, Smoked

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Chief Longwind Of The North

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Take one 18 inch steelhead, caught, cleaned, and filleted this morning, and place it into the fridge. 2 hours before dinner, liberally salt the fillets on both sides with kosher salt, and let sit for 30 minutes. Prepare the rest of the menu.

Time to cook. Fire up the Webber with a divided bed of coals. Select alder sticks of just the right size. Get the sides cooking (chicken for DW and friend), and veggies. 20 minutes to go. Rinse off the fillets. Place wood on the fire. Lay on the chicken pieces and let cook for 7 minutes with the grill covered. Turn the chicken and move to the sides, but not directly above the charcoal. Place the fish skin-side down in the middle of the grill, enough for self, and husband of afore mentioned friend. Cover and cook for ten minutes. Take pictures for my new cookbook (still under way).

Remove the fish and chicken to a platter, and organize artistically. Place bright green, steamed veggies around the platter sides. put it on the table. Bless the food and eat.

That's what will be going on at my house tonight.:mrgreen:

Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
 
Pictures PLEASE! :)

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Haha, it's not cooked yet. I'll get pictures when it's cooked and placed on the platter. Right now, I've just finished boiling the bones, and stripping them of meat. I'm boiling up the carrots, potatoes, and onions. When they're tender, into the blender they'll go, with the fish stock, and meat to make a nice steelhead busque that I'll be using for an appetizer.

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
 
Oh wow ... nothing like a fresh catch for dinner !

When I lived in Oregon we used to be so spoiled .. fresh steelies, salmon, trout for dinner. You have no idea how spoiled you are until you move away from that stuff.

Definitely need to see the pics !!!
 
OUTSTANDING! I love smoked fish but I'm the only one in the house that eats fish so I don't get it very often.

.40
 
oh man, i love, LOVE smoked fish. steelhead, salmon, whitefish, trout, mullet, mackerel, weakfish, crappies, what have you.

put another feather in your war bonnet, chief. you deserve it.

yeah, i know, no war for you.

but you might be tempted if after you invited me over and i ate all of your fish. :yum:
 
:yum: One of the things I loved about living in Wash. State was when the salmon were running, little stores used to have a platter of pieces of smoked salmon on the counter. The kids would stop and pick up a piece for their breakfast. Great way to start the day. :angel:
 
Thanks everyone. I feel blessed to be able to enjoy the bounty that this land, and its water has to offer, and the great times sharing the experiences with my family and friends, including everyone on DC.

Oh, and hey little brother, you can come to my house anytime and share my fish. And I promise you, I'll have some hidden, in reserve, just in case.:LOL:

Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
 
Those fillets look like they turned out perfect.

I often find commercially smoked fish too salty. My fish aren't truly smoked. They are grilled with smoke. I lay the fillet's out, and liberally salt the flesh side with Kosher Salt. I let that sit for thirty minutes. I use alder wood to provide the smoke. I don't soak it, but rather place it on the divided bed of charcoal just before placing the fish between the beds. It provides instant and intense smoke. The fish is rinsed of the salt, and put into this great fish rack that my son got me one year for Christmas. Teh rack is placed between the charcoal beds, the grill is covered, with all vents in the half open position. The bbq runs for 30 minutes, without touching the fish, as there is no need to turn them. The skin protects the bottom from overcooking and keeps the fish juicy and tender, yet cooked through. The fish picks up the smoky flavor as if its been smoking for hours. I cooked chicken breasts and a thigh directly over the charcoal beds, turning them after about eight minutes. The wood protects the chicken from the direct heat. At that time, I took the fish off, and cooked the chicken for about eight minutes more.

Both proteins came out so juicy, tender, and well flavored. I will be cooking this meal again, soon as I catch some more fish. I highly recommenced you try this technique, or if you have a gas grill, adjust accordingly by using a smoke box and lighting only two burners.

Hope you get the chance to try this. It will work with any large fillet. But if you get the chance to do it with Rainbows, or steelhead, well, let's just say that trout has always been my favorite fish.

Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
 
i've never seen alder wood chips or chunks for sale here in the east. is it a tree indiginous to the northern midwest.

i've often seen alder smoked foods, but have never seen the wood itself.

hickory, apple, cherry, oak, and oddly enough mesquite are what are regularly available here.
 
i've never seen alder wood chips or chunks for sale here in the east. is it a tree indiginous to the northern midwest.

i've often seen alder smoked foods, but have never seen the wood itself.

hickory, apple, cherry, oak, and oddly enough mesquite are what are regularly available here.

DH, who's somewhat of a tree guy, says we don't have alders here in Mid-America. When I looked it up, I see they're primarily out West. I have alder chips for my little stovetop smoker, nice flavor.
 
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