What you’ll find below is my collection of smoker recipes for various meats and fish, as well as a few general tips on smoking in general.
Smoked meats are some of my favorites, and while the basic process for smoking is all very similar — salt cure, dry, smoke, eat, repeat — there is a lot of nuance and variation in exactly how you get to that point. Many of these recipes are designed for wild game or wild fish or shellfish, but you can almost always substitute store-bought meat and fish.
The best food to smoke is food that has some fat in it. Period, end of story. Yes, you can smoke lean foods, like lean fish, but I don’t much like it — as a strictly smoked product. If, on the other hand, you are simply cooking, say, a leg of venison over a slow smoky fire just until it hits medium on the inside, then that works great.
Strictly smoked foods are under the smoke for a long time at often very low temperatures. Hot smoking is somewhere between 80°F and 225°F, but at that higher end you are really getting into barbecue country, which is similar, but different. Below 80°F, you are cold smoking.
Speaking of barbecue, this is also best done in a smoker, and for those smokers where you can control the temperature, you can even roast things, which is what you get once your temperature passed about 325°F.
My sweet spot for timing in most of these recipes is four hours. You can smoke most meats in that timeframe and get a nice level of smoke without destroying the meat. Fish takes less time, and something like wild hog BBQ takes a lot longer.
As for the smokers I prefer, I mostly use a Traeger Timberline, which is just about as badass a smoker/pellet grill as I’ve ever used. The only other smoker I recommend is a Bradley — for smoking seafood and fish. I’ve used all sorts of other smokers, though, even an old Weber kettle. You can rig something up no matter what you have on hand.
Keep in mind these are all smoker recipes for hot-smoked products, and hot smoked meats and fish do not keep as long as cold smoked things, such as salami or salmon.
Smoked Meats
Smoked Pheasant
A whole smoked pheasant is a beautiful thing. Don’t you agree? This one’s glazed with maple syrup.
Smoked Turkey Breast
This will make the best sandwich meat you’ve ever had. Perfect with homemade mustard and lettuce on a roll.
Honey-Glazed Smoked Ham
I do this with boneless wild boar hams, but you could use domesticated pork, too. This is a ham in the style of an Easter Ham.
Smoked Duck or Goose
Sliced, smoked duck or goose is heaven on a plate — or in a sandwich.
Smoked Goose Breast
A very special recipe for a German smoked goose breast, from Pomerania in Northern Germany. One of the best things I’ve ever made.
Goose Pastrami
Another awesome thing to do with goose breasts. This works best with Canada geese or domesticated geese.
Smoked Pork Chops
When life brings you nice, thick pork chops, smoke ’em! You get fat to render, meat to eat, and bones to cook with beans or greens!
Smoked Fish and Shellfish
How to Smoke Salmon
My method for smoking salmon is very simple, but I’ve perfected it over many years. It’s a wet-brine with a maple glaze, although I prefer Alaskan birch syrup when I can get it.
Smoked Lake Trout
Lake trout are similar to salmon, and you can use the recipe above for your lakers, but I like this recipe better. It reflects the cold, Northern lakes these fish swim in.
Smoked Salmon Candy
This method of smoking salmon uses a dry cure with lots of brown sugar. You also glaze the strips salmon with maple syrup to make this some of the best road food you’ll ever eat.
Smoked Mussels
By far the best way to eat mussels, in my opinion. These freeze well and are great on their own with a little olive or squash seed oil, or tossed in salads or pasta.
Smoked Oysters
Similar to my smoked mussels, only with pretty little oysters. Great mixed into pasta or soups.
Smoked Sablefish
A classic New York deli specialty, this is smoked black cod or sabelfish with a little glaze of honey and a light dusting of paprika.
How to Smoke Shad
Shad is an awfully bony fish, and smoking it is a great way to get through the bones.
Smoked Sturgeon
Sturgeon is firmer and meatier than most fish, so I use a dry cure here. The result is mind-blowingly good.
Have you ever used sassafras wood for smoking? We use this all the time for all our smoking!
Hank, Do you use the same smoker for both fish and meats?
Dan: Yes.
My husband and I are looking for information on smoking meat for long-term, un-refrigerated storage. We know people used to smoke meat to the point that it got a hard rind on it that allowed it to be hung in an attic or pantry to last all year, but we’re not sure how that was achieved and if there was a special brining process beforehand.
Have you ever experimented with that kind of smoking?
Keri: I have not, but I do know this only works in cool places, like Scandinavia.
how about pork belly? I did a wicked bourbon style wet rub on my wild boar and my god…so good, any personal experience with smoking pork belly that you would like to share??
Merry Christmas 2014!!! For tonights special Eve dinner I’m smoking a venison tenderloin using pecan wood. 30 minutes in the smokin’ preheated smoker then wrap it in bacon and grill, lid open until the bacon is crisp. Rest for 15 min. Always perfect. Love your finger doneness test! Works every time. Thanks.
Do you have an recipes for smoked deer, caribou or Moose ribs? I love all your other recipes and would like to get a good recipe for wild game ribs.
Thanks!
Jason
Anchorage, AK