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Finding the Forgotten Feast

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How to Smoke Shad

Finished smoked shad recipe on a cooling rack
Photo by Holly A. Heyser

Smoked shad is, in the absence of a properly deboned shad fillet, the best way to eat this most bony of fishes. Shad is little more than a giant herring, and is nearly as oily as a mackerel or a bluefish — and oily fish make the best smoked fish.

The method I describe below is for a hybrid between hot and cold-smoking. It results in luscious, smoky shad, with a hint of the flavorings. It will keep, wrapped in plastic, for two weeks in the fridge. Smoked shad also freezes well.

How to eat this? Remember, there are still lots of bones in the “fillets.” My method is to flake out the meat into a bowl, then use the flaked, smoked shad for croquettes, in pasta or as a sort of dip when mixed with a garlicky aioli.

You will need a way to smoke the fish. I use a Traeger smoker, but I’ve used offset smokers and even Webers before with good success. You want the temperature of the chamber to get no hotter than 180°F, but you want to hold it around 150°F for 2 to 3 hours.

When in doubt, smoke longer and cooler. Alder is my preferred wood, but oak and maple are also good choices.

Closeup of fillets of smoked shad on a rack.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Smoked Shad

The reason you have a double brine is that the first one clears out the slime and blood from the fish, and the second one seasons and flavors it. Don't alter the first brine, but you can alter the second as you see fit.
Prep Time4 hrs
Cook Time3 hrs
Total Time7 hrs
Course: Cured Meat
Cuisine: American
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 134kcal
Author: Hank Shaw

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds shad fillets (or similar oily fish)

FIRST BRINE

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 2 quarts water

SECOND BRINE

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 3 smashed garlic cloves
  • Juice of a lemon
  • 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
  • 5 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Mix the first brine together and soak the shad fillets in it for 30 minutes, then drain.
  • Meanwhile, bring the second brine to a simmer, stir well to combine and turn off the heat. Set this in a drafty or cool place to chill it down fast. When the second brine is cool, pour it over the shad and brine for 2 hours.
  • Drain and rinse off the fillets, then pat dry with a towel. Air dry in a drafty place -- use a fan if need be -- for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat looks a bit shiny. This is an important step; you are creating a sort of a second skin called a pellicle that is necessary to seal the fillets. If you skip this step, you will have problems with the proteins leaking out from between the flakes of the meat, forming a white icky stuff that will need to be scraped off.
  • Smoke over alder or hardwoods for 1 to 3 hours, depending on the heat. You want the shad to slowly collect smoke, and cook very slowly. Under no circumstances do you want the heat to get above 200°F. Remove and let cool at room temperature before packing away in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

Wood choice is also up to you. For fish, I prefer fruit woods such as apple, or alder, maple or oak.

Options

  • You can alter your second brine however you like. One fun thing is to increase the amount of sugar/syrup, which will give you a sweet/salty result. 
  • If you want, you can dry your fillets overnight in the fridge, uncovered. 
  • My preferred temperature for this smoke is about 175°F.

Nutrition

Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 5728mg | Potassium: 313mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments

  1. Avatar for MatthewMatthew says

    June 5, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    I’m constrained by time, can each step be done separately and have it done in a 48 hour period without the taste being negatively affected? What should be done together? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Hank ShawHank Shaw says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:50 am

      Matthew: You can brine whenever, then rinse and dry for up to a day in the fridge. So yes, you can get your brining and drying step done well before you smoke.

      Reply
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Hank Shaw holding a rod and reel in the American River

Hi, my name is Hank Shaw. I am a James Beard Award-winning author and chef and I focus my energies on wild foods: Foraging, fishing, hunting. I write cookbooks as well as this website, have a website dedicated to the intersection of food and nature, and do a podcast, too. If it’s wild game, fish, or edible wild plants and mushrooms, you’ll find it here. Hope you enjoy the site!

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