Ah, the unloved bluefish. I grew up catching and eating these oily, oceanic piranhas, and I love them still. Smoked bluefish is one of my favorite smoked fish, largely because I can then make this pate from it.
smoked foods
Venison Landjaeger
Landjaeger. Such a cool name, eh? It’s a German dry-cured sausage that is made small enough to fit into your coat pocket on a cold day hiking, fishing — or hunting. Thus the name. Traditionally made with beef and pork, my landjaeger is made with venison and pork fat. You could use any red meat
Smoked Lake Trout
Smoking a lake trout (a/k/a mackinaw) is a lot like smoking a salmon, but I recently had the chance to smoke a couple fish in Manitoba, Canada with some Cree Indians and learned a lot about the process.
Smoked Sablefish
It’s time to catch black cod, a/k/a sablefish or butterfish out here in the North Pacific. If you’ve ever eaten this fish, it’s like eating silk — mild, velvety and just a little oily. This means it’s perfect for smoking.
Smoked Turkey Breast
Wild turkey meat can get dry if you don’t do things just right. But a long brine and a cool smoke does wonders for the breast meat. Trussing improves things even more, and the result is a primo sandwich meat for your lunches!
Honey-Glazed Smoked Ham
It’s tough to cure a whole ham on a wild pig: You’d need to scald and scrape it in the field, and that ain’t happening. But you can make a traditional Easter ham with a skinless piece! Here’s my version, smoked and glazed with honey.
Squirrel Stew with Paprika and Greens
I first made this stew for my friends Joe and Dorrie in Ohio, last season. I called it Portuguese squirrel stew at the time, but I really have no idea whether this qualifies as Portuguese. All I know is that it’s damn good.
Smoked Sturgeon
It’s sturgeon time here in the West, and whether you catch your own or buy farm-raised fish, smoked sturgeon is one of the great smoked fish of the world. Here’s how I make it.