Smoked Steel Ala Len

[Driftless]

Smoked Steel Ala Len

Two medium sized steelhead cut in horse shoes

plastic 10 quart container

1/2 full with water

1.5 pounds non-iodized salt

2 pound brown sugar

3 cups real lemon

10 tablespoons dill weed

8 tablespoons red pepper flakes

4 tablespoons garlic powder

4 tablespoons onion powder

3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Stir and place trout in the mixture.

Place a plate or glass cutting board on the trout so the the trout are in the brine completely. Soak 14 hours. Next rinse and then reapply dill , garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes in the chest cavity and on both sides and put in the smoker. Then use the brine in the bowl in the bottom.

Smoke until fish flakes off of bones easily.

[NoWiser]

Len, out of curiosity, what is the reason for cutting them into horseshoes vs. filleting them? Just wondering as laker season is approaching and we usually smoke a couple each year. Wondering if I should try something new.

[Driftless]

lake fish are just so dang thick and it takes such a long time to smoke large chunks. Sometimes i find it under done when finished with chunks. I can also get more spices on them this way to taste them up some.

I usually debone the fish right away.

[pushbutton]

never have used a smoker so am asking this question. can you get away with using less salt, or is that much necessary for flavour, texture, ect....

[Driftless]

yes you can use less salt. Add little more lemon and maybe 2 more teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce.

[McGurk]

I also thought the salt was necessary for the curing process, especially when smoking. Too little salt can be dangerous, but too much can ruin fish. It is a delicate balance, but if Len's brine works in that ratio with that much fish, go with it.

[Driftless]

Place a plate or glass cutting board on the trout so the the trout are in the brine completely

This is important because the brine settles and if the fish floats on the top of the brine they don't get full exposure to it.

[Driftless]

Smoker

[Jim Almquist]

Those sure do look great and I like the spices that you are using. I think that the next Looper I get might just have to be smoked.

[Harmonica Bear]

What kind of smoker is that?

[Driftless]

Bradly

[Driftless]

first steel I have ever done. smoked them an hour longer than the small stream trout i typically smoke.

I like the small stream trout taste better.

Made a steel spread with some...Creamy Italian Dressing mixed in.

Neighbors came to supervise my smoking process and both appeared as I was taking them out.

Both neighbors sent home with some.