Arctic Char with Herb Brine

Arctic Char with Herb Brine
BrineFishHot SmokingEasy6-8 hrs62-65°C80-100°CAlder + Apple

Tender arctic char is brined in an aromatic herb mixture of dill, thyme, and lemon, then gently hot-smoked. The result is a juicy, delicately smoky fish fillet with a fresh herbal note. Ideal for platters and buffets.

Ingredients(for 1 kg)

Sea Salt60 g
Sugar20 g
Fresh Dill15 g
Fresh Thyme8 g
Lemon Zest5 g
Black Pepper, coarsely ground3 g
Water (for brine)1000 ml

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Instructions

1

Brine Preparation

15 min.

Bring water with salt and sugar to a boil until dissolved. Let cool, then add dill, thyme, lemon zest, and pepper. Allow brine to cool completely to room temperature.

2

Brining

4-6 hours

Place the cleaned arctic char in the cold brine, keep fully submerged, and brine in the refrigerator at max. 4 °C. Then rinse and let dry on a rack for 1 hour at room temperature or 2 hours in the refrigerator.

3

Smoking

1.5-2.5 hours

Preheat smoker to 80-100 °C. Use alder and apple wood chips. Place arctic char and smoke until a core temperature of 62-65 °C is reached. Fish is done when the skin has turned golden brown and the flesh flakes easily.

Pro Tip

Allow the fish to dry on a rack in the refrigerator until a shiny skin (pellicle) forms – this ensures better smoke absorption and a more attractive color.

Glossary Terms

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Arctic Char with Herb Brine — Curination