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Sturgeon is considered a delicacy, regardless of the method of preparation. The fish is distinguished not only by its large size, but also by its unsurpassed taste. Cold smoked sturgeon retains the maximum amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. You can prepare such a delicacy at home, abandoning store blanks.
Useful properties of the product
Nutritionists consider sturgeon the best source of rare vitamins, amino acids and trace elements. It has practically no contraindications, it is not an allergen. It is useful for pregnant women and children.
Sturgeon has useful properties:
- Improves the functioning of the brain, cardiovascular system due to the content of saturated fatty acids.
- Reduces blood cholesterol levels, stabilizes blood pressure.
- Speeds up metabolism.
- Promotes the regeneration of skin, hair, nails.
- Strengthens the body's immune defense mechanisms.
- Relieves nervous tension.
- Interferes with the formation of cancer cells.
- It has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver and pancreas.
- Improves the supply of protein and oxygen to the muscles.
Cold smoked fish is absorbed by the body by 98%
Home-cooked cold smoked sturgeon retains all the nutrients. The taste of this product is much better than seafood from the stores.
Calorie content and BZHU of cold smoked sturgeon
The product cannot be called dietary. It is highly nutritious and quickly satiates. Due to its high calorie content, cold smoked sturgeon is recommended to be consumed in small portions instead of the first or second course.
Energy value of the product - 194 kcal per 100 g
The sturgeon (100 g) contains:
- proteins - 20 g;
- fats - 12.5 g;
- saturated acids - 2.8 g;
- ash - 9.9 g;
- water - about 57 g.
The mineral composition is represented by the following elements:
- sodium - 3474 mg;
- potassium - 240 mg;
- phosphorus - 181 mg;
- fluorine - 430 mg;
- zinc - 0.7 mg;
- magnesium - 21 mg.
Selection and preparation of fish
To make a delicious cold smoked sturgeon balyk, you need competent primary processing of the product. Many people prefer to cook their own fish. In the absence of such an opportunity, they buy it in the market or in a store.
The right choice of sturgeon:
- There should be no strong unpleasant odor.
- You need a whole carcass, not cut into pieces.
- For smoking, it is recommended to take a large sturgeon.
- There should be no lesions or ulcers on the skin.
To select fresh sturgeon, you must click on its meat. If the dent disappears quickly, the fish is fresh. The meat is creamy, pink or grayish, depending on the breed.
The abdomen is also worth examining. In fresh sturgeon, it is pinkish, without dark spots or signs of frostbite.
The carcass of the fish must be cleaned of scales and mucus with a sharp knife.
The head and tail, which are not eaten, are cut off. The abdominal cavity is opened to remove the insides.
The trebuch is advised to carefully examine for the presence of worms. They are often found in freshwater fish. After these procedures, the carcass is thoroughly washed under running water, dipped in a kitchen towel and allowed to dry.
Salting
It is impossible to smoke cold without preliminary preparation. In it, the larvae of worms may remain, which, together with the meat, will enter the human intestines. Another reason is that the meat will go bad quickly. Salting eliminates this risk, as it inhibits the growth of bacteria in the product.
The fish is salted in a plastic or glass container
An alternative option is to prepare a concentrated liquid brine. The meat will be evenly saturated and ready for consumption without heat treatment.
For 1 kg you need:
- water - 1 l;
- salt - 200 g.
Salting method:
- The water is heated on a stove.
- Pour salt before boiling.
- Stir until completely dissolved.
The brine is removed from the stove and allowed to cool. The sturgeon is placed in a container and poured to the top. In this form, it is left for two days.
After salting, the carcass is thoroughly washed under running water. Otherwise, it will remain salty and tasteless.
Pickling
The next step is to soak the carcass in a spicy liquid. The procedure allows you to enrich the taste of the finished product due to a variety of spices.
Ingredients:
- water - 4-5 liters, depending on the size of the sturgeon;
- bay leaf - 5-6 pieces;
- black pepper, sugar - 1 tbsp. l .;
- garlic - 4 teeth.
Preparation:
- Heat the water.
- Add salt, stir.
- Add garlic, bay leaf, pepper.
- When boiling, add sugar to the composition.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from stove and cool.
Before pickling, the sturgeon is cleaned of salt and washed in warm water
The spicy liquid is poured into a container with a carcass. The fish is left for 12 hours. The meat gains a pleasant aroma and becomes softer.
Cold smoked sturgeon recipes
Preparing a delicacy is not difficult with the right equipment and ingredients. The recipes below will help with this.
How to smoke cold smoked sturgeon in a smokehouse
This cooking method is considered traditional. Preliminary salting of fish is required. You can cook whole or halve the carcasses.
The classic recipe for cold smoked sturgeon:
- The prepared fish is hung in a smoking cabinet.
- Carcasses should not touch.
- Fire chips for the smoke generator.
For the first 12 hours, smoke should enter the smoker continuously, then at short intervals. The temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. To make a cold smoked sturgeon with hard meat, the fish is smoked for two days. The smoke must be evenly applied to the meat, otherwise the fiber structure will be different.
If cold-smoked sturgeon is cooked in a home-made smokehouse without a smoke generator, you need to carefully select the firewood. Only fruit trees are suitable for smoking. It is strictly forbidden to use resinous needles, as it will make the product unusable.
Sturgeon is recommended to be tied before cooking
After cold smoking, the carcasses are ventilated. They are hung out for 8-10 hours in a place protected from the sun.
Sturgeon cooking technology in a smokehouse:
How to smoke with liquid smoke
This is a simple homemade option for all fish lovers. No smokehouse or firewood required.
You will need:
- red wine - 70 g;
- sugar - 1 tsp;
- salt - 1 tbsp. l.
Carcasses are pre-salted. Marinating is optional, optional.
For 1 kg of cold smoked sturgeon take 1 tsp. liquid smoke
Cooking method:
- Mix wine with sugar and salt.
- Add liquid smoke to the composition.
- Smear the salted fish with the mixture.
- Leave for two days, turning the carcass every 12 hours.
The cold smoked sturgeon in the photo has acquired a red hue due to the combination of wine and liquid smoke. When cooking in a smokehouse, the color of the meat should be lighter.
After that, the sturgeon should be rinsed under running water and dried. Carcasses are left at room temperature for three to four hours.Liquid smoke imitates the characteristic smell of smoked meat and improves the palatability without heat treatment.
How to keep cold smoked sturgeon
A properly prepared delicacy remains usable for several months. You can store cold smoked sturgeon in the refrigerator. The low temperature increases the shelf life of the product by up to three months.
The fish is packed in parchment paper. It is not recommended to store sturgeon in containers or plastic wrap. Food with a strong aroma should not be placed next to smoked meats.
For long-term storage, periodic ventilation is required. Cold smoked sturgeon is removed from the chamber and left in the air for two to three hours.
If an unpleasant odor appears, the product should not be consumed. It can be re-soaked in saline, but this will negatively affect the taste.
Conclusion
Cold smoked sturgeon is an exquisite delicacy with many useful properties. Such fish is high-calorie and nutritious, contains many valuable substances. You can cook sturgeon in a special smokehouse or using liquid smoke. The finished product is stored in the refrigerator for up to three months.
