Content
Catfish is not the most popular fish, but gourmets value it very much. Many dishes can be prepared from it. Cold smoked catfish is very tasty. If you do it at home, you can be absolutely sure of the naturalness and quality of the finished product. But in order to preserve the benefits to the maximum, you need to carefully follow the recipe and instructions for preparing the delicacy.
Beneficial features
Catfish is a white river fish suitable for hot and cold smoking. Its meat is very soft, tender and fat, scales and bones in the pulp are absent. The finished delicacy has a very original sweetish flavor.
The fish is processed with low temperature smoke. This means that the vast majority of health benefits are retained in the finished product. Also, fish contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and glycogen. They are almost completely absorbed, provide a person with the necessary energy, are needed to normalize blood cholesterol levels and prevent atherosclerosis.
Cold smoked catfish is a valuable source of essential amino acids necessary for tissue regeneration at the cellular level
In high concentration, it contains a delicacy and vitamins necessary to maintain visual acuity, good immunity, and normal metabolism:
- AND;
- group B;
- FROM;
- D;
- E;
- PP.
This smoked fish is extremely rich in macro- and microelements:
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- copper;
- iron;
- cobalt;
- iodine;
- zinc;
- fluorine.
With regular inclusion in the menu in reasonable quantities, cold smoked catfish has a beneficial effect on the nervous, immune, cardiovascular systems. The condition of the skin, nails, hair improves, bones, teeth, cartilage tissue are strengthened.
BZHU and calorie content of cold smoked catfish
It is a relatively low calorie food. Its energy value is only 196 kcal per 100 g. This is possible due to the fact that 75% of it consists of water, and carbohydrates in the delicacy are absent in principle. But the fish has a very high protein content (15.6-17.2 g per 100 g).
Only 200 g of cold smoked catfish "cover" the daily protein requirement
Fat is relatively small - 5.5-6.33 g per 100 g. Therefore, the finished product can be included in the menu in small quantities (100-120 g per week) even for those who follow the principles of dietary nutrition.
Rules and technology for cold smoking catfish
As with the processing of any other product, the technology of cold smoking catfish provides for its long-term processing with low-temperature smoke. As a result, the finished delicacy in consistency resembles a cross between raw and dried fish, the structure of its fibers is preserved. Properly cooked catfish does not lose its natural "fishy" taste, is easy to cut, does not crumble or crumble.
Selection and preparation
The fish can be quite large or relatively small.For cold smoking, provided that it is cut correctly, any specimen will do. And, of course, the "raw material" must be of high quality, the taste of the finished product directly depends on it. Signs of fresh catfish:
- lack of mechanical damage to the skin;
- pleasant "fishy" and not rotten smell;
- "Clear", not cloudy eyes, no plaque on them;
- smooth, non-slimy skin;
- elastic, not loose meat (the dent remaining after pressing disappears without a trace in a few seconds).
It is better not to buy ice-cream catfish, especially those covered with a thick layer of ice.
In small fish (up to 2-3 kg), the head is cut off (or limited to the removal of the gills). Then, through a longitudinal incision in the belly, they get rid of the entrails and "clean" the film in it from the inside.
Care must be taken not to damage the gallbladder, otherwise the finished product will be unpleasantly bitter
Other ways of cutting:
- to balyk (the head and tail are cut, respectively, to the level of the pectoral fins and anus, the abdomen is also removed, leaving only a small, most "fleshy" part of it);
- layers (fish without a head, tail and entrails is cut lengthwise into two fillets, the spine is removed);
- on fillet (skin is removed from the resulting layers, vizigu is removed - a longitudinal vein along the ridge);
- for steaks (fillets, layers or whole fish are cut into transverse pieces 5-7 cm thick).
Important! Before cutting, frozen fish must be completely thawed, first in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, and then at room temperature.
How to pickle catfish for cold smoking
There are two methods to salt the catfish before cold smoking:
- Dry... Grate the fish thoroughly with coarse salt (optionally mixed with freshly ground black or white pepper, dried garlic and / or onions in the required proportion), pour it into a suitable container made of material that is not subject to oxidation. Put the fish inside, sprinkle with salt, and also "cover" on top. Keep in the refrigerator under pressure for at least 20 hours (up to 3-4 days).
- In brine... It is prepared by boiling 150 g of salt and 60 g of sugar in a liter of water, bay leaves (2-3 pieces). The fish is poured with liquid, cooled to room temperature, completely covering it. Cold smoking can be started in 8-10 hours. Sometimes the catfish is kept in brine for up to 1.5-2 days.
Dry-salted catfish are wiped with a paper or cloth napkin before smoking. Excess brine is disposed of by washing the fish in cool running water for 2-3 minutes.
How to marinate catfish for cold smoking
Marinating before cold smoking allows you to add original and unusual notes to the taste of the finished product. All ingredients are given per kg of cut fish.
With citrus:
- drinking water - 2 l;
- salt - 100 g;
- sugar - 20 g;
- black peppercorns - 7-10 g;
- bay leaf - 2-3 pieces;
- orange, lime, lemon or grapefruit - any citrus;
- rosemary - to taste (about 10 g).
The water is heated until salt and sugar dissolve, citrus, cut into pieces and peeled and peeled from white films, and other ingredients are added. The marinade is brought to a boil, insisted under a closed lid for about half an hour, then filtered and cooled to room temperature. For cold smoking, the fish is poured with liquid for 10-12 hours.
With honey:
- olive oil - 200 ml;
- freshly squeezed lemon juice - 100 ml;
- liquid honey - 50 ml;
- garlic - 4-5 cloves;
- salt - 25 g;
- a mixture of ground peppers - to taste.
Preparing the marinade is extremely simple - all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, poured with the resulting mixture of cut catfish. Marinate it before cold smoking for at least 10-12 hours.
How to smoke cold smoked catfish
The technology of cold smoking of catfish, like any other fish, presupposes the presence of a special design with a smoke source 2-7 m away from the smoking cabinet. During the time that it passes through the pipe, the smoke cools down to the required temperature. It is best to use a smoke generator as a source for cold smoking - this ensures the autonomy of the process. There is no need to constantly monitor it, maintaining the required temperature. But, in principle, an open fire will do.
Cold smoked catfish is appreciated by gourmets for its natural taste, so there is an opinion that marinades only "clog" it
Cold smoking requires strict adherence to technology, avoiding "improvisation". Otherwise, the fish may be "oversaturated" with carcinogens. Another potential health hazard is pathogenic microorganisms that cannot be destroyed with insufficient treatment. Therefore, those who do not have much experience should first familiarize themselves with the video recipes for cold smoking catfish.
How to cook cold smoked catfish in a smokehouse
Cold smoked catfish is smoked like this:
- Pour wood chips or sawdust into the smoke generator or on the bottom of the smokehouse, grease the grates with vegetable oil (if any).
- Arrange prepared and dried fish on wire racks or hang on hooks so that pieces, fillets or whole carcasses do not touch each other if possible.
- Connect the pipe to the smoking cabinet, turn on the smoke generator or make a fire, fire in the grill.
- Smoke the catfish until tender. After the time required for cold smoking has elapsed, remove the fish from the smokehouse, ventilate in the open air for 24 hours.
Important! The smell of smoked fish attracts insects en masse. It is recommended to cover it with gauze to protect it.
Cold smoked catfish balyk
The technology for preparing cold smoked balyk from catfish is no different from the one described above. Using this method, you can smoke whole fish, fillets, and steaks. Only the method of cutting the catfish and the time of smoke treatment vary.
The larger the catfish, the longer it takes to cook cold smoked balyk.
Smoking time and temperature
The temperature during cold smoking of catfish should be constantly kept within the range of 27-30 ° C. If it is higher, the fish will turn out not smoked, but boiled. How much catfish should be kept in a smoking cabinet depends on:
- the size and thickness of the pieces;
- distance from the heat source to the smoking cabinet;
- continuity of the process;
- density and density of smoke.
The minimum processing time with smoke (for pieces with a thickness of 4-5 cm) is 20-24 hours. Cold smoked catfish fillets are cooked for 2-3 days, balyk - 3-4 days. For a whole fish, it all depends on its size, the period can increase to 7-10 days. In any case, the cold smoking process cannot be interrupted for the first 8 hours, then small breaks are allowed.
Readiness is determined by the characteristic brownish-golden hue of the skin - it can be compared with a photo of cold smoked catfish. If you pierce the fish with a knitting needle, a sharp wooden stick, the puncture site remains "dry", no liquid is released from it.
Storage rules
In the refrigerator, ready-made cold-smoked catfish are stored for 5-7 days, wrapped in cling film or placed in a tightly closed plastic container. In the freezer, also in an airtight container, the finished product will lie for up to two months. Smoked fish cannot be stored longer - the taste deteriorates, it noticeably loses its benefits.
Conclusion
Cold smoked catfish - without exaggeration, a delicacy. In moderation, this fish is extremely beneficial for health and can be included in the menu, built according to the principles of a healthy diet. It is not difficult to cook cold smoked catfish on your own, however, in order to comply with the technology, you will need a special smokehouse.
