Kippered Salmon Recipe – Wow Your Guests with This Delicious Dish!

A simple kippered salmon step-by-step recipe, advice on serving it right, and some FAQs answered in detail.
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Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
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Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
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Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 27, 2023
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The kippered salmon classic dish is easy to make, and you will love that you can create something so unique and special for friends and family. This is a great choice to serve for breakfast or for an appetizer alongside wine, crackers and cheese. Kippered salmon is a classic that anyone can make in their own home.

What is Kippered Salmon?

Kippered salmon is smoked salmon. Salmon is one of the best fish to smoke, and there are many different kinds of kippered salmon recipes out there because of this. This is a classic dish that is quite common in Britain, but it is becoming increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. If you are interested to see what other fish is great for smoking, you can check our article about the best fish to smoke.

Kippered food was originally made because it preserved the meat effectively. This was a necessity in times without readily available refrigeration. Obviously, this is not an issue today, but the flavor of smoked foods is so good that they are still really desirable.

The OSU Extension Trusted Source Smoking Meats | OSU Extension Check out these easy steps to set up your own smoker at home, make a flavorful dry rub, then choose a great cut of meat and patiently manage the smoking process. extension.osu.edu shows exactly how a smoking should be done so you get a mouthwatering result every time.

Kippered Salmon vs Lox

Kippered salmon is different than lox because it is smoked hot. Lox is smoked cold, which is why it has such a buttery and smooth texture. Both kinds of fish are actually smoked, but they are smoked using very different processes.

How to Make Kippered Salmon

If you are ready to learn all about how to make kippered salmon, you do need to be aware that you will need a smoker to undertake the cooking of this recipe. Once you have your smoker, however, there is nothing else special that is needed to make really excellent kippered salmon.

Kippered salmon is easier to make than you might think. You will just need a smoker to be able to create this lovely dish and a little bit of preparation time. Make sure as well that you are comfortable with using your smoker. You will get the best results from this recipe if you are well-acquainted with your smoker. Don’t forget to follow the guidelines Trusted Source Curing and Smoking Meats for Home Food Preservation Literature Review and Critical Preservation Points. nchfp.uga.edu created by NCFHP to eliminate the risk of food poisoning.

Kippered Salmon Recipe - Wow Your Guests with This Delicious Dish! 1

Kippered Salmon - Recipe

This recipe is really easy to undertake, and you will be making delicious kippered salmon with ease once you read through it. There are so few steps to this cooking process that you will realize right away that all you really need is time and some patience to make delicious kippered salmon.
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Prep Time 5 hours
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 6 hours
Course Appetizer, Breakfast
Servings 6 when served as an appetizer
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Stovetop smoker along with alder or cherry wood chips.

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 Ibs fresh salmon filets with skin – cut into 4 inches pieces crosswise
  • 1 cup dark rum
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup coarse sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Rinse off the salmon and blot dry. Feel for bones and remove any. Cut shallow slits into the salmon skin at 1-inch intervals. The KastKing Fillet Knife will do the job just amazing.
  • Put the fish in a baking dish and add the rum to marinate. Allow to marinate in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Turn twice.
    Kippered Salmon Recipe - Wow Your Guests with This Delicious Dish! 3
  • Remove from the marinade and drain with a colander and blot dry. Discard the rum. Wipe out the baking dish.
    Kippered Salmon Recipe - Wow Your Guests with This Delicious Dish! 5
  • To make the rub, combine sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and mix well. Break any lumps in the brown sugar up with your fingers. Put 1/3 of the rub into the bottom of the baking dish. Put fish pieces into the dish, skin side down.
    Kippered Salmon Recipe - Wow Your Guests with This Delicious Dish! 7
  • Sprinkle remaining rub over the fish and pat into the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and let cure for four hours in the fridge. 
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  • Remove from the fridge and rinse the fish, then blot dry. Arrange the fish skin side down on a wire rack and let dry in the fridge for about 2 hours. This will create the pellicle, a sticky surface that lets the smoke flavor stick to it.
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  • Set up your stovetop cooker or an electric smoker, and add woodchips. Put the salmon into the smoker with the skin side of the fish down. When the first hint of smoke appears, lower the heat to medium. If you don't have much space for a smoker, you can check some of the best small electric smokers and see which will suit you the most.
  • Cook until just cooked through, which is usually about 45 minutes. The fish should break up easily into clean flakes when done. You can also use an infrared thermometers to check the temperature of the fish. If it is done, it should be at about 140 degrees. If you don't have one yet, make sure you read our guide on the best infrared thermometers which will help you in your cooking.
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  • Transfer to a wire rack over a sheet pan and allow to cool to room temperature. You will be able to keep this dish fresh in the fridge for about three days. It can be frozen for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal

How to serve kippered salmon

This dish is often served as an appetizer or as a breakfast item. In the UK, kippered salmon is almost always a breakfast food, but in other parts of the world, it is a treat that is typically used as a starter before dinner. You can make your kippered salmon a starter for your main meal, or you can even serve it as a snack at tea time.

FAQ

Should I choose pink salt or plain salt?

Both pink salt and plain salt can work for your needs with this recipe. Some people swear by pink salt, but you should get good results with either kind of salt. For example, the Himalayan Chef Pink Salt is said to add more flavor to the meat, but there are people who would tell you that both kinds of salt taste the same to them.

Is kippered salmon cooked?

Smoking is a cooking process that happens very slowly but which preserves food much better than simple grilling or baking. This is the same process that is used to create jerky and other meats that are intended to hold up to a lack of refrigeration. Regarding the salmon, it is considered to be cooked if it is hot smoked, which lies in a temperature range of 120-225 degrees. And in the case of kippered salmon, the temperature in the process is around 140 degrees, meaning it is considered cooked.

Final Thoughts

When you think about fancy appetizers that you might want to learn to make, one of the things that many people come up with is kippered salmon. This is a classic dish that is actually quite expensive to buy when it has been made by a manufacturer. The taste of packaged smoked salmon is also never as good as fresh kippered salmon that has been made by hand. Being able to serve this special food fresh to guests or family can be really special.

After reading this recipe, you should feel ready to create the perfect kippered salmon. Just make sure that you are comfortable with the use of your smoker and that you are familiar with the process of creating just enough smoke to generate flavor. This is part of the key to the best kippered salmon, and you will want to have this part of the process in hand before you start making your own smoked salmon.

References

1.
Smoking Meats | OSU Extension
Check out these easy steps to set up your own smoker at home, make a flavorful dry rub, then choose a great cut of meat and patiently manage the smoking process.
2.
Curing and Smoking Meats for Home Food Preservation
Literature Review and Critical Preservation Points.
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