Showing posts with label Meat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meat. Show all posts

Sunday, 13 May 2012

Why Not Try Smoking?

Yes, it won't stunt your growth


There's a setting-up guide here, and a recipe to tempt you here.


Me?  I've been very unadventurous.   


Chicken :  I smoked some chicken breasts or chicken thighs for half an hour (however long the handfull of oak shavings smoke for.)


The chicken emerged.... curiously untransformed. A slightly darker colour, but it certainly not cooked. (Not a surprise really - it is cold smoking.)  However, cooked simply and slowly in a stove-top casserole, the smell told me that the smoking had an effect, and the surface showed the same pattern as the rack the chicken lay on.  The taste - divine. Not the strong, chemical flavour of smokey bacon / barbeque sauce, but a definite smoky tone.


Cheese : I've also tried smoking cheese, with reasonable results.  Fingers of cheddar on a tin foil base - they had slightly melted, but again had an interesting flavour.


Trout : Well, I was going to smoke some trout...but Reggie (my cat) managed to purloin the fillets.     Smoked cat anyone?




Technical Note : I've been using some oak sawdust/shavings bought in bulk on eBay. Either on a base of burning newspapers (temperamental) or in a tray atop a gas ring (HSE risk). Might even try using an electric skillet as an experiment.


Hope this is of interest.