The key to preparing salmon this way is to make certain that your smoke is rather cool, about 100 degrees. If it is warmer, decrease the smoking time. This recipe takes a fair amount of time, but most of that is spent waiting rather than working. The selection of sauces served is up to the cook, so feel free to experiment. A horseradish sauce will work also. The salmon can also be served on bagels, as pictured here. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

For the Cure:

• 2.5 cups kosher salt

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground oregano

• 1 teaspoon crushed dill weed

For the Salmon:

• 2 large salmon fillets, about 2 to 5 pounds each, or 5 small but thicker fillets

For the Sauce:

• Commercial habanero hot sauce

• Commercial sherry pepper hot sauce

• Commercial spicy mustard

• Commercial creamy horseradish sauce

Instructions

For the Cure:

Combine the ingredients for the cure in a bowl and mix well. Place a sheet of plastic wrap on an aluminum baking pan and spread about a 1/8-inch thick layer of the cure blend and place the fillets on the plastic wrap. Top the fillets with 1/8-inch of cure. Cover the fillets with plastic wrap and cure in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours; a 4-hour cure is preferable. Remove the fillets from the wrap and rinse the cure off each fillet. Allow the fillets to air dry for about 2 hours.

For the Salmon:

Prepare a fire in the smoker’s firebox with pecan wood or other fruit or nut hardwood of choice, such as apple, apricot, peach, or walnut. When the fire stabilizes and the smoke is no longer hot, place the fillets skin-side down on racks or on the aluminum baking pan.

Smoke the fillets for 4 to 5 hours, depending on their thickness. Regularly check the fire and fillets to make sure that the fish is smoking, not rapidly cooking.

Serve the salmon over crackers of choice topped with any of the three sauces as an appetizer. Refrigerate any leftovers, which will keep for weeks.

This sauce will stay fresh for at least 1 week. Serve as an accompaniment to Korean grilled meat dishes.

Ingredients

• 4 Korean hot green peppers or jalapeño peppers

• 4 Korean hot red peppers or other hot red peppers

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon rice wine or vermouth

• 1 green onion, white and pale green part only, finely minced

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

• 1 walnut half, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Wash the hot peppers and pat dry. Roast the peppers under a broiler or on the stovetop until all sides are broiled and blistered, but not charred. Discard the stems and chop peppers crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds, seeds and all.

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Use as a topping for soups and noodles, or as a refreshing salad dressing. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. The sauce will stay fresh for weeks if refrigerated.

Ingredients

• 5 garlic cloves

• 10 hot red Korean peppers, coarsely chopped (or 1 cup hot red pepper flakes)

• 3 tablespoons salted shrimp (Available at Korean food markets)

• 12 cup rice wine or vermouth

• 1/4 cup sesame oil

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Mash the garlic well with a mortar and pestle. Add the peppers and pound into a paste. Transfer mixture to a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. With a wooden spoon, mix into a coarse paste.