Dear readers, welcome to the exquisite world of Smoking Meat and thank you for choosing this cookbook and downloading it amongst many other cookbooks to read. Smoking meat is a culinary art I first felt in love with since I was a child; it has always been a family delight that I would wait for every weekend. Nothing can be compared to the wafting smoke with the fragrant aroma of smoked meat in open doors; an environment that is pleasant and that takes me to an immortalized dream world of mesmerising aromas and sublime tastes that I can never forget. And on this framework, I offer you this cookbook. Whether you are a beginner or a professional to the world of smoking meat, this cookbook makes the best choice for you with the wide range of delicious recipes it provides you with. And for those who are still not sure whether to barbecue meat, grill it, cook it or smoke it; let me lead you and introduce you to the best way of smoking meat to help you start your smoking meat way. For instance, the process of smoking meat will help you enjoy both cooking your meal and chat with all your family members at the same time. Smoking meat will allow you to subject whatever ingredient you choose to smoke in the environment you choose, especially if you want to enjoy this process outdoors in open air. This smoke is usually produced by smouldering vines, fruit skins, hardwoods chips and even spices to offer you a smoked meat packed with flavours and rich in aromas. The meat you smoke will retain the flavour you want according to the type of wood you use. So if you are already excited to start cooking some of your most favourite smoked recipes; all you have to do is to choose your best favourite potions of meat, Charcoal; start the fire in your chimney or fire grill with lighting fluids, starter briquettes and stuff the bottom with the an old newspaper, charcoal on top and get started. You can add a drizzle of brown oil to announce the start of the smoking party. Dive into the world of smoked meat with a set of delicious Smoked recipes; you will discover that smoking meat has never been easier. So are you ready to start your smoking meat journey?
CHAPTER 1: SMOKING MEAT BASIC TIPS
Mastering the art of smoking foods makes the objective of every cook around the world. And in order to be able to perfect the smoking foods; there are some basics and instructions each of us needs to follow in order to achieve it.
So now that you are ready to begin, start by lighting your smoker and get started, here are some tips that can help you enjoy the taste you are seeking:
- Smoking food needs a low heat and keep it low for a few hours allowing the smoke to penetrate through the meats. Maintaining a consistent heat makes a key factor that can positively affect your smoking process and this process can be quite simple. You can use a chimney starter to get your coals to a temperature of about 250 F. And if you dont have a thermometer, the best way to determine the right temperature is to hold your hand on top of the coals.
It is very simple; all you have to do is to pile the coals over the bottom; then add the smoking wood and put the meat onto the grill right into the opposite side of the coals you use. You can always add coals from time to time to maintain the same temperature.
- Smoking meat needs patience
Smoking meat is a long process that needs a few hours. For instance, slow cooking meat through smoking it breaks down the meat into tender pieces and keeps its flavours and juiciness.
There are different types of meat, each type takes between about 5 to 7 hours to be perfectly smoked. Make sure not to peek at your ingredients while it is smoking, except for adding more coals to maintain a balanced temperature or to refill the water pan.
- Decide whether you want the smoking process to be dry or wet:
The wet smoking process includes a pan filled with water and coals that can create a smoky atmosphere that will help moisturize the meat. You can also use a fruit juice or any other types of equipments to add extra favours. Wet smoking results in a flavourful bark that people will love.
- Make sure to choose the right meat for you
Not all types of meat are suitable for smoking meat; turkey and chicken make a good meat choice; but since the smoking process takes a long time, the skin wont stand up. Besides, brining will help you through the process of smoking.
- Using a rub is substantial in any smoking process
Making the rub is very important before smoking food and for a perfect rub you can combine about cup of kosher salt with 1 tablespoon of lemon pepper, cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, and about 2 teaspoons of chilli flakes; then Rub this mixture over the meat right before you start smoking.
- Choose the right wood
In order to smoke meat properly you should carefully choose the wood you are going to use. For instance, apple wood will offer you a sweet and fruity smoke that goes very well with pork while using Hickory wood makes a perfect choice that you can use with red meat like ribs. You can use alder meat with poultry, fish and any type of white meat.
Pecan wood burns in a cooler way in comparison to other woods and makes a perfect choice to cook pork and brisket roasts. You can also use oak wood, cherry wood and other types of food according to the type of meat and the type of flavour you want to use.
- The importance of brining in the process of smoking:
Brining any type of meat can keep it meat keeps it from drying out during the process of smoking food. The salt within the brine can make the used proteins more water absorbent. Indeed, when the sodium and the chloride ions get into the proteins tissue so that they can hold onto the moisture. It is recommended to soak the meat in the brine for about 10 to 12 hours right before smoking it.
CHAPTER 2: SMOKED BEEF RECIPES
Southern Style Smoked Brisket
(Prep time: 8 Hours|Cook Time: 10 Hours| Servings: 5)
Ingredients
- 1 Beef brisket of about 5 to 6 pounds with 1 layer of fat of at least inch of thickness
- 1 Tablespoon of coarse or kosher or sea salt
- 1 Tablespoon of chili powder
- 2 Teaspoons of sugar
- 1 Teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Teaspoon of ground cumin
Equipment
- 6 Cups of hickory or mesquite chunks; that are soaked for about 1 hour into cold water
Instructions
- Start by rinsing the brisket under cold water and wash very well; then dry with clean paper towels until it is completely dry
- Mix all together the salt with the chili powder, the sugar, the pepper, and the cumin in a medium bowl and toss the mixture with your fingers to mix very well; then rub the spices over the brisket on all its sides
- Wrap the brisket into a plastic wrap and refrigerate it for about 4 to 8 hours or for an overnight; yet if you dont have time; you can just cook it right away
- Prepare a charcoal grill for indirect grilling and preheat the charcoal grill to low; you dont need a drip pan for this recipe
- When you are ready to cook, toss about 1 and cups of wood chips on top of the coals; make it cup per side