How To Make Smoked Marlin – An Easy Way

Smoking marlin is full of flavor, and it is moist and tender. According to some people, it is similar to tuna in taste. As one of the rarest fish you can get, raw marlin is an excellent choice for a meal. It takes time and patience to perfect the skill of smoking marlin, like with any other smoked fish.

The importance of making anything is specifically the know-how about the procedure. Being a rare fish needs some understanding of “how to make smoked marlin” in the best way.

When preparing marlin, it is necessary to soak it for at least 8 to 10 hours in the brine solution before smoking it for an additional 8 hours. However, time is required for its preparation, so you should have patience.

What Does It Mean To Smoke A Fish?

Smoking is a common method for curing a variety of foods. Meats, eggs, shellfish, and fish can all be smoked. To cure these foods, smokers use a combination of smoke and salt. The smoke can come from various sources, including wood, tea, and other substances. Each item has its distinct taste.

Fish is normally smoked using two methods: hot smoking or cold smoking. These methods of smoking are significantly different.

Hot Smoking

Hot smoking is carried out over a medium heat source, resulting in thoroughly cooked fish. The majority of disease-causing microorganisms are eliminated during this phase. Hot smoking requires a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit). Compared to cold smoked fish, the final result appears pale and flaky.

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Cold Smoking

Raw fish could readily be confused for cold-smoked fish. This operation is carried out at a temperature lower than 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit); it is frequently carried out at temperatures ranging from 32 to 37 degrees Celsius (90 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit).

This low temperature is insufficient to properly cook the fish or destroy any bacteria that could cause sickness. This suggests that certain at-risk populations may want to avoid eating smoked fish.

Time to Make Smoked Marlin?

It would be best if you ate your marlin as soon as possible after it had been prepared. If you have any leftover marlins that you want to eat later, make sure you seal them up right away. Wrap the marlin in airtight aluminum foil before storing it in freezer-safe plastic bags.

Before placing the marlins in the refrigerator, ensure they are in well-sealed containers. Smoked marlins keep for around 2 to 3 weeks once they’ve been sealed. If you keep them in the freezer, though, they will last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

This time limit only applies if the seals have not been broken. If the packaging has been opened, the fish should be consumed within three days, whether in the refrigerator or freezer.

How To Make Smoked Marlin In A Traditional Smoker?

Before we get into the details of this recipe, here are some general guidelines for smoking any fish in a traditional or electric smoker.

1. The length of time the fish must soak in the brine and the amount of time it must be smoked is determined by the cut type and weight of the fish.
2. If one component weighs less than 1/4 pound, the brining time should be 30 minutes.
3. The brining time must be increased by 15 minutes for every additional 1/4 pound of weight.
4. If you use a large fish, each piece should weigh about 5 pounds, you should soak it in brine for several hours.

Fish should be smoked at 190 degrees Fahrenheit or above (as per the fish). The amount of time it takes to smoke a fish is determined by its weight. If each piece weighs about 1/2 pound, you should smoke it for 1.5 hours. Increase the smoking time by 30 minutes for every 1/2 pound of additional fish weight.

How To Make Smoked Marlin?

Mix your brine ingredients in a bowl and let it sit while you chop the meat. Since we have an excellent smoke source to cook with, we’re going to try three pieces of meat.

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1. First, we cut roughly 12 strips into lengths of 6 inches, each strip about 1 inch thick. Dip each strip into the brine and place them together into a 1-gallon zipper-lock style bag. Once they are collected, add 1 cup of brine to the bag and seal it up.
2. The next batch of smoked marlin will be steaks from our fresh catch. These filets will have the skin on and weigh about 8-10 ounces apiece. We sliced out four steaks to smoke.
3. Dip each steak into the brine, then place it into a 1-gallon zipper-lock style bag. Add 1-2 cups of brine mixture to the bag and set this away for your smoked marlin supper.
4. Lastly, we cut a huge chunk, perhaps 4-5 pounds. This is coming from the side of the fish; thus, the skin is attached. As if it were a roast or brisket, we intend to smoke this piece of marlin entirely.
5. It’s best to lay the fish roast skin-side down and begin making shallow slicing cuts into the top of the fish because the point of this exercise is to create a checkerboard pattern on top of the fish to avoid cutting through it.
6. Set the meat aside in a 2-and-a-half-gallon zipper-lock bag with the rest of the brine mixture.

Health Benefits Of Marlin

Rich in Vitamin A

However, most of us know vitamin A is really good for our eyesight. By having marlin fish in your diet, you will get tasty food and its benefits.

Besides eyesight, vitamin A is really important for the immune system and reproduction. With the intake of vitamin A, your heart, lungs, and kidneys all body parts work properly.

Moreover, there are two types of vitamin A. Out of two, one is found in meat, fish, and poultry.

Source of Vitamin B Complex

No doubt, the vitamin B complex is really useful for hair health.

This nutrient keeps your scalp healthy, reduces hair fall, and helps your hair not become dull. Moreover, it makes your eyesight and brain function good.

It also increases the energy levels and growth of RBCs. It helps in good digestion and keeps a healthy appetite.

Contains Calcium

Every human needs calcium!! Calcium makes our bones strong. If you have calcium deficiency, you will have to suffer from any of these conditions that your bones will become porous or bone formation will be disturbed.

This calcium not only makes our bones strong but also builds them. The heart, nerves, and muscles need calcium to work efficiently. Along with vitamin D, calcium also protects against cancer, blood pressure, and diabetes.

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Conclusion

Smoking marlin is a must-try! The thing that makes the marlin fish unique is its rarity. Knowing how to make smoked marlin is a must before cooking, smoking, or grilling it.

Making a smoking marlin is not a piece of cake! You should follow the timings as per the weight of the fish. Ensure not to undercook or overcook fish as it will destroy the taste of smoking marlin.

Pair up this smoking marlin with rice pilaf and fresh lemonade, watch a Netflix show, and have the best weekend ever.