Whether for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries or for just anytime, nothing is better than a Smoked Salmon gift basket. A Smoked Salmon gift basket is truly a reward from the sea and a wonderful treat for any seafood lover.
Served either hot or cold a Smoked Salmon gift is a delectable gourmet food, prized for its high protein, low fat content and being rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
A Smoked Salmon gift basket can contain Alaskan Smoked Salmon as well as Lox. Smoked Salmon is cured and then smoked and Lox is Smoked Salmon served cold. The process of creating a Smoked Salmon gift of Lox does not cook the Salmon, but smokes it and is typically served with cream cheese and bagels.
Lox is typically brined. Brine is a salt solution that is used to stimulate the process of osmosis, which ultimately results in a much more tender and moist meat. Soaking Lox in brine ensures that the Lox will retain its moisture during the smoking process, and the final product is “cold smoked” and as tender as raw Salmon.
There are various forms of Lox such as Nova Scotia Lox, Regular Lox, Scandinavian Lox, Scottish Lox, and Gravad Lox. Lox is a wonderful addition to any Smoked Salmon gift basket.
When choosing a hot Smoked Salmon gift, the Salmon is cooked and is to be eaten just as typical cooked Salmon.
Before your Smoked Salmon gift is smoked, it is first cured. This is the process of preserving food to retain its flavor and texture by using salt, spices, and sugar. Smoking is also a method or form of “curing” Salmon. Your Smoked Salmon gift may first be cured with additional spices, before being smoked, to greatly enhance the flavor. T
he Native Americans originated a wonderful from of curing and smoking Salmon, and many of their methods have been preserved and are still applied today. Along with traditional Native American cures, many choose to smoke their Salmon over Alder or aged Hickory wood, which adds a rich delectable flavor.
Some mouth-watering cures for your Smoked Salmon gift include garlic, pepper, Cajun style spice, and lemon.