Smoked Bluefish Pâté Recipes

Steps:

• To smoke bluefish: Build a small charcoal fire in one-third of a grill fitted with a lid. When the coals are covered with gray ash and the fire is at medium heat (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 3 to 4 seconds), add a handful of the wet hickory chips to the fire. Rub the fish with the olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place the fish, flesh side down, on the grill directly over the coals. Cook, covered, for 4 minutes, then transfer to the side of the grill without coals. Cover the grill and cook until the fish is opaque all the way through, about 6 minutes more. Remove the fish and let cool completely.
• Make the pâté: Flake the bluefish into the bowl of a food processor, discarding the skin. Add the cream cheese, butter and Cognac and pulse to combine. Add the onions, the strained juice of half the lemon and a pinch each of salt and pepper, then pulse again to combine. The purée should straddle the consistency line between a pâté and a mousse. Season with hot pepper sauce and more lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for a day or two.
• Serve the cold pâté in ramekins or turn out onto plates, accompanied by crackers, sliced baguette or pumpernickel.

Steps:

• Break up smoked bluefish and place in a food processor with cream cheese. Use pulse setting to blend smooth. Mix in prepared Dijon-style mustard and horseradish. Blend to desired consistency. Increase amounts of mustard and horseradish, if desired. Cover and chill in the refrigerator 6 hours, or overnight, before serving.

Steps:

• Puree the bluefish, cream cheese, butter, and Cognac in a food processor. Add the onion, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Pulse the machine on and off until the ingredients are combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pack into a serving dish and sprinkle with the nuts, if using.

Steps:

• Crumble or shred the fish semi-fine.
• Whip the cream cheese in the mixer until ligt, then add the fish and remaining ingredients and mix until combined.
• Scrape into a bowl and refrigerate, covered with plastic, until service.
• Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Stir together shallot, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then beat in cream cheese, bluefish, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with a spoon until combined well. Stir in chives.

Steps:

• Puree bluefish, cream cheese, and butter in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in lemon juice, horseradish, mustard, cayenne, and shallots. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Oil a rimmed baking sheet. Toss tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme, and arrange tomatoes cut sides down on baking sheet. Bake until shriveled and starting to brown, about 1 1/4 hours. Let cool completely. Transfer tomatoes and juices to a serving dish.
• To serve, spread pate on crackers, top with a roasted tomato half, and drizzle with juices.

Steps:

• Remove racks from smokehouse and prepare fire (see instructions).
• In a mixing bowl combine all the seasonings except the pepper.
• Brush rack lightly with oil and place fish on the rack, skin side down. (The skin and scales must be left on because they will help hold the fish together, but they are not to be eaten.) Sprinkle fillets liberally with seasoning mixture, about two tablespoons for each fillet. Using a soft-bristled brush, apply the oil to each fillet, thoroughly moistening fish and seasonings. Sprinkle generously with freshly ground pepper.
• Place fish in smokehouse at 160 degrees. After about one-half hour allow temperature to drop to 150 degrees, and then check smokehouse regularly to be sure that the temperature is maintained, at least within the range of 140 to 160 degrees. Smoke for three hours. Then add wood to the fire and bring temperature up to about 200 degrees. Smoke one-half hour longer.
• Serve chilled, sprinkled with lemon juice or accompanied by a mixture of sour cream, horseradish and a dash of tabasco.