- Smoked Salmon has many health benefits.
- Smoked Salmon is naturally gluten-free.
- Smoked Salmon has a mouth-watering taste.
- Smoked Salmon can be effortlessly used in diverse dishes.
While many people consume smoked salmon to maintain their diet, either in cooked or smoked form, many wonders, is it Gluten free?
Salmon is a fish variant that is rich in health benefits. It has the essential Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, Vitamin B, etc.
Many health experts have pointed out that this fish is a rich source of Vitamin B and potassium, which sets it apart from other fish variants.
If you are worried about the Gluten content in smoked Salmon, this article is the best source of information for you.
So, if you are eager to know if your favorite smoked Salmon is Gluten-free or not, read this article till the end and find the answer yourself.
Is Smoked Salmon Gluten free?
If you are here, you must be an avid sea-food lover, especially of Salmons. This fish variant is widely popular worldwide.
It not only has several health benefits, but the buttery taste adds to the list of popularity. You can find it in any restaurant or hotel and relish every bite of it.
However, many people are skeptical about consuming this fish. What are they uncertain about? It is the chances of Gluten infusion that scare them.
Gluten is a protein that has more disadvantages than benefits. Proteins help repair our cells and tissues so that we stay healthy always.
Even though this nutrient has a crucial role in our lives, Gluten is one such protein variant that remains out of this list.
There is an auto-immune disorder called Celiac that affects human health adversely. If someone is suffering from Celiac, they are advised not to consume Gluten at any cost.
This prevention has created many uncertainties around every food item available in the market.
The rich sources of Gluten are primarily grains like Rye, Wheat, Barley, etc.
The wheat flour that you eat at home has Gluten in it, so when you add water to the dry ingredient, it becomes sticky because the Gluten gets activated.
Besides the people suffering from the auto-immune disorder, many are Gluten-intolerant and prefer to stay at bay from this protein variant.
The fear prevailing in the atmosphere concerning Gluten makes such people frequently check the food they are having before biting onto it.
Smoked Salmon facts regarding Gluten
Since Salmon is a good source of protein, it becomes necessary to examine this fish inside out to check whether it has Gluten in it or not. Luckily, the answer is no!
Fish thrive in the water and have no interaction with other things containing Gluten in them.
They neither eat the grains which have Gluten in them, which might create another possibility of getting Gluten pumped into their lymphatic system. They are natural and hence contain no Gluten.
Smoked Salmon also does not contain any gluten traces because it is the same live Salmon smoked on charcoal and served.
Also, the charcoal doesn’t have the slightest trace of this harmful protein, making smoked Salmon incredibly safe.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is to check the label before purchasing the smoked Salmon from the market.
While you prepare homemade smoked Salmon, you can fearlessly eat it, but uncertainty and doubts surround it when the processed one enters.
You never know if the industry it got processed at or the machine it passed through was clean enough to prevent cross-contamination, which is likely to happen at such places.
Never forget to check the label of the packaged smoked Salmon before purchasing it.
You should buy the packet only if the label has “Gluten-free” labeled on it.
Sometimes the industries don’t mention this word on their label, which means that they are uncertain about the cross-contamination which might have taken place.
If the label contains the word “gluten-free” on it, then it is safe to consume because the manufacturer guarantees that smoked Salmon has not been subjected to any contamination, and every person can enjoy this tasty fish.
An outline on Salmon
Since Salmon is a fish with goodies, it comes with a high price tag. If the price is ignored for a while, there is not a single reason why you would say no to this fantastic sea-food.
Many people opt for this fish to maintain a healthy lifestyle without compromising on taste.
There are several things that you should know about Salmon. To get you familiarised with this highly-exceptional sea treasure, we have listed some of the essential facts about this fish that will leave you awe-struck. So, let’s begin…
Health benefits
As mentioned before, not only is the smoked Salmon delicious to eat, but it also has incredible benefits stuffed inside it. For your convenience, we have listed down those benefits so that you get to know what a gem this fish is.
- Smoked Salmon contains Selenium in it which is an antioxidant. If you eat this fish-filled with the goodness of Selenium, your immune system will develop more and become stronger. This way, you stay away from diseases.
- There are several vitamins and minerals in this sea-food, making it worth the price it comes at. It replenishes all the vitamins and minerals that have been reduced in amounts. Your daily Vit B12 needs are fulfilled, and many other deficiencies are taken care of.
- EPH and DHA, the two Omega-3 fatty acid types, are found only in Salmon. These essential fats take care of your heart’s health. You are less likely to face any heart disease or cancer if you include Salmon in your diet.
- Moreover, Salmon also helps to keep your brain sharp. If you eat it, your aging will never affect your intelligence, and you will remember everything till the end.
- This oil of this fish helps reduce triglycerides, maintain the brain’s structure and improve its functioning. It also helps reduce inflammation and keeps you healthy.
Nutritional facts
This fish is a rich source of Vitamins, Minerals, and proteins. It has significantly fewer calories, which is why health-conscious people prefer it over any other fish to satisfy their hunger.
Listed below are the nutritional facts about this fish that you should know before consuming it.
If you include 100 grams of Salmon fish in your diet, you get:
- Choline – 16% of Daily Value
- Niacin – 30% of Daily Value
- Vitamin E – 9% of Daily Value
- Vitamin B12 – 136% of Daily value
- Vitamin D – 86% of Daily value
- Vitamin B6 – 16% of Daily value
- Copper – 26% of Daily value
- Calories – 117
- RiboFlavin – 9% of Daily Value
- Phosphorus – 13% of Daily Value
- Protein – 18 grams
- Sodium – 600-1200 milligrams
- Fat – 4 grams
- Selenium – 59% of Daily Value
Besides these nutritions that a 100 gram Salmon fish provides you, the essential Omega-3 fatty acids are also extracted. A human body cannot produce Omega-3 Fatty Acids because of which you need to outsource it.
Salmon is a source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids because it naturally contains them. If you have no sources to fill the void in your system, this fish must be included in your meal.
Homemade Gluten Free Smoked Salmon
If you don’t trust the smoked Salmon readily available in the market, you can try your hands on it and try making it at home.
Homemade smoked salmons are safer because they are right in front of you, and you make sure they get no chance to come in contact with the Gluten rich products.
To make your favorite smoked Salmon at home, you need to follow the recipe listed below. So, pull up your socks and get started by reading this recipe to smoke your Salmon at home till the end.
Ingredients for the brine
- Smashed garlic cloves – 2
- Onions – ½ (Chopped)
- Water – 4 cups
- Brown Sugar – ¼ cups
- Bay leaves – 2
- Kosher Salt – ¼ cup
- Chopped fennel – ½ cup
- Sliced Celery – 1 stalk
Instructions for the brine
To prepare your fish for smoking, you first need to soak it in the brine solution so that the flavors infuse inside the flesh.
First, you will need a bowl to put the salt, sugar, garlic, bay leaves, fennel, onion, and Celery with water and fish.
Now, after putting everything inside the bowl, ensure that your fish pieces are covered with the brine from all sides. Cover the bowl using a clean wrap and leave it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Curing the fish
This process above is known as curing the fish. In this process, the fish is left in the brine solution for several hours to eliminate the fish’s moisture, and salt can take its place.
Since salt increases the shelf life, when fused inside the Salmon, it will increase its shelf life so that you can enjoy your smoked Salmon for very long.
However, please do not leave your fish in the brine solution for more than 24 hours, or else it will become saltier and ruin the taste.
Air-dry the fish
Air drying is a crucial step while smoking your Salmon. You should ensure that before you smoke your fish, it is perfectly dry. If not, the fish will get ruined and won’t smoke appropriately.
After curing your fish in the brine solution, take it out of the brining bowl and place it on a wire rack so that it dries there completely. You need to wait until a thin layer called Pellicle is formed on the fish pieces’ surface.
Once this layer is visible, you can be sure that your fish has perfectly dried off and is perfect for smoking.
Smoking the Salmon
There are two methods by which you can smoke your Salmon. One way is to cold smoke it, and the other is to hot smoke it. During the cold-smoking process, you smoke the Salmon at a temperature below 80 Fahrenheit.
In this smoking process, the Salmon doesn’t get cooked and hence is raw. It is probably the vacuum-sealed salmon packets that you find in the market. Cold-smoked Salmon doesn’t stay for long, unlike the hot smoked ones.
On the other hand, in hot-smoking, you smoke your fish at a temperature of 140 Fahrenheit for a minimum of 30 minutes. In this process, the fish is entirely cooked and stays for long.
Its life in the refrigerator is about ten days, while it lasts for over six months in the freezer.
Mouth-watering dishes that you can make with Smoked Salmon
Salmon is a tasty fish, and everyone who has tasted it before swears by its tempting taste. While it is a healthy fish to include in the diet, you need to find various ways to incorporate it and make it worthwhile.
Some dishes that you can make using smoked Salmon are listed below for your convenience. Hence, stop searching for the dishes on other sites and get started with one listed here.
Gluten-Free smoked salmon tartlets
This dish includes smoked Salmon along with beetroot, eggs, crème Fraiche, and dill. It is effortless to prepare and gets ready in just 20 minutes.
The tartlets are tasty and sure to leave you spellbound with the first bite that you take into your mouth. This dish is a must-try for those who love Salmon but are worried about the dishes’ gluten-traces.
Prawn Cocktail Salmon Parcels
This dish is the perfect fit for parties and celebrations. Along with the smoked Salmon, you can also experience the buttery taste of prawns sealed inside the salmon parcels. You can serve it with sauces that you find suitable for it.
As soon as you put it inside your mouth, the fish and the prawn melt in your mouth, leaving you mesmerized forever.
Smoked Salmons with eggs
Smoked Salmon with eggs is a classic Christmas dish that is quick to make and hunger-satisfying. If you are searching for a smoked salmon dish that gets prepared in a few minutes, this dish is a perfect choice.
When the luscious fish blends with the egg, the taste is mouth-watering, and you can never have enough out of it. Every bite of this dish is worth savoring because of the diverse flavors.
You only need to use simple ingredients and love to prepare them.
Wrapping up
If you love eating smoked Salmon and are worried about its gluten traces, you should stop worrying because smoked Salmon is natural and contains no Gluten.
However, if you are outsourcing it, ensure that you check the label once. Only purchase the packet that is labeled as “gluten free.”
To stay assured and on the safer side, you can prepare homemade smoked Salmon and incorporate them in your regular dishes or the ones listed above to enjoy your tasty fish in the best way.
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