Homemade Hot-Smoked Red Fish Steaks
Aromatic and juicy - perfect for tasty sandwiches and salads! Making hot-smoked red fish at home is very simple. You’ll get a wonderful fish that will brighten any festive table. A true delicacy made with your own hands!
Updated : 08 January, 2026
Easy
More than 1 hour.
Ingredients
300 grams
Lašišos didkepsniai
1 teaspoon
Salt
to taste
Ground black pepper
to taste
Rosemary
to taste
Red pepper, ground
1 teaspoon
Olive oil
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How do you hot-smoke red fish at home? Prepare everything from the list. Fresh steaks are best, but frozen ones work too. If the fish is frozen, thaw it at room temperature first. Rinse the steaks and pat dry with paper towels so no excess moisture remains. Rub the fish on all sides with salt (I used a little more than 1/2 teaspoon).
Step 2
Wrap the fish in cling film or place it in a plastic bag and refrigerate for a few hours. My steaks were salted overnight.
Step 3
Before smoking, prepare the wood chips. Which chips are best? Fruitwood chips are great for smoking - I usually use cherry. Soak the chips in cold water for a while.
Step 4
Remove the salted fish from the refrigerator and pat it dry with paper towels or kitchen towels.
Step 5
Prepare your smoker. Line the bottom with foil, light firewood or charcoal, and wait until it burns down to embers. Squeeze the soaked chips to remove water and spread them in a thin layer over the hot coals.
Step 6
Place the steaks on the rack and close the smoker lid. Keep the temperature at about 100°C / 212°F and smoke the fish for about 30 minutes.
Step 7
Hot-smoked red fish is ready! You can leave it as is, or season it with ground peppers and rosemary.
Step 8
To do that, mix 1 teaspoon vegetable or olive oil with ground black and red pepper, and add a pinch of dried rosemary in a small bowl.
Step 9
Using a silicone brush, spread the mixture over the top side of the smoked steak and leave it until completely cool. Refrigerate the fish for storage.
Step 10
Toasted-bread sandwiches with avocado are especially delicious with this fish.
Author note
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