Pickled Bluefish, Herring Style
Fillet bluefish. Remove all skin and dark meat. Wash fillets thoroughly before cutting them into bite size chunks, and to make a one quart jar of the "Herring," use these measurements:
3 cups bluefish chunks
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 heaping tablespoon pickling spice
Marinade:
11/4 cup white or wine vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons salt
Mix bluefish, onion and pickling spice in jar.
Stir together ingredients for marinade and pour into jar.
Fill to the brim. Close jar and store in refrigerator for one week, remembering to shake
the jar once a
day to allow the spices to blend evenly. You'll be amazed how closely the taste of
bluefish "herring" resembles the flavor and texture of classic Pickled herring.
Before eating I add sourer cream.
TIPS:
Select bluefish of about three (3) pounds
When caught, cut throat and allow to bleed in saltwater (5 to 10 minutes) until dead
Immediately chill on ice before cleaning
Fillet and skin, cut out red meat and belly with bones
Wash and chill fillets in saltwater slush (heavy mixture of ice and water) for 15 minutes
NOTES:
Like most people I do not like to eat bluefish,
but I do love pickled herring, and this is the best I ever
had. Also bluefish are plentiful around the winter holidays.
The slush is something I use on all fish before bagging
Capt. Bob Smith