Caught fresh and smoked at home, or bought from the shop, smoked cod has always been a favorite of mine. The way it flakes off when it’s cooked, and how it ends up being juicy after it’s smoked is so delicious!
Below is my simple recipe for smoking cod at home. First I start with a simple marinade (you are going to love the ginger it is in!) then we smoke it!
You don’t want to end up with tough fish so make sure you follow my simple steps below.
Why You’ll Love This Smoked Cod Recipe
You’ll love this smoked cod recipe because it’s a great light meal to share at a gathering in summer or a quick weeknight meal.
The ingredients are easy to source, and, you can even use the cod that you’ve caught yourself.
It’s one of those white fish that is great to use as protein in other meals, like tacos, soups, or curries, and smoking it adds another layer of flavor that you just can’t get from an oven or pellet grill.
What You’ll Need to Cook Smoked Cod
- Cod
- Water
- Ginger Ale
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
- Brown Sugar
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Ginger
- Cilantro
- Lemon Slices
How to Make Smoked Cod
Step 1: Preheating your Smoker to 180°F.
Add your chosen woods into the smoker and preheat your smoker to 180°F.
Step 1: Making the Marinade
Place the water, ginger ale, soy sauce, sugar, garlic powder, and ground ginger in a large bowl and whisk until everything is dissolved.
Step 2: Marinading the Cod
Add the cod to the marinade and place in the fridge for 1 hour. You might need to weigh the fish down with a plate.
Step 3: Lightly Preparing the Cod before Smoking
Remove the fish from the marinade and pat try.
Step 4: Smoking the Cod
Smoke the cod for 2 to 3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
What Temperature to Smoke Smoked Cod at
The smoker should be set at 180°F. Always pat down your fish before putting it in the smoker.
What Internal Temperature You Need to Reach For Smoked Cod
The smoked cod should read at least 140°F as its internal temperature. That’s how you know it’s ready. The outside should be light brown and the inside should be white.
How Long to Smoke Cod
The cod will need to be smoked for at least 2 to 3 hours. Smoke it longer at a lower temperature, that is the key to smoking white fish.
How To Store Leftover Smoked Cod
Cod can last up in the fridge for 2 weeks. It can be frozen.
Best Wood Chips for Smoked Cod
You want to be using light and fruity wood chips for this dish. You can use maple, pecan, apple, or cherry. Hickory or mesquite work well for smoked cod too.
What To Serve With Smoked Cod
Fish is really easy to pair with several other dishes. Here are just a few I’ve found to go well with this smoked cod dish:
- Fish and coriander tacos
- Fresh garden salad with Dijon mustard dressing
- Jasmine coconut rice
- Lemon and oregano roasted potatoes
- Thai coleslaw
What’s The Best Cod To Buy?
Wild-caught cod is always recommended over farm-bred fish. People often use the loin part of the fish as well, but you can use the whole fish if you like.
Is Cod Good To Smoke?
Because cod is a light and almost opaque fish, it makes a great fish to smoke. The meat absorbs the smoke flavors deeply which means it turns out rich and flavorsome. In terms of the way the cod cooks in the smoker, its light traces of saturated fats make it quick to cook, so it can be cooked on super-low heat.
What Marinade Can I Use?
I’ve put together an easy marinade to make at home that is a ginger soy base, but you can try a dry dill rub or other fish rubs — it just depends on your preference.
There are plenty of seasonings you can add to cod to enhance its taste: dill; lemon; parsley; and salt.
What’s The Best Way To Marinade Cod?
The best way to marinade cod is to let it soak in a plastic container or a zip lock bag and let the fish baste in the marinade for an hour.
It’s best to have the marinade covering every bit of the fish, or else the fish will marinade unevenly.
How To Fillet Cod
Filleting cod is really easy. Grab a sharp knife a slice it from one end down to the next. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can also smoke the cod whole because it’s a light meat and the marinade will take to it liberally.
You can buy already filleted cod. It’s a good idea (like with any meat) to cut the meat evenly so it smokes evenly in the smoker. With fish, it’s not all that necessary because it’s so
It’s important to remove the bones from your fish. This can be done easily with tweezers or a knife. Store-bought cod might have some smaller bones in there, but store-bought fish should normally come de-boned anyway!
Grilled Cod
Ingredients
- 1 lb cod
- 3 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Then, pat the cod dry with a paper towel and give it a good rub with the Cajun seasoning and salt. Place the cod on a rack on an oven tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high. Once the grill comes to temperature, place the tray straight onto the grill.
- Cook for 15-20 or until the fish is opaque and flaky. Remove the tray from the grill and rest for 5 minutes, then serve.
Smoke On!
Charlie
Author: Charlie Reeves
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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