Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (2024)

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5 from 12 votes

By Hank Shaw

July 04, 2015 | Updated August 07, 2021

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Bluefish is just about as polarizing a food as there is: You either love it or hate it. But a possible middle ground is smoked bluefish pâté. Most people who try it like it.

Pomatomus saltatrix is a pelagic fish that normally travels in big schools, eternally in search of food. They’re a lot like a pack of wolves, or oceanic piranha. All that travelling means bluefish have lots of red, slow-twitch muscle, which in fish is very, very strong and unpleasant to eat.

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (2)

What’s more, the “white” meat, really bluish gray in a bluefish, is pretty soft. Oh yeah, and uncooked it doesn’t freeze worth a damn.

So what’s to love? Well, cooked fresh, bluefish is fantastic — if you cook it right. I prefer mine grilled, slow barbecued or better yet, smoked. Once it’s cooked, you can then vacuum seal and freeze the white meat portions for eating later. In general, bluefish likes acid: citrus, vinegar, tomatoes, that sort of thing. It cuts the oiliness.

Smoked bluefish pâté may well be the best thing you can do with blues, especially big blues larger than 10 pounds (they can grow to 25 pounds). Basically its fish, cream cheese, capers, lemon, onion and dill. Super simple, so good on crackers for a summertime lunch or appetizer. I’d been wanting to make it for a while, and I got my chance when I returned to Long Island — my old stomping grounds — to do some fishing with my friend, Chef Anita Lo.

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (3)

We fished out of Montauk, ostensibly for black seabass and gigantic porgies, which we laid into something fierce. All the while, though, I was hoping to get into some bluefish. Why? I can catch fish that taste like seabass and porgies here in California, but we have nothing like bluefish in the North Pacific.

About halfway through the trip, Anita hooked a big fish on a porgy rig. It wasn’t coming up, either, and lest you think it’s because Anita is just a fancypants, big city chef, I can assure you that she is a real-deal angler; we’ve fished together in Alaska and she proved herself then. About five minutes into the fight, we all reeled up to watch the show.

Tuna? Tilefish? World record seabass? Shark? Shark. Had to be a shark. Finally, about 15 minutes in, we saw the fish. It was a bluefish. A big one. And it was hooked in the gill plate, so it could swim freely. No wonder Anita was having a tough time! nearly 20 minutes in we gaffed the fish and brought it aboard. Easily 15 pounds, maybe more than that.

It was the only bluefish we caught that day, but it was enough. Anita can catch blues whenever she wants, so she was nice enough to give me this fish, which we filleted and I brought home on the airplane. I smoked it the next day, and it was awesome! Tasted like the old days.

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (4)

If you want to smoke your own bluefish, here’s how I did it: I had about 3 1/2 pounds of skin-on fillets. I mixed 1/2 pound of kosher salt with 1/2 pound brown sugar and packed the fish with it. I put that in the fridge for 4 hours, then I rinse off the cure and patted the bluefish dry. I let the fish dry uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day I smoked it over alder for 4 hours, never letting the temperature top 200°F. When it came off the smoker, I painted the bluefish with some maple syrup and then sprinkled on a spice mix of cracked black pepper, crushed juniper, mustard seed, celery seed and thyme.

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (5)

After we ate a bunch fresh, I whipped up this bluefish pâté. So good!

This recipe works really well with smoked shad or mackerel. And while bluefish pâté is my go-to, bluefish are also a good fish to use for rillettes or as a substitute for salmon in salmon dip, or smoked trout in smoked trout dip.

5 from 12 votes

Smoked Bluefish Pâté

This recipe assumes you have cooked bluefish, preferably smoked bluefish. You can find smoked bluefish in most Northeastern markets. Or you can make your own. Or you can just cook up some bluefish -- on the grill is best -- and then use the cooked, flaked meat. No bluefish near you? Try these fish as substitutes: Mackerel (of any kind), shad, herring, sardines, freshwater sheepshead (drum), whitefish, cisco, wahoo, dorado or jack. Basically you want a pretty oil fish that isn't salmon.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: 10 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound cooked (smoked) bluefish (for alternatives, see above)
  • 1/4 pound cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup minced red onion
  • 1 tablespoon chopped dill
  • 1 tablespoon small capers
  • Zest and juice of a lemon
  • A few splashes of Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce to taste
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or bourbon (optional)
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Remove all the red meat from the bluefish and either discard or give it to your pet. It's very fishy and most people (including me) don't like it. Toss all the ingredients in a large bowl and mash them together into a rough pate. If you want a smooth pate, double the cream cheese and mash everything up even more. Serve with crackers or flatbread.

Notes

Once made, this pâté will keep in the fridge for a week to 10 days. It doesn't freeze well, so my advice if you smoke your own bluefish is to seal it into 1/2 pound portions so you can make this whenever.

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 243IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
American Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Charcuterie, Featured, Fish, Recipe

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

Bluefish Pâté Recipe - Smoked Bluefish Pâté | Hank Shaw? ›

For food safety reasons, you want the internal temperature of the fish to reach 160°F at some point in the cooking process. Consider that my disclaimer. Smoked fish will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but ours was gone long before then. Eat it on toasted baguette with goat cheese, red onion, capers, and dill.

How long does smoked bluefish last in the fridge? ›

For food safety reasons, you want the internal temperature of the fish to reach 160°F at some point in the cooking process. Consider that my disclaimer. Smoked fish will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but ours was gone long before then. Eat it on toasted baguette with goat cheese, red onion, capers, and dill.

Are bluefish good smoked? ›

Bluefish has a strong flavor, so choose your smoking wood accordingly. You may want to go with an assertive smoke like mesquite, hickory, or even walnut or cherry to hold up to the taste of the fish rather than choosing a mild wood like maple or apple.

Can I freeze smoked bluefish? ›

By: Acme Smoked Fish

It sure is. You can extend the shelf life of your fish for up to 6 months by popping it in the freezer, then thawing it in the fridge (set below 40°F) when you're ready to enjoy. Just avoid re-freezing if you'd like to preserve the superior texture, flavor, and color of the fish.

What is fish pate made of? ›

Steps to Make It

Place fish, cream cheese, butter, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, garlic, and pepper into a food processor bowl. Pulse until mixed well, but not completely puréed. Mound mixture into a serving dish and refrigerate overnight. Paté tastes best when brought to room temperature.

How often can you eat bluefish? ›

►Health Benefits & Risks

The State of Maine recommends that pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant, nursing mothers and children under 8 not eat any striped bass or bluefish. Everyone else should eat no more than four meals per year.

Is smoked fish OK not refrigerated? ›

You should never store smoked fish at room temperature, so as soon as you're home from the store, pop it right into the fridge. Hosting a brunch or grazing on bagels with friends? Just make sure you open the package when you take it out of the fridge, and never leave it out for more than 3 hours at room temp.

Are bluefish healthy to eat? ›

Health Benefits

Bluefish are a good source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B12, magnesium, and potassium. As apex predators, bluefish can accumulate comparatively high levels of mercury and PCB contaminants. Limited consumption has been recommended in some states.

Is it healthy to eat smoked fish? ›

NUTRITIONALLY-RICH

In addition to Omega-3's, smoked fish provides a multitude of other nutritional benefits. Of course, it is very rich in protein, which is great for muscle growth, but it also packs iodine, as well as a multitude of other important vitamins and minerals like Vitamin D.

Can you eat blue fish raw? ›

In the past few years I have started eating bluefish raw (it's amazing!); all you need is some good olive oil and a little bit of salt. You also can fry the skin and serve it like potato chips, which goes well with mayonnaise, or keep it simple and roast the fish whole.

Can you eat bluefish skin? ›

Bluefish has a strong flavor with edible skin. The meat is moist so they need to be cooked or eaten fresh from the ocean or else they tend to go bad fairly quickly. Bluefish are generally eaten raw, baked, poached, or smoked.

How do you know when smoked bluefish is done? ›

There they stayed for the next 3 hours. I checked on the bluefish periodically and added more charcoal, chips and water as required. After 3 hours of smoking, the edges of the bluefish should be blackened. Fillets will be done once the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

What is the best way to eat blue fish? ›

Cooking Your Catch! Though there are many ways to cook bluefish, I believe the best way is to grill the fillets. I brush the fillets with some Italian dressing before, and again during cooking. A fish screen or rack will prevent pieces from falling through the grates as the fish cooks and starts to flake.

Why is pâté so expensive? ›

Often artisanal pâté is made with locally sourced ingredients, with meat and fat from small farms instead of large corporations. The practices the company adheres to can drastically influence the price of the final product, creating a rather large gap between mass-market production and artisanal product.

What do you eat with fish pâté? ›

To serve:
  1. Bread, crackers or toast.
  2. Pickles – gerkins and or a selection of quick pickled veg and fried or plain capers.
  3. Greens – micro greens or cress look beautiful with this, you could use herb flowers too.
  4. lemon zest scattered over the top looks pretty and gives pops of citrus.
  5. black pepper.

What is the jelly around pâté? ›

Aspic or meat jelly (/ˈæspɪk/) is a savory gelatin made with a meat stock or broth, set in a mold to encase other ingredients. These often include pieces of meat, seafood, vegetable, or eggs. Aspic is also sometimes referred to as aspic gelée or aspic jelly.

How long does bluefish last in fridge? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeRefrigerator [40°F (4°C) or below]
Fin FishFatty Fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.)1 - 3 Days
Lean Fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.)
Lean Fish (pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.)
ShellfishFresh Crab Meat2 - 4 Days
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

How long does it take for smoked fish to go bad? ›

How to look after smoked fish
SpeciesSmoked productStorage life
Herringbloaters cold smoked5-6 days
buckling hot smoked5-6 days
Salmonfillets cold smoked10 days
Troutwhole gutted hot smoked10 days
10 more rows

How long does home smoked fish last in fridge? ›

Susan Westmoreland, food director for Good Housekeeping, offers this advice about storing smoked salmon: Put it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, where it's coldest. Unopened, it will keep for two weeks; after opening, one week.

How long does cooked smoked fish last in the fridge? ›

Once you open your package of smoked fish, you should consume it all within 5 days. In the rare event of leftovers, store your opened packages in a zip-lock bag to maintain that second-to-none succulence.

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