The smoking technique uses smoke to flavor food and facilitate its preservation.
Smoked is a term that comes from the verb smoke : to make something come into contact with smoke . It is a technique that is applied to foods to give them a distinctive flavor and to facilitate their conservation .
The concept of smoking, in this framework, can refer to said smoking technique or be used as an adjective to describe the product that is smoked. The result of the application of the technique, in this way, is also known as smoking.
Smoking characteristics
Smoking can be carried out hot (subjecting the food to a temperature between 60° and 75°C) or cold (less than 30°C). In this second case, the process requires more hours.
Smoked foods can be preserved for longer as the procedure reduces their moisture level. Thus, smoking is similar to salting as a preservation technique.
It should be noted that it is possible to smoke a wide variety of food products, from cheeses , sausages and meats to organic products such as tofu, as well as different alcoholic beverages. For example: “I think I'm going to order smoked salmon with rice” , “Last night I tried a smoked ham that my uncle brought from Spain: it was exquisite” , “The German manufacturer announced the launch of a new smoked beer with low alcohol content” .
Smoked fish is popular in several regions.
The case of tofu
Tofu is one of those foods that, despite having existed for a long time, has gained great popularity worldwide in recent decades thanks to globalization. Although it is far from being exclusive to vegans and vegetarians, given that it can appeal to any diner in its infinite recipes, the former are probably the ones who consume it the most to replace meat and create vegetable cheeses, for example.
If we focus specifically on smoked tofu , we can say that its flavor is very intense and manages to improve certain recipes such as burgers and sauces without any extra effort. In many stores, whether or not they specialize in foods of plant origin, it is possible to find smoked tofu, ready for use in the kitchen ; However, preparing it at home is easy and practical so as not to depend on its commercial version.
Regarding the ingredients, we will need the following: tofu, 200 grams; white rice, 80 grams; thyme; parsley; basil; cilantro; dill; olive oil , about one and a half tablespoons; salt and pepper.
The first step is to dry the tofu, for which it is recommended to wrap it in a piece of well-absorbent kitchen paper and leave it until the excess liquid is removed. Next, slice it into not very thin slices and apply the olive oil, salt and pepper on both sides. Leave it in a container for later cooking .
To prepare the aromatic herbs we must wash and chop cilantro, parsley, dill and thyme; Although it is not one hundred percent necessary, breaking up the mixture with a mortar and pestle can enhance the flavor .
It's time for smoking, itself. To do this, we must cover a frying pan with aluminum foil, and cook the herbs and rice in it over low heat. When smoke begins to come out, place a rack over the pan to place the tofu sheets on it. Ten minutes are enough for each side to cook, although their inevitable color change is the best clue to know when to remove them.
Another meaning of smoking
Smoked, finally, can be a qualifier that indicates that a transparent object has a somewhat opaque tone despite not necessarily having been in contact with smoke.
“These glasses have smoked lenses to protect the eyes from the sun's reflection” and “I bought a smoked glass table for the living room” are expressions that reflect this use.