I’d like to share with you one of my not-so-guilty pleasures: eating our Hot Smoked Sockeye straight out of the pack. Gobbling it up fast, in the moments between the moments. After a work-out. As an appetizer before dinner. As an afternoon bite. I call it “snacking protein.”
Casual snacking on Hot Smoked Sockeye is the ultimate little interlude of flavor, nutrition and ease of consumption while I’m rushing through the labyrinth of errands, meetings, and parenting. It’s a delectably toothsome, umami-rich, perfectly seasoned bite that satisfies my craving for real, whole food — and just as convenient and tasty as any guilty pleasure that I can imagine.
This snack is also completely in line with my New Year’s resolution — to eat closer to nature. Our Hot Smoked Sockeye is made from high-quality fish with no added preservatives, simply brined and smoked over hardwoods. Because it’s smoked at a relatively high temperature, Hot Smoked Sockeye has the texture of cooked salmon, and it isn’t quite as briny in flavor as our Cold Smoked Sockeye.
This preservation process is inspired by a deep tradition of resourcefulness in Alaska, where harvests had to be prepared in a way that could get communities through long winters.
Well, Hot Smoked Sockeye is something that gets me through the long winters, too. It’s rich in nutrients that I think many of us could benefit from as we head into the heart of the season: vitamin D to make up for all the sunlight we’re missing, omega-3s to help bolster our immunity and maybe even give us a lift in our moods. So I’ll continue to hover momentarily at the fridge, with no utensils or accoutrements in sight. Just me and my perfect snacking protein..
Beyond straight snacking though, I think you’ll love layering Hot Smoked Sockeye onto fancy toasts, or even tossing flakes of it into a DIY trail mix as a salty, savory pop of flavor.
And to level up from light snacking, let me share with you some easy meals that you can eat straight out of the fridge, like this takeout-inspired recipe for Sesame Soba Noodles with Flaked Salmon or our Hot Smoked Salmon and Lentil Bowl. Both are excellent cold or at room temperature. Even if you’re not big on meal prepping, I know we can all appreciate the convenience of having a healthy, ready-to-eat meal tucked in the refrigerator for a busy day.
By the way, both of these recipes can be made with a flaked fillet or two of cooked salmon, if you don’t have Hot Smoked Sockeye on hand.
And if you don’t have Hot Smoked Sockeye in your kitchen right now, you can reserve a couple of packs of Hot Smoked Sockeye for your next box by logging into your account and visiting the Member Special page. This special runs through early next week, or until we sell out, so don’t wait too long to get your wintertime snacking in order!
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured above: A bowl of cold buckwheat soba noodles, dressed generously with a rich sesame-soy sauce and scattered with flaked sockeye, crunchy scallions, and daikon radish matchsticks.
