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Smoked Mullet - A Taste of Old Florida

Ted Peters Smoked Mullet Recipe

This recipe is for a delicious smoked fish dip made with black mullet, a local fish found in abundance in the Boca Ciega Bay area near South Pasadena, Florida. It's a family recipe that has been perfected over many years and is now a signature dish at Ted Peters' Fish Restaurant.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Seafood, Southern
Servings 8
Calories 265 kcal

Equipment

  • Fish smoker
  • Smoker wood chips (preferably citrus wood)
  • Mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Large pot for boiling fish
  • Serving dish

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds of fresh mullet filets skin-on and intact
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 cherry peppers chopped
  • 2 dill pickles chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill leaves chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Baguette slices for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, boil the mullet filets in salted water for about 10 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and can be easily flaked with a fork.
  • Let the fish cool, then remove the skin and any bones.
  • Break the fish into small chunks with your hands or a fork.
  • In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the cream cheese, sour cream, cayenne pepper, cherry peppers, dill pickles, dill leaves, lemon juice, and black pepper until smooth.
  • Add the chunks of fish to the cream cheese mixture and stir until well combined.
  • Smoke the fish in a fish smoker with citrus wood chips for 6-8 hours, until it develops a bold, char flavor.
  • Serve the finished fish dip with lemon wedges and baguette slices.

Notes

  • Black mullet is an oily fish with a high oil content, making it perfect for smoking and creating a delicious smoked fish spread.
  • The choice of mullet is essential to the recipe. Look for common-sounding mullet, and the fish monger can help you make a good choice.
  • The recipe makes a large batch, so feel free to adjust the quantities to your preference.
  • This recipe can be made with other white fish, such as Spanish or king mackerel.
  • This recipe is an ode to family commitment and love for the fish business. Ted Peters is a family-owned and operated seafood market and restaurant with Elry Lathrop Jr. as Chef Fisherman.
  • This recipe has been adapted from Chef Luke Decker's video recipe for Chef Recipe Videos.

YOUR OWN NOTE

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 24gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 363mgPotassium: 483mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 670IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Black mullet, Family recipes, Fish dips, Smoked fish spread
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