Salmon Jerky

How to Make Delicious Heart Healthy Salmon Jerky

Native Americans that once dwelled in the Pacific Northwest were most likely the first humans to use salmon as a major food source. Salmon actually live in the ocean and travel to fresh waters to mate and lay their eggs. Every year, the rivers and streams of northwestern America are full of salmon rushing back to their original mating grounds.

No doubt that this was a great time for the native people.  They were able to take advantage of the abundant fish. But the fact is that the salmon rush only came once a year, and we all know that fish does not keep very well. As a result, Native Americans quickly learned to cure the fish into a tough jerky that would last much longer than fresh fish. This salmon jerky is still very popular today, and has become a favorite snack and protein supplement among the health-conscious.

Salmon jerky is fixed in a much similar way as hot smoked salmon and lox. The fish is sliced into thin strips, which are then soaked in brine (a seasoned mix of salt water, sugars, and spices). The brined fish is then smoked overnight, and is allowed to air dry for another few days until it is dry but chewy. After that, it is usually frozen, since most people do not care jerky after it has dried out all the way.

After it is dried, salmon jerky usually will not go bad. It is very high in protein, and considerably low in oils and fats, as these parts of the fish are removed because of their poor ability to cure. Additionally, it travels well, and different methods of curing the meat provides a variety of flavors to this treat.

In the end, there are very few foods out there that bring as many valuable contributions to the table in significant quantities as salmon. As we said earlier, it is an excellent source of high-quality protein, containing all the essential amino acids. Salmon contains vitamins A, D, B6 and B2, as well as niacin and riboflavin. Calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus are also present in appreciable amounts in this choice seafood. Salmon is a great food for anyone, and especially for both young children and older people, because it is so easy to digest. Modern science has provided evidence which claims that fish consumption is an important part of a healthy diet because it decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and certain cancers.

An infamous study of Greenland Eskimos indicated that a high consumption of fish results in a lower incidence of coronary heart disease and cancer. Subsequently, other population studies confirmed these findings and showed that fish-eating populations other than Eskimos had less cardiovascular disease than did those who consumed meat-based diets. One of these studies focused on Japan, which incidentally now boasts the longest life expectancy: 77 years for men, and 83 years for women. This longevity may be related to high fish intake.