Smoked sable facts for kids

Smoked sable is a tasty type of sablefish that has been smoked. It's also known as sable, sablefish, or smoked black cod. Sometimes, it's prepared with a spice called paprika to give it extra flavor.

What is Smoked Sablefish?

Smoked sable is made from a fish called sablefish. This fish lives deep in the ocean. When it's smoked, it gets a special, rich flavor and a soft texture. Smoking is a way to cook and preserve food using smoke. It has been used for a very long time to keep food fresh.

How Fish is Smoked

Smoking fish involves placing it in a special smoker. This smoker uses wood chips to create smoke. The smoke slowly cooks the fish and adds a unique taste. There are two main ways to smoke fish:

• Hot smoking: The fish is cooked at a higher temperature. This makes it fully cooked and ready to eat.
• Cold smoking: The fish is smoked at a lower temperature. This adds flavor but doesn't fully cook the fish. Cold-smoked fish often needs more cooking before you eat it. Smoked sable is usually hot-smoked.

Smoked Sable in American Culture

Smoked sable has been a popular food for many years, especially in places like New York. It's often found in special shops called Jewish delis or "appetizing stores." These stores sell foods like smoked fish, cheeses, and salads.

A Breakfast and Lunch Favorite

In American Jewish cuisine, smoked sable is a classic choice for breakfast or lunch. People often eat it with bagels. Bagels are a type of bread roll that are boiled and then baked. They are often served with cream cheese and smoked fish. Smoked sable is usually served alongside other smoked fish like lox (smoked salmon), hot-smoked whitefish, mackerel, and trout.

Understanding "Black Cod"

Sometimes, the fish called "sable" or "sablefish" in stores might actually be other types of "black cod." "Black cod" is a common name for several fish that belong to the same family, called Anoplopomatidae. So, while you might ask for "sable," you could be getting a close relative!