Walnut smoked chicken with Qview

[walterwhite]

For my next experiment in smoking meat, I picked up some chicken legs and thighs that were on sale. This time I decided to try using some black walnut that had grown too close to my gutters. ;) I had trimmed some limbs earlier this summer and cut some disks that I dried in our oven. For this smoke in my mini-WSM, I used one piece about 5" in diameter and two inches thick. I tried scorching some of the bark over a gas flame and didn't find the smoke objectionable so I left the 3/8" bark on. It included some of the dark heart wood as well as lighter outer wood and bark.I split the wood into smaller chunks - comparable in size to the briquettes.

The chicken was brined for several hours and then I rinsed and dried it before coating it with peanut oil. I applied no further seasoning because I was more interested in the flavor that the black walnut smoke would impart.

Cold outdoor temperatures - about 45° - and persistent drizzle kept smoking temperatures low ranging from 210° to 230° until the water in the pan boiled away and temperature climbed to 280°. That was three hours in and I just took the chicken off and sealed up the smoker.

As the chicken cooked, the walnut smoke gave it a deliciously golden color. Three hours later it had darkened a but, but no where near what I would expect to see from something like hickory.

The flavor was also light and delicate. I would almost say sweet.

best,
walt

 

[bullfrog]

Looks good!

 

[beer-b-q]

Chicken looks great...

 

[ronp]

Nice looking legs there, yummo.

 

[cruizer]

Very interesting using black walnut. Would have thought it to be a strong smoke.

 

[scpatterson]

Dang Those look good...

 

[hemi]

I got a huge old walnut tree I gotta bring down . looks like I might not pile it ALL by the curb after all.. Hemi..

 

[mballi3011]

I have used alot of walnut making furniture with it. But I have never smoked with it but it doesn't grow here. It looks awesome and I hope it will smoke for you. The chicken legs look good but how was the smoke flavor.

 

[walterwhite]

You never know until you try I guess.

I'm not sure how to describe it. I would say that it was on par with maple (box elder, actually) in strength but maybe a little sweeter. Neither is a strong smoke flavor but I like both.

I'm just saving stuff I trim on my suburban lot and (except for the Chinese elm) I'm trying it out in a mini-WSM to see what kind of flavor it produces. I have wild cherry, mulberry, black walnut and recently took down a box elder. There is also some lilac that needs trimming. One of these days I'll ask the neighbor across the street if his oak needs trimming

And yes, it was very good even without any seasonings or finishing sauce.

-walt

 

[blue]

Looks great.

 

[phreak]

LOL, if serious wood turners see this they are going to cringe.