How long should the reindeer leg sit in the brine?

The leg sits in the boiled, cooled brine for 3–4 weeks. Reckon with around a month in total before smoking, as the recipe's time of about 30 days suggests.

What does the brine consist of?

8 liters water, 2 liters salt, 200 g sugar and 30 g saltpeter. The brine is boiled for 10 minutes, skimmed and cooled completely before the meat is placed in it.

Must the meat be pre-treated before it is placed in the brine?

Yes. The leg is first rubbed with a mixture of 3 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 dessert spoon saltpeter. Only the following day is it placed in the cold brine.

What happens after the salting?

The leg is hung up for a couple of days to dry, then it is smoked, and finally it is hung up to cure. The recipe is from Henriette Schønberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" (1914), p. 306.

Smoked Reindeer Meat

A reindeer leg is rubbed with salt, sugar and saltpeter, sits 3-4 weeks in boiled brine, is dried a couple of days, smoked and cured.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 306 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

A preservation recipe for reindeer leg: dry-rubbing, brine for several weeks, then smoking and curing. Saltpeter was common as a color-preserving salt in 1914.

How to make it

1
Boil the brine
Boil the water, salt, sugar and saltpeter for 10 minutes, skim off, and pour the brine out to cool.
2
Rub the leg
Rub the leg well with a mixture of 3 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 dessert spoon saltpeter.
3
Place in brine
The next day, place the leg in the boiled, cold brine. It sits in the brine for 3 to 4 weeks.
4
Dry and smoke
Hang the leg up for a couple of days to dry, smoke it and then hang it up to cure.

Changes from the original

Measurements are given in liters and grams. Saltpeter (sodium nitrate) is kept as in the original, but should today be replaced by modern nitrite salt per the manufacturer's instructions. Times are given for the total process (about 4 weeks in brine).

Time machine – what changed?

Pick two editions and see what Henriette Schønberg Erken added, removed or changed between them.

From1914 1949 Modernised

To1914 1949 Modernised

1914 (proofread, p. 306) → 1949 (proofread, p. 340)~51% of the text changedremovedadded

~~Dyrelaar. Lake: 8 l. vand 2 l. salt 200 gr. sukker 30 gr. salpeter.~~ Laken kokes i 10 minutter, skummes, ~~opheldes. Laaret gnides ind~~ ophelles. Låret gnis inn med en blanding av 3 ~~spiseskeer~~ spiseskjeer salt, 1 ~~spiseske~~ spiseskje sukker og 1 ~~dessertske~~ dessertskje salpeter. Næste dag ~~lægges~~ legges det i den kokte, kolde lake. Ligger i laken 3 à å 4 uker, ~~hænges~~ henges op et par ~~dage,~~ dager, røkes og ~~hænges~~ henges op til ~~spekning.~~ speking.

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Frequently asked questions

How long should the reindeer leg sit in the brine?: The leg sits in the boiled, cooled brine for 3–4 weeks. Reckon with around a month in total before smoking, as the recipe's time of about 30 days suggests.
What does the brine consist of?: 8 liters water, 2 liters salt, 200 g sugar and 30 g saltpeter. The brine is boiled for 10 minutes, skimmed and cooled completely before the meat is placed in it.
Must the meat be pre-treated before it is placed in the brine?: Yes. The leg is first rubbed with a mixture of 3 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 dessert spoon saltpeter. Only the following day is it placed in the cold brine.
What happens after the salting?: The leg is hung up for a couple of days to dry, then it is smoked, and finally it is hung up to cure. The recipe is from Henriette Schønberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" (1914), p. 306.

Equipment for this dish

Smoking equipment →Smokers, chips and briquettes – smoke your own fish and meat, as Erken describes.Foodstuff.no

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