Cooking Light in an Electric Smoker

By Aly
In Mouthgasm
on

The great thing about an electric smoker is that you can cook anything in it. To make healthy food in your smoker, all you have to do is choose healthy ingredients. Fresh, lean meat, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit are all easily cooked in a smoker. As your food cooks, it will also take on the hearty smoke flavor. Just know that the smoke usually gives your food a savory note.

Cooking in a smoker can take longer than cooking your food in the oven or on the stove, but it is a lot less work. You do not have to constantly keep an eye on the food in your smoker. Just plan ahead for the extra cooking time and wait while the smoker does all the work! Some of the best smoker grills are actually electric. Take a look at our favorites and see which one would suit you best. 

The point of smoking is to slowly cook the food to provide a smoky flavor and keep the food moist. The extra time it takes to cook your food is worth it because your food will be healthier. You are gaining great flavor without frying, adding extra butter or creams to your food. Cooking light and healthy food in a Pro Electric Smoker are so easy.

Light and Healthy Meals:

For a light and healthy meal, choose smoked fish and a green salad. Simply season your fish with pepper, a little heart-healthy olive oil, garlic, dried sage and onion powder. Your fish will be flavorful with a nice smoky hint. Serve this fish on top of your green salad and you will have a healthy, delicious meal. Smoking fish in the smoker only takes about 3 hours at 175 degrees Fahrenheit. You will feel like you are dining at a 5-star restaurant, but you have made this amazingly healthy meal yourself.

Chicken tenders can be smoked at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle on your favorite spices just before smoking the chicken. Within one hour, you have a lean and tasty main dish.

For dessert, smoke some peaches. Simply cut the peaches in half and remove the pit. Smoke the peaches for 30-45 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When the peaches are tender, remove them from the smoker and drizzle honey on top. A little bleu cheese or cinnamon can be sprinkled on top of the peach to make it a gourmet dessert.

Light and Healthy Recipes:

Smoked Watermelon

Ingredients:

  • ½ Watermelon Sliced (Rind still attached)
  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 2 TBSP Salt
  • 2 Limes, Juiced
  • ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes

To Prepare:

  1. Heat smoker to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Brush Watermelon with olive oil and place watermelon in the smoker.
  3. Mix salt and red pepper flakes.
  4. Cook the watermelon for 15-20 minutes. Turn the watermelon over halfway through cooking.
  5. Remove watermelon from the smoker. Sprinkle both sides of the watermelon with the lime juice.
  6. Sprinkle the red pepper and salt mixture on the watermelon. Now, your watermelon is ready to serve.

Zucchini & Yellow Squash

Ingredients:

  • 2 Medium Zucchini, sliced
  • 2 Medium Yellow Squash, sliced
  • 1 Medium Onion, sliced
  • 1 Cup Light Italian Dressing
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Pepper

To Prepare:

  1. Put zucchini, yellow squash, onion, Italian dressing, salt and pepper into a plastic-storage bag. Shake the bag to coat the vegetables. Refrigerate the vegetables for 2 hours.
  2. Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain the excess dressing marinade from the vegetables and save the marinade. Dump the vegetables onto a grill-safe tray or pan.
  3. Cook the vegetables for 1 hour. Baste the vegetables every 20 minutes with the excess Italian dressing marinade.
  4. Remove the vegetables from the smoker once a fork can easily be inserted. Enjoy!

Smoked Baby Potatoes

Smoking potatoes takes a higher heat and a little more time than other vegetables.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. Baby Potatoes
  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
  • 2 tsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 tsp Coarse Salt
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper

To Prepare:

  1. Wash and scrub the baby potatoes. Place the potatoes on a non-stick pan or tray that is oven-safe.
  2. Toss baby potatoes in olive oil. Sprinkle coarse salt, pepper, garlic and parmesan on the potatoes.
  3. Preheat the smoker to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Cook potatoes in smoker for 1-1 ½ hours. When fork inserts easily into the potatoes, they are done.

Preparing a healthy meal in your electric smoker is easy with fresh ingredients. Have fun discovering these tasty and healthy recipes. Allow your electric smoker to do all the work. You will enjoy knowing how to cook delicious, healthy, and low-calorie meals in your electric smoker.