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Happy Sunday friends! Hope you guys are having a great weekend and staying cool. We are in 100% summer mode around here. It’s hot, kids are off school, and everyone seems to be a in a brighter mood. I swear sunshine is like happy medicine. It brings out the good in everyone. One of my favorite things in the summer time is of course all the food and grilling. We pretty much grill everything and anything. Recently we discovered plank smoked salmon. OMG! If you’re not familiar, it’s pretty much fresh salmon rubbed with spices and grilled on a cedar plank. It’s the best salmon you’ll ever have! I promise. It is absolutely delicious.
Grilled salmon on a cedar plank is simple and tasty technique for cooking salmon. You can find the planks at any grocery store in the grilling section. You pretty much soak the plank in water prior to grilling. This will cause the plank to smolder and create smoke, plus it will help keep it from catching on fire. The fish goes on top of the plank and steams gently in the heat of the grill, while picking up smoky flavors from the grill and woodsy flavors from the cedar.
For this recipe, I used a simple rub of brown sugar, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes. I also added fresh lemons around the salmon for that fresh seafood taste. The salmon only takes about 10 minutes to cook and comes out absolutely tender and moist. Plus, I don’t know about you but I hate grilling fish on direct grill grates as it always falls apart on me. With the plank, you don’t have to worry about that. The fish comes out in perfect one piece!
This is a great and simple recipe to start off with if you’re new to plank grilling. Easy technique with ton of flavor! If you guys do try it, please let know how you like it.
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Lemon Plank-Smoked Salmon
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cedar plank (16 X 7)
- 4 (6 oz.) salmon fillets
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 3 lemons, halved
Instructions
- Prepare the cedar plank by soaking in water for at least 1 hour. I usually fill my kitchen sink with enough water to cover the plank and use full water bottles or canned goods as weights to keep the plank underwater.
- While the plank is soaking, combine the brown sugar, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Rub over one side of the salmon fillets.
- Preheat the grill on high heat. Place the soaked plank on the grill until it begins to smolder and crackle, about 3 minutes. The plank will turn black. Flip the plank over and arrange the salmon fillets (rub side up) on the plank along with the lemon halves, cut side down.
- Cook, covered, until salmon flakes easily (the lemons will also become really soft), 8-10 minutes. If plank catches on fire, spritz it lightly with water until the flame is gone.
- Squeeze lemons over salmon and serve immediately.
Notes
add additional 1 hour for the plank to soak in water
Anna says
Hi Katya, I’m making this for dinner tonight. The salmon I bought today has skin on, which i really love because it adds a little fat and more flavor. I’m assuming your recipe is skinless (from photos displayed), should i remove the skin when grilling on a plank? Thanks so much:)
Katya says
Hi Anna: you should be fine with skin on. After you’re done grilling the salmon, the skin will come off super easy. I sometimes keep it on and sometimes off. And I agree it will give you a little more flavor. Hope you enjoy!
Anna says
Thanks for feedback Katya, but I’ll try it again with skin on next time. I ended up removing the skin. It was awesome anyways. See my comment below. Thanks
Anna says
Update: I removed salmon skin before putting it on the cedar plank.
This recipe is the bomb! Probably the best I’ve tried thus far. I am so impressed.
I also like your other salmon recipe with red pepper sauce, however i must say this cedar plank recipe is my new favorite. The smoky flavors along with the spices/brown sugar were so good. My family loved this recipe. Can’t wait to make it again for my guests for Easter.
Thanks so much Katya, I really enjoy your nutritious recipes 🙂
★★★★★
Katya says
That’s great! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Shaunshell Dawkins says
Where do u get the Cedar planks from?????
Katya says
I purchased mine at Ace Hardware but I know Target, Lowes, Home Deport also carry them during the grilling season. Also Amazon has them. Hope that helps 🙂
Laurie Siegmund says
I am making this tomorrow for Gourmet group…don’t let me down 😉 Did you know that you can go to Home Depot and buy a untreated cedar plank and they will cut it into the size of pieces that you need? The plank will cost you around $2.50-$3.00! You will have more than 10! Anyway…I’ll let you know what I think tomorrow 🙂
Katya says
Oh Laurie! I so hope I don’t disappoint you! Please do let me know how the salmon turns out and thanks so much for the plank tip! I will have to check that out.
Riley Adams says
We just tried this recipe this past week and we absolutely loved the flavor of the pepper flakes and the tartness of the lemon with the smokiness!! We will definitely use this one again!!
Try using a little wood smoke to go with the charcoal, it’s great!!!
★★★★★
Katya says
Thanks so much Riley! So glad you enjoyed the salmon.
Katya says
So happy you enjoyed the salmon. Thank you so much for your feedback Seleena! A lot of times I make it in the oven using the same rub and I love the spicy/smoky/sweetness of it too!
Valya of valyastasteofhome.com says
Great recipe Katya! Love salmon. Just had baked salmon last Sunday. But never had salmon prepared this way. I shall try. 🙂
★★★★★
Katya says
It’s really easy Valya and the taste is pretty amazing! One of my favorite ways to cook salmon now.
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
I have never cooked on cedar planks, but I’d love to give it a try. This salmon looks amazing, Katya! Pinning.
Katya says
You have to try it Thao! It is so good and honestly easy. One of my favorite salmon dishes now.