Cedar Plank Salmon
This is one of my favorite salmon dishes. Cedar boards for grilling are sold at gourmet food shops, housewares stores, and lumberyards. Make sure the lumber hasn't been treated with preservatives or other chemicals. The fish comes out smoky and moist. You'll never grill salmon the traditional way again.
This is one of my favorite salmon dishes. Cedar boards for grilling are sold at gourmet food shops, housewares stores, and lumberyards. Make sure the lumber hasn't been treated with preservatives or other chemicals. The fish comes out smoky and moist. You'll never grill salmon the traditional way again.
- Carbohydrate 54.351035 g
- Cholesterol 123.2 mg
- Fat 37.148595 g
- Fiber 0.206400003433228 g
- Protein 45.894205 g
- Saturated Fat 7.411292 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (287g)
- Sodium 147.749 mg
- Sugar 54.1446349965668 g
- Trans Fat 6.398645 g
- Calories 739 calories
Step-by-step
- Soak cedar plank in water (completely submerged) for at least 20 minutes...the longer the better.
- Preheat a gas grill to high; adjust to medium low after 15 minutes. (If cooking over charcoal, allow the coals to burn until they are covered with white ash.)
- Combine the brown sugar, oil, thyme, and cayenne in a bowl.
- Place the salmon skin-side down on the cedar plank.
- Spread mixture over the salmon.
- Place the planked salmon on the grilling grate and cook, with grill covered, about 40 minutes or just until the surface fat begins to turn white.
- If the plank catches fire, have a spray bottle of water handy to put out the fire.
- Rainy-Day Method: Preheat oven to 325? F.
- Prepare the salmon as described above, then roast on the cedar plank for about 25 minutes.
Managing Moisture and Surface Texture
Dry protein fibers ruin salmon by turning them chalky and dense. Oil combined with brown sugar creates a viscous barrier that locks internal juices inside the muscle cells while caramelizing the exterior. Watch for the surface fat to turn white, which indicates complete cooking without over-tightening the protein bonds. Keep a water spray bottle nearby to extinguish sudden flare-ups caused by dripping oils without chilling the cooking environment.
Alternative Preparation Methods
Oven-roasting at 325 degrees Fahrenheit replicates the gentle heat profile of a covered grill when weather forces cooking indoors. Pescatarians and those avoiding gluten, dairy, or nuts can enjoy this main dish without altering the core flavoring paste. Budget-friendly grocery store salmon fillets adapt easily to this method, yielding restaurant-quality results at a fraction of the cost.
