The smoky flavor of cedar makes this salmon dish the easiest and most delicious you’ll ever make! Cedar Plank Salmon is easy, delicious and healthy! Salmon is infused with subtle smoke using a cedar board on the grill – no fuss and easy cleanup.
Here’s one of my favorite ways to cook salmon: on a cedar board on the grill. The smoke from the cedar smells heavenly – like in a real wood-fired sauna – and gently fills the salmon with love.
Why You’ll Love Cedar Plank Salmon
- It’s SO easy and the grill stays clean! No mess, no fuss, with very little cleanup.
- The taste! For me there is nothing better than salmon with some wood smoke – subtle but magical!
- It is fun!
What you will need!
- cedar boards – About 4-5 salmon fillets fit on a board. Yes, you can reuse these, but they seem to be most flavorful the first time you use them.
- Salmon – fresh, wild, skinless, thicker cuts works best here. Thicker cuts allow them to cook longer and slower, giving the salmon more smoky flavor. If possible, use wild salmon. Ask your butcher to remove the skin for you. AND Just a word of warning: Trader Joe’s Wild Sockeye Salmon is just not good. sorry tj
- olive oil– Extra virgin through and through!
- salt and spices– see the recipe notes for our Northwest Salmon Rub. Or use salt, pepper, lemon zest.
- Fresh thyme.
How to make cedar plank salmon
Step 1: Soak the cedar board in water 1-2 hoursthen preheat the grill.
Step 2: Brush all sides of the salmon with olive oil and sprinkle all sides with Northwest Salmon Rub (recipe below) – or salt, pepper and lemon zest.
Step 3: Place the soaked cedar plank on the hot grill and grill until smoky smelling and grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. This is the key to great taste!
Step 4: Turn the cedar board over, Then Place the seasoned salmon on top.
Step 5: Cover the grill, turn the heat to low, and cover and cook slowly (allowing for that nice smoke) on low until the internal temperature reaches 125°F (medium-low) or 130°F (medium), approximately 8-9 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon being grilled.
Optional: If you have a grill, grill for 1 minute to caramelize the surface. Or use a cooking torch!
FAQs
This is possible, but not recommended! Placing the salmon meat directly onto the grilled cedar board adds a delicious smoky flavor. The skin acts as a barrier and stays moist. If using salmon with skin, I would recommend oiling and seasoning the skin side and then placing it directly on the cooking grate to crisp it up.
Grilling salmon on a cedar board takes only 10-15 minutes.
Grilling salmon on a cedar board is healthy, easy and delicious – the smoke from the cedar board gives the salmon a subtle smoky flavor.
More recipes you will love
Press
Description
The smoky flavor of cedar makes this salmon dish the easiest and most delicious you’ll ever make! Cedar Plank Salmon is easy, delicious and healthy! Salmon is infused with subtle smoke using a cedar board on the grill – no fuss and easy cleanup.
- Soak cedar board in water for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat grill to medium (400-450F)
- Brush the salmon generously with olive oil, sprinkle all sides with the salmon mixture and place on a plate in the fridge. Alternatively, you can season with salt, pepper, lemon zest and thyme.
- Place the cedar plank on the grill (without salmon) Cover the board and grill until it smells wonderful (like a Finnish sauna) and grill marks appear on the board, about 4 minutes. Turn the cedar plank over.
- Place the salmon on top grilled cedar boardreduce heat low Cover and grill the salmon on low and slow until cooked to a medium 130-135°F (130-135°F), about 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Halfway through, add the thyme.
Remarks
To raise: If using salmon rub, caramelize sugar by toasting in oven for 1-2 minutes until golden on top. You can also use a kitchen lamp.
If you season with salt, pepper and lemon zest, squeeze some lemon at the end (or serve with lemon).
Nourishment
- Serving size: 4 ounce piece of salmon
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 3.3g
- Sodium: 380.3 mg
- Fat: 8.8g
- Saturated Fatty Acids: 1.4g
- Carbohydrates: 3.4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25.3g
- Cholesterol: 57.9 mg
Keywords: Salmon on cedar planks, recipe for salmon on cedar planks, recipe for salmon on cedar planks, salmon on cedar planks