You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Cedar Planked Salmon! This simple way of grilling on a wooden board gives an irresistible smoky taste.
The best way to cook salmon? Salmon on cedar plank. Grilling fish on a wooden board gives it a smoky flavor die for. If you enjoy grilling, cedar planks are for you. It’s my parents’ favorite way to cook salmon, so they gave us a cedar board so we could try it too. Alex and I love grilled dinner ideas: This season was full of grilled cauliflower, grilled shrimp, and grilled avocado. So of course we were thrilled to have another grilling tool to test! We’ve found the cedar board method to be simple and {almost} failsafe. This is an easy dinner recipe for entertaining or a busy weeknight.
All about cedar planks
First off, if you want to make cedar plank salmon…where do you get cedar boards You can find cedar planks at your local grocery or hardware store. Or even easier, you can order cedar boards online.
Are cedar boards reusable? Yes! You can use a cedar board over and over again. Remember: put the food on the side opposite the charred side. You can use it until it’s too charred or too difficult to clean.
How long do you soak cedar boards? Good question. A cedar plank should be soaked before grilling to prevent it from burning during cooking. Consult the directions for your cedar plank, but typically you will soak for 1-2 hours.
How to make Easy Cedar Plank Salmon
The great thing about the cedar plank salmon method is that it’s so easy. You don’t even have to measure anything! Our method is to use salmon fillets of any size. We plan to use about 4 ounces per person. The salmon is seasoned with our homemade seasoning salt mix, but you can also use store-bought seasoning salt. All you have to do is season the fish generously: no measuring here! It’s a flexible method that you can use over and over again.
Here are the basic steps to make Cedar Plank Salmon (Scroll down for the full recipe):
- Soak board: Soak the board in water for about 1 hour (or according to the board’s instructions).
- Season: Place the salmon on the board and season with seasonal salt.
- Grill: Grill over indirect medium heat until salmon is pink on the inside but not too flaky, 10-20 minutes.
- Spray: Drizzle with lemon juice and serve.
An excellent sauce to go with it: Lemon Dill Sauce!
The hot dill sauce of our Salmon with lemon and dill would be perfect to accompany that salmon on a cedar board! While the salmon is grilling, mix the dill sauce with the yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh dill, and lemon. It only takes 5 minutes and takes that salmon to the next level.
Looking for more ideas? Here are all our salmon recipes.
How to buy sustainable salmon
Considering buying sustainable salmon? (If so, congratulations!) Here are some tips for buying sustainable seafood:
- If possible, look for wild fish. And if you live in the United States, look for the united states taken if you can 90% of the seafood we eat in the United States is imported. Imported seafood is at risk of being overfished, caught under unfair labor conditions, or farmed in environmentally harmful ways.
- It matters how your fish is caught. Seek hook and line as an example of a type of durable gear. Bottom trawling is considered to be the most destructive and least sustainable method.
homemade seasoning salt
This salmon uses our homemade seasoned salt recipe. Why homemade? Sometimes seasoned salts may contain MSG or other preservatives. This mixture is easy to prepare and consists only of salt and spices. This is what our seasoned salt contains:
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- turmeric
Go to the recipe to find out how to make it! Of course you can also season the salmon with other spice mixtures: like our Magic Seafood Seasoning. Let us know which are your favourites!
How to serve cedar plank salmon
Now, what are the best side dishes with salmon? We made it a meal of freekah seasoned with butter, garlic and herbs and our favorite salad. But there are many other ways to serve this delicious main course! Here are some other sites we recommend:
This recipe is…
Pescetarian and gluten free.
The description
You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Cedar Planked Salmon! This simple way of grilling on a wooden board imparts an absolutely irresistible smoky aroma.
- Salmon fillets (any size, preferably with skin – 4 ounces per person)
- Homemade seasoning salt (or store-bought seasoning salt)
- 1 lemon
- Optional: chopped fresh herbs for garnish
- Soak the cedar plank in water according to the instructions that came with the plank, or at least 1 hour.
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (you can use gas or charcoal; a charcoal grill adds more flavor if you have it!).
- Place the salmon on the cedar board (if reusing a board, always place the food on the unburned side). Season generously with seasoning salt (or Kosher salt and salmon seasoning).
- Place the board on the grill and grill over indirect heat (not over charcoals) until the salmon is pink in the center but before it starts to become flaky, about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon and the heat of the grill .
- Remove from grill and squeeze with lemon juice. Note that you can clean and wash the cedar board with a spatula: you can then use it over and over again (until it’s too charred or impossible to clean).
- Category: main course
- Method: Goal
- Kitchen: American
Keywords: Cedar Plank Salmon, Grilled Salmon, How to Cook Salmon, Cedar Plank
Looking for healthier seafood recipes?
Here are some healthier seafood and fish recipes:
