The best way to Smoke Salmon Recipe [+Video]

Smoked salmon is a scrumptious and versatile dish that may be loved as a snack, appetizer, or a part of a important course. Learn to smoke salmon at residence with our easy-to-follow recipe and video tutorial beneath.

We begin this recipe with a dry brine that hundreds the salmon fillets with taste and prepares them to soak in all of the smoky taste. This can be a hot-smoked salmon recipe made on a wooden pellet smoker.

We’ve got coated all our bases with regards to salmon right here on the weblog. We’ve got air fryer salmon, grilled salmon, baked salmon, salmon in a salad, salmon bowls and stuffed salmon. We’ve got been engaged on a smoked salmon recipe for years, and now we have lastly nailed it!

Components for Smoked Salmon

Other than the salmon filets, you’ll want only a few substances for the dry brine rub after which a couple of substances for the seasoning combine you rub throughout it earlier than smoking it. Here’s what you’ll need:

Dry Brine

• Kosher Salt: provides taste
• Brown Sugar: provides sweetness and taste
• Black Pepper: provides taste and tiny bit of warmth

Smoked Salmon

• Salmon Filets: You will get smaller particular person filets or get one large filet after which slice it into servings afterward
• Dijon Mustard: provides taste
• Butter: provides wealthy taste and helps hold the salmon moist
• Brown Sugar: provides a bit sweetness and helps caramelize the surface of the salmon
• Dill: I virtually all the time favor contemporary herbs for recipes, however for this one, I favor dried dill.
• Smoked Paprika: provides extra smoky taste
• Salt and Black Pepper: provides taste
• Maple Syrup: used to baste the fillets as they smoke

The measurements for every ingredient might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the publish.

What’s the Greatest Salmon for Smoking?

I all the time search for farm-raised salmon with regards to smoking. They have an inclination to have a better fats content material which helps them keep tender and flaky by the smoking course of. King salmon is my go-to. Coho or Atlantic salmon is my backup. You wish to keep away from actually lean salmon like sockeye salmon.

Why Brine Salmon

This brining course of will eradicate a number of the moisture from the within of the fish whereas concurrently infusing it with salt, which can assist protect the salmon and its moisture and assist create a pellicle (see part beneath).

What’s a Pellicle?

A pellicle is a skinny layer of protein that types on fish or poultry that retains protein contained in the salmon whereas serving to the salmon tackle the smoke. This course of will enable smoke to higher adhere to the floor of the meat throughout the smoking course of.

How Lengthy to Dry Brine Salmon Earlier than Smoking?

Enable at the least 20 minutes and as much as 24 hours for the brining answer to penetrate the fish. Utilizing small filets means you could get away with 1-3 hours, however utilizing complete filets which can be 3-5 kilos will take longer.

Can You Dry Brine Salmon Too Lengthy?

Sadly, sure, you may brine any meat, however particularly fish for too lengthy. Smoked salmon brine has a number of salt in it, so leaving the fish within the fridge for longer than 48 hours will result in an unbearably salty taste and unsavory texture.

The best way to Smoke Salmon

Typically cooking salmon can appear a bit overwhelming, however I swear it doesn’t have to be! I’m right here to stroll you thru every step in order that it seems good each time. Listed below are the steps:

For the Brine

1. Combine: Add all of the substances for the brine to a small bowl and stir to mix.
2. Wrap: Lay a chunk of plastic wrap down on the counter and sprinkle the dry rub throughout it. Lay the items of piece flesh aspect down on the dry rub after which wrap tightly within the plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate: Place the wrapped salmon within the fridge and let it treatment for 4-6 hours.
4. Rinse: Take away the salmon from the fridge, rinse of the dry brine and pat the fish dry with paper towels.
5. Relaxation: Place the fillets on a cooling rack pores and skin aspect down and place it within the fridge in a single day in order that the pellicle can type.
   • PRO TIP: Be sure you put the fish on a wire rack! You need air to flow into effectively throughout the fish.

For the Salmon

1. Mix: Add all of the substances for the butter combination right into a small bowl and stir to mix.
2. Rub: Unfold the combination everywhere in the flesh aspect of every salmon filet.
3. Preheat: Set your Traeger pellet smoker to 225 levels F. Place the salmon on the grill grates of the smoker pores and skin aspect down for 3-4 hours.
4. Baste: Utilizing a pastry brush, baste the salmon after an hour with maple syrup. Baste one other time or two because it finishes smoking.
5. Relaxation: When the interior temp reaches 145 levels F, take away from the smoker and permit it to relaxation on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes earlier than serving.

The entire recipe might be discovered within the recipe card down beneath so hold scrolling for all the main points. It’s also possible to save or print the recipe there.

Now Watch How These Steps are Finished…

What Temperature Ought to Salmon Be Cooked To?

The USDA recommends 145 levels Fahrenheit. If you’re involved about meals security, then cook dinner the meat to the really helpful temperature. Nevertheless, many cook dinner salmon to an inside temperature no higher than 135 levels as a result of if you happen to belief your sourcing and know it’s of top quality you may cook dinner the meat to medium.

What’s the Greatest Wooden for Smoking Salmon?

Apple, cherry and pecan wooden pellets are nice decisions although I additionally love maple or a mix of woods.

The best way to Serve Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon is nice as a result of it may be a important dish or a scrumptious appetizer or snack.

The basic method to serve smoked salmon is with skinny crackers and cream cheese. It’s also possible to add parts like sliced onions, contemporary herbs, or lemon wedges which actually brightens up the dish.

Desire a enjoyable evening with mates? Place the crackers, cream cheese, and smoked salmon on a slicing board, and let your loved ones or visitors take pleasure in constructing their very own creation.

Storing and Reheating

Leftover salmon needs to be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. It should hold for as much as 3 days.

You possibly can eat salmon both chilly or scorching. I wish to hold salmon chilly and flake it right into a salad for lunch. It’s also possible to reheat it, one of the simplest ways is to make use of the oven. Place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet and add a bit water to the baking sheet. Place the salmon on high of the cooling rack and warmth within the oven preheated to 325 levels F for 5-10 minutes relying on the dimensions of your fillets.

This simple smoked salmon recipe is a scrumptious and versatile dish that may be loved by itself or included into varied recipes. Study the best way to make your personal smoked salmon at residence with this simple and flavorful recipe. The mixture of candy and smoky is irresistible!

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