How 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 fundamental course. Learn to smoke salmon at house with our easy-to-follow recipe and video tutorial under.

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

We’ve got lined all our bases on the subject of 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 we’ve got lastly nailed it!

Elements for Smoked Salmon

Except for the salmon filets, you’ll want only a few elements for the dry brine rub after which just a few elements for the seasoning combine you rub throughout it earlier than smoking it. Here’s what you will have:

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 preserve the salmon moist
• Brown Sugar: provides just a little sweetness and helps caramelize the surface of the salmon
• Dill: I virtually at all times want recent herbs for recipes, however for this one, I want 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 could be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the publish.

What’s the Greatest Salmon for Smoking?

I at all times search for farm-raised salmon on the subject of smoking. They have an inclination to have the next fats content material which helps them keep tender and flaky by means of the smoking course of. King salmon is my go-to. Coho or Atlantic salmon is my backup. You need to keep away from actually lean salmon like sockeye salmon.

Why Brine Salmon

This brining course of will eradicate among 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 under).

What’s a Pellicle?

A pellicle is a skinny layer of protein that kinds 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 in the course of the smoking course of.

How Lengthy to Dry Brine Salmon Earlier than Smoking?

Permit a minimum of 20 minutes and as much as 24 hours for the brining resolution to penetrate the fish. Utilizing small filets means you can get away with 1-3 hours, however utilizing entire filets which might 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 variety 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.

Tips on how to Smoke Salmon

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

For the Brine

1. Combine: Add all of the elements for the brine to a small bowl and stir to mix.
2. Wrap: Lay a bit 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 kind.
   • PRO TIP: Make sure to put the fish on a wire rack! You need air to flow into properly throughout the fish.

For the Salmon

1. Mix: Add all of the elements for the butter combination right into a small bowl and stir to mix.
2. Rub: Unfold the combination all around 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 inner 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 could be discovered within the recipe card down under so preserve scrolling for all the main points. You may also 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 prepare dinner the meat to the beneficial temperature. Nevertheless, many prepare dinner salmon to an inner temperature no better than 135 levels as a result of if you happen to belief your sourcing and know it’s of top quality you may prepare dinner the meat to medium.

What’s the Greatest Wooden for Smoking Salmon?

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

Tips on how to Serve Smoked Salmon

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

The traditional solution to serve smoked salmon is with skinny crackers and cream cheese. You may also add parts like sliced onions, recent herbs, or lemon wedges which actually brightens up the dish.

Need a enjoyable night time with associates? Place the crackers, cream cheese, and smoked salmon on a chopping board, and let your loved ones or visitors get pleasure from constructing their very own creation.

Storing and Reheating

Leftover salmon must be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. It is going to preserve for as much as 3 days.

You’ll be able to eat salmon both chilly or sizzling. I wish to preserve salmon chilly and flake it right into a salad for lunch. You may also 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 just a little water to the baking sheet. Place the salmon on prime 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 straightforward smoked salmon recipe is a scrumptious and versatile dish that may be loved by itself or integrated into varied recipes. Study the best way to make your individual smoked salmon at house with this straightforward and flavorful recipe. The mix of candy and smoky is irresistible!

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