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. It is a hot-smoked salmon recipe made on a wooden pellet smoker.

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

Substances for Smoked Salmon

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

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 may get smaller particular person filets or get one massive 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 a little bit sweetness and helps caramelize the surface of the salmon
• Dill: I virtually at all times 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 will be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the submit.

What’s the Greatest Salmon for Smoking?

I at all times search for farm-raised salmon in relation to smoking. They have a tendency to have a better fats content material which helps them keep tender and flaky via 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 get rid of among the moisture from the within of the fish whereas concurrently infusing it with salt, which is able to 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 varieties on fish or poultry that retains protein contained in the salmon whereas serving to the salmon tackle the smoke. This course of will permit smoke to raised 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 no less than 20 minutes and as much as 24 hours for the brining answer to penetrate the fish. Utilizing small filets means that you would be able to get away with 1-3 hours, however utilizing entire filets which can be 3-5 kilos will take longer.

Can You Dry Brine Salmon Too Lengthy?

Sadly, sure, you possibly can brine any meat, however particularly fish for too lengthy. Smoked salmon brine has quite a lot 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 way to Smoke Salmon

Typically cooking salmon can appear a little bit overwhelming, however I swear it doesn’t should 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 substances 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 facet 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 remedy 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 facet down and place it within the fridge in a single day in order that the pellicle can kind.
   • PRO TIP: You should definitely put the fish on a wire rack! You need air to flow into nicely 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 all around the flesh facet 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 facet 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 whole recipe will be discovered within the recipe card down beneath so preserve scrolling for all the main points. You can even save or print the recipe there.

Now Watch How These Steps are Performed…

What Temperature Ought to Salmon Be Cooked To?

The USDA recommends 145 levels Fahrenheit. In case you are involved about meals security, then prepare dinner the meat to the really helpful temperature. Nonetheless, many prepare dinner salmon to an inside temperature no higher than 135 levels as a result of should you belief your sourcing and know it’s of top of the range you possibly can 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.

The 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 traditional option to serve smoked salmon is with skinny crackers and cream cheese. You can even add components like sliced onions, contemporary herbs, or lemon wedges which actually brightens up the dish.

Need a enjoyable evening with pals? Place the crackers, cream cheese, and smoked salmon on a reducing 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’s going to preserve for as much as 3 days.

You possibly can eat salmon both chilly or scorching. I wish to preserve salmon chilly and flake it right into a salad for lunch. You can even 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 little 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 straightforward smoked salmon recipe is a scrumptious and versatile dish that may be loved by itself or integrated into numerous recipes. Study easy methods to make your individual smoked salmon at residence with this straightforward and flavorful recipe. The mixture of candy and smoky is irresistible!

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