A very uncomplicated recipe that looks and tastes incredibly gourmet, as if you ordered it at a restaurant.  With the addition of my new secret weapon for salmon, this isn't as much a recipe post as it is a call to remind you that if you're not grilling on cedar planks, you don't know what you're missing!

While Ryan and I were down with family in South Carolina this winter, we went to our friends house who suggested grilled cedar plank salmon for dinner.  He said it as though it was the easiest thing in the world, which I had always thought sounded like a ton of work.  I've always just roasted salmon in the oven with the skin-side down on tin foil, then just threw out the foil after and no mess, no clean up.  It's another easy way to cook salmon, but it also leaves my house smelling like salmon, and no one wants that.

The idea of grilling a piece of fish on a cedar plank sounded so good, and then he put the secret weapon on the counter, Magic Salmon Seasoning.  That link will take you to Amazon where you can grab your own bottle, because trust me, you'll love it, and no I don't make any money off those clicks ;).

Use the seasoning on salmon, trout or any kind of fish.  It's the perfect blend in my opinion of sweet, herby and spicy.

Cedar Plank 101

You can find cedar planks at any grocery store, some home stores like HomeGoods and of course Amazon.  Most cedar planks will be about 1/2" thick, and you'll want to be sure to find ones that are 100%  premium cedar and kiln dried.  The reason for this is because you don't want a lot of excess smoke while you're cooking, or for the plank to break down during the grilling process.

Another thing to keep in mind is that cedar planks are a one time use item, so as much as you may think buying a pack of 4 from William Sonoma for $50 seems like the best idea, I can promise you that you can find just as good quality for way less on places like Aamazon or the grocery store.  

Grilling fish on a cedar plank gives the fish a smoky flavor while also allowing the fish to cook perfectly on the inside with crispy edges on the outside.  This is however a piece of wood, so putting dry wood on the grill isn't the best idea!  To prepare the cedar planks, you'll want to submerge them in water for at least 2 hours, so the wood soaks in water and is less likely to burn or give off too much smoke.  

I like to take a baking dish and fill it with some water, place the planks in and then set a mug of water on top to keep the planks down.  You can soak them all day while you're at work too!

Grilling Cedar Plank Salmon

This is a simple recipe requiring only three ingredients: salmon, Magic Salmon Seasoning (or whatever your favorite is) and butter.  Once your cedar plank has soaked for long enough, it's time to get grilling!

First you want to take a paper towel and pat the fish dry, then slice the filets into smaller serving sizes.  Next, sprinkle on your favorite seasoning (Magic Salmon Seasoning!).

Then I like to add a few pats of butter to the top.  Place the salmon skin-side down on the soaked cedar plank, then place it on the grill over medium-high heat.  

Grill the salmon for about 15 minutes, or until fully cooked through and starting to flake.

Use a fish spatula to carefully separate the fish from the skin that is most likely now stuck to the plank, and plate your salmon.  Throw the plank out.  Zero mess!!

We served this with a simple salad and it was incredibly good!  You can do this with most any fish, however I see cedar planks used most often with salmon, trout and hearty vegetables such as portobello mushrooms.

Give it a Try!

Maybe you're planning to go trout fishing soon, or want to add a new salmon dish to the weekly rotation.  It's so easy to do but tastes and looks so gourmet!  If you've cooked with cedar planks before, I'd love to hear how you use them too :).

I hope you enjoy this recipe idea, and let me know if you try it!