Fresh Wild Caught Pacific Salmon
Dry Rub:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1/8 cup granulated garlic
- 1/8 cup kosher salt
- 3 garlic cloves crushed.
If you’re using a direct heat smoker make sure to use a water tank with 2 cans of your favorite beer (This bud’s for you) to keep things moist
Preparation:
- Wood chips; a 1 pint container filled with ½ apple wood chips, ¼ cherry wood chips ¼ alder wood chips, soaked in water (or the beer)…7 hours prior to smoking
- mix the dry rub ingredients, set aside for 1 hour.
- Take the salmon filets with skin on, remove any bones and set aside.
- In a baking dish or any vessel that supports the salmon, lay the fish down on the skin with flesh side up.
- Cut horizontal grooves part of the way through the fish every inch.
- Generously rub the dry rub mixture over the salmon and place back in fridge covered for 6 hours. After the fish has sat for 6 hours take out and wash off the rub in the sink. Pat dry the fish and place on a tray leave out to dry while you prepare the smoker.
- Smoker – if you’re using briquettes I use 18 of them, no more, no less. With lump charcoal (preferred) fill your charcoal chimney up ½ way with the wood. Place some newspaper underneath and light. Once the briquettes or lump charcoal is ready (15 minutes) you’re ready to smoke…
Making the love:
- Get the salmon ready Place the briquettes/lump coal in the smoker.
- Get the beer ready if you’re using direct heat with water diffuser Oil the cooking grate.
- Drain the water off the soaking wood chips Pour the wood chips over the briquettes/lump coal
- Add the water diffuser with the beer in if you’re using this method
- Add the grill grate Place the salmon on the grate Cover the grill/smoker
- Smoke for 45 minutes.
- Open the smoker check the salmon for doneness, it should be ready if not cook for 10-15 minutes more but that’s it.
My wife loves her salmon, one day a buddy of mine Kirk B. brought some in he had professionally smoked. About a 2 years later and 20+ poor test fish I nailed it…
TIP: Charcoal Chimney – when you add the paper, sprinkle 2 table spoons of canola or vegetable oil on the paper, this will slow down the burn rate and light your briquettes/lump coal faster.