Description
Delicious and flavorful smoked salmon fillet brined to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 – 3 lb salmon fillet (Atlantic or King/Chinook recommended)
- 1 Lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 lemons (sliced into wedges)
- 4 cups hot water (from the tap)
- 1/3 cup kosher salt (NOT table salt)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Combine the water, kosher salt, and brown sugar in a large glass measuring cup or bowl, stir until dissolved, then chill completely in the fridge or freezer.
- Trim the thin white strip (belly) off the fillet if present, and remove any pin bones with tweezers. Place the salmon skin-side up inside a suitable baking dish.
- Pour the chilled brine over the salmon until submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour per pound, ideally 4-12 hours depending on thickness.
- Set up cooling racks atop a sheet pan, rinse brine off the salmon with cold water, then place flesh side up on the racks. Refrigerate uncovered for 8-24 hours, until the surface is tacky.
- Season with Lemon Pepper Seasoning. Refrigerate the seasoned salmon while preparing the smoker.
- Preheat the smoker to 180 degrees over indirect heat, adding wood or chips if desired.
- Place salmon fillet onto the smoker and insert an internal temperature probe. Smoke until the internal temperature reaches desired doneness (approximately 45 minutes to 3 hours).
- Transfer smoked salmon to a platter, loosely cover with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into smaller fillets, with fresh lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- The longer the salmon sits uncovered in the fridge, the more flavored it becomes while developing a pellicle.
- Avoid mesquite wood chips as they can overpower the salmon’s flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet piece
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg