Cedar Plank Salmon

Today I’ll show you how to cook a cedar plank salmon recipe from start to finish! First, I’ll show you how to remove the pin bones and filet a salmon. I’ll also explain how to soak the cedar planks before cooking your salmon on the grill.

This cedar plank salmon recipe tastes just like kind in high-end restaurants and you won’t believe how easy it is!

Cedar Plank Salmon is one of my family’s favorite dishes to order at a restaurant, so when I saw a special for some wild sockeye salmon at Costco, I scooped up a filet to make at home. This cedar plank salmon recipe uses a simple marinade that I’ve been using for years. It’s basically equal parts soy sauce and pure maple syrup with a little bit of my garlic-shallot puree mixed in.

The first thing I always do with raw fresh fish is rinse it under cold running water. I know some people get all worked up about this and say you should never rinse fish, but I like to freshen it up so it doesn’t have a fishy smell.

cedar plank salmon recipe
First, rinse the salmon lightly in cold running water to remove any fishiness.

Next up, I remove the skin from the fresh salmon. You can certainly make cedar plank salmon with the skin on, but my kids like me to remove it. If cooking with the skin on, place the skin side down on the cedar plank before cooking.

cedar plank salmon recipe
It’s optional to remove the skin, but my kids like me to do it.

After rinsing the fish, I pat it dry and remove the pin bones. I use a needle nose pliers, but you can also use tweezers from your medicine cabinet. Run your hands along the flesh of the fish, and every time you feel a little poke, it’s probably a pin bone!

cedar plank salmon recipe
After I filet the salmon, I remove the pin bones with pliers. This filet only had about three bones to remove.

Next up is the marinade. I didn’t have enough soy sauce for a full half cup today, so I winged it with less. Actually, it turned out that it was more than enough marinade for this filet.

cedar plank salmon recipe
Marinate the salmon in the soy-maple syrup-garlic marinade for at least 1/2 hour.

While the salmon marinates in the refrigerator, you’ll need to soak your cedar planks. Before using them, rinse them under cool running water, then soak them in a clean sink for 30-minutes to 4 hours. I use a little dumbbell weight to keep them submerged. The planks can be reused, and soaked before each use. Clean them with soapy water after using them, rinse well, and allow to air dry each time.

cedar plank salmon recipe
I weigh down my cedar planks in the cold water with a dumbbell in a clean sink.

Now it’s time to hit the grill! I’ve heated my gas grill to medium-high, which is about 300 F. To season the planks for the first time, place them on the hot side of the grill and close the lid. Every two minutes, turn the plank and heat each side twice. Now, put the marinated cedar plank salmon on the wood, and move to the side of the grill with indirect heat (no flame). You can cook these on a charcoal or gas grill.

cedar plank salmon recipe
The salmon is on the grill!

Depending on the heat of your grill, the salmon will take between 20 minutes to 45 minutes. It’s done when opaque drippings start seeping out of the salmon and the internal temperature is 140 F.

cedar plank salmon recipe
This cedar plank salmon recipe tastes just like kind in high-end restaurants and you won’t believe how easy it is!

Finally, I serve the salmon with a mixed green salad for a light and healthy meal. Everyone loved it!

cedar plank salmon recipe
Look at that! Cooked to perfection with a sweet maple glaze and cracked pepper. Yum!

Watch my video to see how it’s made step by step!

Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe Preview

Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe

Recipe by Jason Hill – CookingSessions.com
Cedar Plank Salmon is one of my family’s favorite dishes to order at a restaurant, so when I saw a special for some wild sockeye salmon at Costco, I scooped up a filet to make at home. This cedar plank salmon recipe uses a simple marinade that I’ve been using for years. It’s basically equal parts soy sauce and pure maple syrup with a little bit of my garlic-shallot puree mixed in. 
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

2 cedar planks soaked

Ingredients
  

  • 1 filet of salmon about 4 servings
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup real maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon garlic-shallot puree or 1-2 cloves crushed garlic

Instructions
 

  • Rinse salmon filet with cold running water to remove any residue fishiness.
  • Clean sink and plug drain. Fill with cold water and soak wood planks underwater with a weight for 30 minutes to 4 hours.
  • Mix soy sauce, maple syrup and garlic in a bowl.
  • Remove pin bones from salmon with a needle nose pliers or tweezers. Remove skin from salmon if desired.
  • Cut salmon into four serving pieces. Drizzle marinade into a casserole dish and place salmon pieces on top. Drizzle the rest of the marinade over the salmon and coat well.
  • Refrigerate salmon for 30 minutes to 1 hour, turning over occasionally in marinade.
  • Preheat grill to 300 F or medium-high heat. Leave one side of the burners off if using a gas grill.
  • Place planks over the fire and turn twice every couple of minutes to season the wood.
  • Place marinated salmon on the planks and put the planks on the side of the grill with no direct flames.
  • Cook for 20-40 minutes, turning planks occasionally so the fish cooks evenly on all sides.
  • Fish is done when the juices are opaque and the internal temperature is 140 F.
  • Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes before serving.
  • Serve with a mixed greens salad.
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Keyword salmon, seafood
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AboutJason Hill

Hi, I’m Jason Hill, host of YouTube’s “Chef Tips” series. I graduated from culinary school in 1998, and gained my experience working the lines in Southern California. I launched my cooking videos in 2007. I love sharing quick and easy recipes that get people back in the kitchen.

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