CEDAR-PLANKED SALMON W/ LEMON-PEPPER RUB & HORSERADISH-CHIVE SAUCE

 

Grilling on soaked cedar planks has a lot of benefits: the planks char lightly, creating cedar smoke that delicately perfumes the food, and fish doesn’t stick to the grill grates because it’s on the planks. Plus, this spice rub—a simple mixture of salt, cracked black pepper, lemon zest, fresh thyme, and a bit of sugar—pairs really well with the cedar-smoke flavor. Because it's a simple technique, it's easy to grill two fillets at once and use the leftover fillet the next day in a salad or sandwich. Serves 4, with one extra salmon fillet for leftovers

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For the salmon
1 Tbs. grated lemon zest, minced
1 1/2tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 2-lb. boneless, skin-on salmon fillets (preferably wild and no longer than 15 inches), pin bones removed
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

For the horseradish-chive sauce
1/2 cup crème fraîche
3 Tbs. minced fresh chives
1 1/2 Tbs. prepared horseradish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tip: If you want to serve both salmon fillets for 8 people, double the sauce recipe.

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Soak the cedar planks in water to cover for at least 1 hour. Drain the planks.

Prepare the sauce In a small bowl, stir the crème fraîche, chives, and horseradish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate.

Prepare the salmon In a small bowl, combine the lemon zest, thyme, sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1 Tbs. pepper. Rub the mixture together with your fingers until the zest is distributed throughout. Rub the salmon fillets on both sides with the olive oil and then set each fillet skin side down on a plank. Sprinkle the fillets with the lemon-pepper mixture, dividing it evenly. Gently rub the seasoning into the fillets. Let stand at room temperature while the grill heats.

Cook the salmon
Prepare a gas or charcoal grill fire for indirect cooking with high heat: On a gas grill, heat all burners on high; then turn off all but one burner just before cooking the salmon; on a charcoal grill, bank the coals to two opposite sides of the grill. Arrange the planks over the cooler part of the grill, positioning them so that the thickest part of the fish is closest to the heat source. Cover the grill and cook until the thickest part of each fillet registers about 135°F on an instant-read thermometer, 20 to 35 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets. The planks may smoke a bit (this is fine) and will become very aromatic. Let the fillets rest on the planks for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Cut the salmon fillets crosswise into serving portions and transfer to individual plates. Serve with the sauce.

Make Ahead Tips

The sauce may be made up to 1 day ahead, and refrigerated, covered.

Serving Suggestions

To round out your Sunday supper, serve this dish with Peas and Carrots with Lemon, Dill, and Mint.

Leftovers

Cool any leftover salmon completely, wrap well, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 460;  

Fat (g): 28; 

Fat Calories (kcal): 260; 

Saturated Fat (g): 10; 

Protein (g): 46; 

Monounsaturated Fat (g): 10;  

Carbohydrates (g): 3; 

Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 6; 

Sodium (mg): 600; 

Cholesterol (mg): 150; 

Fiber (g): 1;