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The Ultimate Easy Smoked Salmon Recipe: From Brining to Serving (Cold or Hot Smoked Options)

A white plate piled high with thinly sliced, bright orange smoked salmon seasoned with pepper.
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Learn how to make tender, smoky, and perfectly seasoned smoked salmon at home. This guide covers simple brining and smoking methods, perfect for appetizers or main meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (2-3 lb) salmon fillet, skin on
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for rub)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Wood chips (hickory or cherry for best flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cure: In a bowl, mix the kosher salt, brown sugar, and crushed peppercorns.
  2. Pat the salmon fillet dry with paper towels. Place the salmon, skin-side down, in a non-reactive dish.
  3. Spread the cure mixture evenly over the flesh side of the salmon. Cover the dish and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours.
  4. Rinse the cure off the salmon thoroughly under cold running water. Pat the fish completely dry.
  5. Prepare the rub: Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Rub this mixture over the flesh side of the salmon.
  6. Return the salmon to the refrigerator, uncovered, for 2 to 4 hours to form a pellicle (a sticky surface).
  7. Prepare your smoker for a low temperature cook, aiming for 160°F to 180°F. Add your soaked wood chips.
  8. Place the salmon, skin-side down, on the smoker rack. Smoke for 3 to 5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. (For cold smoking, maintain temperature below 90°F for 8-12 hours).
  9. Remove the smoked salmon from the smoker. Let it cool completely before slicing thinly against the grain.

Notes

  • For quick appetizers, serve slices on crostini with cream cheese and capers.
  • This smoked salmon is fantastic in a smoked salmon bagel dip or tossed with linguine for an elegant seafood recipe.
  • If you are new to smoking, start with a simple hot smoke method as described above for the best results.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenuser.net/smoked-salmon-recipe-how-to-smoke-salmon-at-home/