Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Pesto
- 4 (6 to 8-ounce) portions salmon preferably local wild King salmon -skin on or off
- Olive oil, to taste
- Salt
- Fresh cracked pepper
- This recipe is for OUTSIDE gas or charcoal plank-grilling.
- For the Cedar Planks: I use UNTREATED 1 by 8 construction grade cedar cut to the length of the amount of salmon you wish to cook.
- (I cut mine in 10-inch lengths for 2 (8- ounce fillets)
- Soaking the planks: Pre-soak cedar planks for at least 1 hour, preferably longer or overnight.
- Weigh down planks with heavy cans or stones to completely submerge the wood in water.
- Lightly coat the salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place salmon on cedar plank skin-side down.
- Turn on your gas grill to high heat.
- Place planks (loaded up with salmon) on the grill and close lid.
- Your grill will now turn into an oven/smoker.
- Cooking time required will vary depending on the size of the salmon.
- Be careful when you are lifting the grill lid because the burning plank will produce a lot of smoke.
- Try to keep the lid closed as much as possible as not to lower the temperature inside the grill.
- When salmon is cooked, remove fish from plank and plunge wood into a bucket of cold water.
- Serve the salmon immediately with the Cilantro Pesto.
- Cilantro pesto
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) lightly toasted
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- Jalapeno, to taste
- Salt and pepper
- Place first 4 ingredients in blender or small food processor and completely puree.
- Add lime juice, jalapeno, and salt and pepper, to taste.
salmon, olive oil, salt, cracked pepper
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cedar-plank-grilled-salmon-with-cilantro-pesto-recipe.html (may not work)