Cedar Plank Salmon Done Right

bigbeeus

This is the correct way to do Cedar Plank Salmon.

This kind of blows away all the 350 degree folks.  Ever go to CPK?(California Pizza Kitchen)  Ever order the Cedar Plank Salmon?  Ever watch them cook it?  A wood fired Pizza Oven at 700 Degrees.  They DON'T do 350.  If I had more light on the grill you would not see any chunks of brown sugar just sprinkles, but it was late night dark.  My bad... Maybe I need the Big Green Egg night light for Christmas next year.  Thank you potential donors....

How To:
Big Green Egg Medium
Big Green Egg Lump Charcoal
Raised Grid
600+ Degrees
7" or so Cedar Plank in Water for 2+ Hours
1lb Trader Joe's Salmon Steaks Skin On(Even Thickness and Marbling)  So So Room Temp 1 Hour or Less
Grill Cedar Plank Smooth Side Down 1 to 2 Minutes till Browned
Place Plank Smooth Side Up Raised Grid
Place Salmon(s) on Plank Evenly Spaced
Sprinkle Evenly with 1-2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
Cook Lid Closed 10 or so Minutes till 130 or so Degrees Instant Read Thermometer(Check every 6,3,2 or so minutes)
Remove Plank and Salamon from Grill to Dish For Service Inside
Remove Salmon Carefully From Plank Leaving Skin to Serve on Plate
Serve with a Spoon of Jack Daniels Sauce(Below)

Note:  Please dispose of old Cedar Planks as they are single use.  Food bacteria builds in the crevasse on old planks.  Not wise to flip and reuse.  Cedar planks should be used only on the smooth side. 

Jack Daniels Sauce(Found on Internet, and my wife's favorite for Trader Joe's Stir Fry Vegetables.)
1/4 Cup Jack Daniel's Whiskey
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
2 Teaspoons Tabasco Sauce(Maybe an extra squirt or so for those with the hot bite, Be careful though, reduction sauce:})
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
6 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 Cup Water
4 Beef Bouillon Cubes(Sounds like a lot but y'all be just fine.  Don't chinch)
1 Tablespoon Shallot, Minced(Chopped really fine, Important)
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

SAUCE: Mix all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.  Simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes or so.  This is a reduction sauce so it has to reduce(No lid).  Please be careful that you don't let it get to thick, otherwise it will caramelize as it cools due to the brown sugar.  

You could serve over wilted spinach and then drizzle the sauce over it, or you could server it over spiked mashed potatoes(Mine are Package of Cream Cheese, Tub of Sour Cream, and a Stick of Butter with White Pepper) with your choice of a green vegetable on the side.

Tbla

Looks awesome.  Thank you for the detailed instructions.    I am doing this.  

gpsegg

Looks great! We do just the opposite and love it. 250 raised direct with alder  chips and Dizzy Pig Raging River. About an hour +/- to 140-145 internal. Lots of ways to score with salmon.