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Salmon Recipes

Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe

  • Main Dishes
  • Salmon Recipes
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings
Calories 458 kcal
Cedar Plank Salmon Oven Recipe
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Today’s cedar plank salmon recipe features smoked cedar flavor and juicy, flaky grilled salmon. It’s sure to leave you satisfied.

This dish takes only 35 minutes and little effort to grill. It offers a moist, flavorful, and woodsy goodness with a comforting aroma and soothing warmth.

What Is Cedar Plank Salmon?

Cedar plank grilling is a traditional cooking method that originated in the American Pacific Northwest. The meat is grilled directly on a water-soaked and heated plank of cedar wood.

The wood itself gets hot (we’re cooking, after all), but doesn’t burn up. Instead, the steam coming off the cedar infuses into the tender meat.

As a result, you’ll get a subtle woody flavor and smoky aroma that melds with the meat’s natural flavors to create something distinct and delicious. And all that steam helps keep your food moist and tender.

Cedar plank barbecues are versatile, working equally well with seafood (shrimp, scallops, fishe, etc.), poultry, or red meats in general. Most meats are great candidates for plank-style grilling.

Cedar plank grilling has been a classic way to add flavors and create complexity in otherwise ordinary dishes. And as grilling goes, it’s an easy-going method that allows a chef to get creative with their favorite food.

We decided to take a slightly different tack for our recipe. Not everyone has a barbecue grill, after all.

So rather than cooking on a traditional grill, we will be doing ours in the oven. That way, even if you live in a small apartment, you can still enjoy this classic smoky recipe!

Is this Recipe Healthy

Also, if you’re looking for a baked salmon with both an extra kick of cheese and a smoky crunchy exterior, check out this parmesan crusted salmon recipe.

Is this Cedar Plank Salmon Healthy?

In short, yes, it is!

Not only is this cedar plank salmon recipe convenient and laden with flavor, it also piles on the nutrients. Salmon is a protein-rich fish that’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, so it’s nearly always a healthy choice.

To access more information about health benefits of salmon, please visit here.

Ingredients for Our Cedar Planks Salmon Recipe

1. Preparing the Salmon

We’ll be cooking our salmon fillets whole for this recipe. The flavor will infuse just fine into a whole fillet and the end result is a beautiful charred fish that we can present directly on the cedar plank.

Some people prefer to slice the fish into individual portions before grilling so it’s more convenient to serve. Either way will work fine and it comes down to personal preference.

2. How to Prepare Cedar Planks for Grilling

When planning a cedar plank grill session, remember you absolutely must soak the wood for at least 1 hour before cooking. A dry cedar plank will easily catch fire under high heat. It will also release too much smoke, which can toxify the salmon and completely ruin the dish.

When soaking, place a heavy object on top of the cedar plank to keep it fully submerged in water. We also recommend getting creative — for instance, wine or cider can make great soaking liquids as they offer complex tartness and lingering flavors.

Before grilling, preheat the soaked cedar plank in the oven for a couple of minutes. Place it in the middle rack of the oven so the hot air can circulate around the plank evenly.

Ingredients

3. Choosing Cedar Planks for Grilling

Planks used in baking most often come in two varieties: cedar and alder. Cedar planks give you a distinct woodsy flavor while alder infuses a slight sweetness to the meat.

Cedar planks can easily be found on Amazon, local food stores, or kitchen supply shops, and come at very affordable prices. Before buying, though, check whether the cedar plank is untreated and labeled as a food-grade product for safety. You don’t want chemically-treated wood in your oven!

Since we’re cooking whole fillets, we picked up 6″x12″ cedar planks. Opt for smaller sizes if you plan on slicing the fish fillets into individual portions and prefer serving each slice on a separate plank.

4. Cedar Plank Salmon Seasoning

Our salmon rub is a mixture of ground black pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, olive oil, brown sugar, and salt.

Once it’s soaked into the salmon, this spice rub will work with the woodsy flavor from the heated cedar plank. Together, they promote the unique smoky aroma.

For more salmon recipe ideas, have a look at our best salmon recipes.

What to Serve with Cedar Plank Salmon?

Cedar plank salmon is best served with a side dish that’s light in flavor to complement the smokey notes from the salmon. For that option, we decided to prepare a small serving of creamy mashed potatoes and a tasty, lip-smacking pineapple ginger juice to go with it.

What to Serve with

1. Mashed Potatoes

Featuring russet potatoes, heavy cream, milk, butter, salt and pepper, and fresh parsley, mashed potatoes can act as good carb-heavy sides. They’re rich, velvety, and come together in just 30 minutes — well-rounded and super convenient.

2. Pineapple Ginger Juice

Thanks to a slightly spicy note from the ginger, this version of pineapple juice serves a beautiful balance of sweet and tangy flavor. Pour this vitamin-packed juice over ice and enjoy it between dishes to reset your taste buds.

Recipes Course Calories Saturated fat Sodium
Cedar Plank Salmon Main Dish 459 5.8 g 533 mg
Mashed Potatoes Side Dish 195 3.9 g 309 mg
Pineapple Ginger Juice Beverage 92 0.0 g 5 mg
Total 746 9.7 g 847 mg
Nutritional values in this table vary somewhat to those below due to different app calculations. Read more...
Homemade Cedar Plank Salmon Oven Recipe

Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe

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In this cedar plank salmon recipe, we chose to cook our salmon fillets whole rather than dividing them into individual servings. The large fillets create an intriguing charred display arranged nicely on the cedar plank that acts as both a platter and flavoring.
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Inactive time 45 mins
Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 458kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 28 oz boneless salmon
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt divided
  • 10 oz baby potatoes quartered
  • 8 oz baby carrots
  • 12 oz broccoli
  • 6 oz green beans
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp oregano

Instructions
 

  • Soak the cedar plank in water for 1 hour. While waiting, complete the following steps.
  • Rub the salmon fillets with a mix of ground black pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, olive oil, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
  • Toss baby potatoes, baby carrots, broccoli, and green beans with melted butter, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 370℉.
  • Remove the cedar plank from the water and shake off excess water.
  • Place cedar plank onto a baking sheet lined with baking foil. Put it in the oven to heat up for 5 minutes.
  • Place the salmon on the heated cedar plank skin-side down. Add the vegetables to the same baking sheet.
  • Return the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the cedar plank salmon and continue to bake the veggies for another 15 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 458 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 117mg39%
Sodium 533mg23%
Potassium 1534mg44%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 49g98%
Vitamin A 9111IU182%
Vitamin C 89mg108%
Calcium 118mg12%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Homemade Cedar Plank Salmon Oven Recipe

FAQ

1. Are Cedar Planks Safe for Cooking?

Yes, they are.

Cedar planks work best under high heat; however, they need to be heated up evenly so the salmon cooks all the way through without needing to be flipped.

After the first time cooking, a cedar plank can retain moisture so it’ll impart flavors and keep the food moist for the next time. And since it retains some of the natural juices and oils, you don’t necessarily need to oil it to prevent food from sticking to the surface.

2. Can You Reuse a Cedar Plank for Grilling?

Absolutely yes.

Grilling cedar planks are purposely designed to be reusable and durable when exposed to high heat. You can use them until they crack or become too charred.

After every use, scrub off any leftover food pieces on the plank with hot water, then allow it to drain and dry naturally.

However, if you notice any fissure on the surface of the plank, throw it away immediately. Bacteria that’s locked inside the cracks can be hazardous to your health.

A cedar plank absorbs flavors from everything that’s been cooked on it. Much like how you use separate cutting boards for vegan foods and meats — it’s always best to have different planks for different types of meat.

3. How Long Does Cedar Plank Salmon Last?

how long does it last

This cedar plank salmon is best eaten within two days. If frozen, it can last up to 2 months.

Though soaking the plank may sound demanding, please set your mind at rest — you can easily prepare it ahead of time.

If you expect to be pressed for time, soak the plank a few days in advance, seal it tightly in a plastic Ziploc, and put it in the fridge. Whenever you’re ready to cook, simply bring it out and spend about 5 minutes preheating.

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Luna Regina

Luna Regina

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Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

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Cedar Plank Salmon Oven Recipe
Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe
Recipe Rating




Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on June 8, 2021 Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD

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