Lemon Garlic Cedar Plank Salmon is juicy, flavorful, healthy, and delicious! This easy grilled salmon recipe makes a beautiful summer meal!
Cedar Plank Salmon
Cedar Plank Salmon is one of my absolute favorite things to grill! While plain grilled salmon is good, Grilled Lemon Garlic Cedar Plank Salmon is awesome! The smoky and fragrant flavor from the cedar plank just takes the salmon to a whole new level! The lemon and garlic also give the fish a lovely fresh flavor and a little zing. The salmon comes out perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful!
One of the things that I love most about summer is dining al fresco. Sitting outside and enjoying a beautiful meal on a beautiful day is just the best! This grilled salmon is one of my favorite meals for that, it makes me feel like I am on vacation. The flavors, the aroma, the ease of making it… it’s just so perfect! With all the wonderful mouthwatering smells coming from your grill, your neighbors are going to be so jealous that they will ask if they can come over for dinner!
Preparing the salmon is actually pretty simple. Grilling the salmon on a cedar plank is a lot easier and less messy than just throwing a salmon filet straight on the grill. Fish is delicate and can easily fall apart on the grill. Using a plank fixes that problem, allowing the fish to stay intact and cook beautifully. Just please make sure to follow the instructions for soaking the plank prior to using it. Yes, it is wood, it can burn!
Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon Ingredients
- Fresh Salmon Fillets
- Fresh Lemon – sliced into thin circles.
- Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Minced Garlic
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Pepper
- 1 cedar grilling plank – soaked in water for 2 hours.
What to Serve with Grilled Salmon
If you need some ideas for what to serve with grilled salmon, below are some great options to try.
- Creamy Cauliflower Risotto
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Grilled Garlic Green Beans
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Fiesta Lime Coleslaw
- Roasted Ratatouille
- Pear Spinach Salad
- Spinach Mashed Cauliflower
- Parmesan Garlic Bread
- Warm Spinach Salad
- Easy Cheddar Biscuits
How to make Grilled Salmon on a Cedar Plank
First, rinse the planks to remove any dust then soak the cedar planks for 2 hours in warm water. Fully submerge the plank in water. Be sure to soak your plank prior to use to prevent burning. Not kidding, they are wood, they will burn!
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish. Pour or rub the lemon garlic oil over the salmon filets to coat them. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Place the lemon slices on top of the filets. Allow to sit for 15 – 30 minutes.
Preheat your grill over medium heat. Place the soaked cedar plank onto the preheated grill rack, cover grill and heat plank for 3 – 5 minutes. This starts the smoking process.
Place the salmon filets onto the cedar plank, cover grill and cook for about 20 – 30 minutes or until fully cooked. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Grill times can vary depending on the cuts of salmon and the grill.
Once finished, carefully remove salmon from the grill and let it rest on the cedar plank for at least 5 minutes.
Tip: Check on your fish. It will begin to brown around the edges and should easily flake when it is finished. I tried to keep my grill above 400 degrees Fahrenheit and below 500 degrees Fahrenheit and it was cooked perfectly at exactly 25 minutes. Yours could take less or more, so check after 15 minutes and then every few minutes after that. Happy grilling!
Sauce for Salmon
This grilled salmon is great served as is. However, if you would like a yummy sauce for your salmon, may I suggest a few that are great complements.
- Basil Pesto Sauce
- Red Pepper Sauce
- Romesco Sauce
- Greek Tzatziki Sauce
- The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Wine Butter Sauce
Grilled Lemon Garlic Cedar Plank Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 8-10 oz. Fresh Salmon Fillets 1-1.25 lbs. total weight. (skin removed)
- 1 Fresh Lemon sliced into thin circles.
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic 4 cloves minced.
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Supplies
- 1 Cedar Grilling plank soaked in water for 2 hours prior to use.
Instructions
- First, rinse then soak the cedar planks for 2 hours in warm water. Fully submerge the plank in water. Be sure to soak your plank prior to use to prevent burning. Not kidding, they are wood, they will burn!
- In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic. Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish. Pour or rub the lemon garlic oil over the salmon filets to coat them. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Place the lemon slices on top of the filets. Allow to sit for 15 - 30 minutes.
- Preheat your grill over medium heat. Place the soaked cedar plank onto the preheated grill rack, cover grill and heat plank for 3 - 5 minutes.
- Place the salmon filets onto the cedar plank, cover grill and cook for about 20 - 30 minutes or until fully cooked. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Grill times can vary depending on the cuts of salmon and the grill.
- Once finished, carefully remove salmon from grill and let it rest on the cedar plank for at least 5 minutes.
Notes
This recipe was originally published on May 25th, 2018 and has been updated with a new recipe card.
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