Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Brown Sugar Dijon Glaze
A simple yet impressive method of grilling salmon directly on cedar planks to infuse the fish with aromatic smoke flavor. Topped with a sweet-tangy brown sugar and Dijon mustard glaze, this preparation elevates salmon into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal effort and cost.
Equipment
- Grill gas or charcoal
- Cedar planks store-bought or DIY from cedar fence pickets
- Belt sander optional, for smoothing DIY cedar planks
- Instant-read thermometer for checking fish doneness
- Large container for soaking cedar planks
- Heavy item like a brick, to keep planks submerged while soaking
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets wild or farm-raised, about 6 oz each
- 2 tbsp olive oil for brushing salmon
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard use good quality
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 2-4 cedar planks soaked for 3-4 hours
Instructions
- If making DIY planks, cut cedar fence picket into 16-inch sections and sand one side smooth. Soak cedar planks in water for 3-4 hours, using a weight to keep them fully submerged.
- Preheat grill to high heat (about 450°F).
- Place soaked cedar planks on the grill grates, reduce heat to low, and close the lid. Allow planks to heat for about 10 minutes until they begin to smoke and you can smell cedar.
- While planks are heating, brush salmon fillets with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Spread Dijon mustard evenly over the top and sides of each salmon fillet, then sprinkle brown sugar on top to form an even layer.
- Carefully transfer seasoned salmon fillets to the smoking cedar planks, skin-side down (if skin-on).
- Close the grill lid and cook for 20-30 minutes until salmon reaches an internal temperature of about 135°F and flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove the planks with salmon from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- For best presentation, serve the salmon directly on the cedar planks.
Notes
For DIY cedar planks, purchase an untreated cedar fence picket from a home improvement store for significant savings over specialty cooking planks. Be sure to soak planks thoroughly to prevent them from catching fire on the grill. The cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your salmon fillets and your grill's temperature consistency.