Plank Grilled Salmon & Caesar Salad

Salmon is our go-to quick, easy supper. First, our entire family will eat salmon which in the book of short order cookery constitutes a miracle. Second, salmon is so easy to prepare I almost feel like I’m shirking kitchen duty. Third, salmon is delicious & healthy.

If you’ve ever stood at the fish counter, dubiously scratched your head and turned on your heels towards the free-range chicken, read this quick primer I wrote a while back ~ Salmon 101.

Our favorite way to serve salmon is grilled on a wood plank. Grilling fish on a wood plank infuses a subtle smoky flavor. Wood planks are readily available at most grocery stores {look for them on display near the fish counter} and come in a variety of smoky wood seasonings – cedar, alder, hickory, and maple. If your grocer doesn’t carry wood grilling planks, there are plenty of options online from Williams-Sonoma, Amazon, and even Target.

Once you have your salmon and your wood plank, it’s time to grill. Here are four easy steps:

1) Soak the wood plank in water for at least one hour prior to grilling. I set mine in a rimmed baking sheet, submerge in water, and weigh the plank down with a glass of water.

2) Pre-heat your grill for 10 – 15 minutes.

3) While the grill is heating up, prepare the salmon. Depending on the size of your fish, you may want to cut into individual serving sizes. This helps for more uniform grilling in larger fish with varying thickness. Add seasonings or marinades to the salmon. We like our salmon simple: salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. If I’m using herbs for another dish, I’ll often top the salmon with fresh herbs too. Rosemary and dill are favorites.

4) Place the salmon skin side down on the soaked plank and grill for approximately 12 minutes, depending on its thickness. To test for doneness, insert a fork in the thickest part of the fish. If it flakes easily, it’s done.

Voilà!

We are serving our plank grilled salmon with Susie’s latest and greatest caesar salad. Inspired by Shauna Niequist’s new must-read book Bread & Wine which released this week, Susie chose Brannon’s Caesar Salad which is perfect with salmon.

 

Week 13 Menu

Plank Grilled Salmon

Brannon’s Caesar Salad {from Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist}

Now, I have a question for you. Are you enjoying our 52 Sunday Suppers series? What kind of suppers would you like to see on the menu as we shift seasons and move into spring and summer? Let me know in the comments or head over to our Facebook page and let us know what you’re thinking. . .

For those of you in Austin, Susie & I are having another 52 Sunday Suppers cooking class in May. Stay tuned for details coming soon on Facebook.

Happy Sunday!

Love,