Fish
Cedar-Planked Wild Salmon with a Juniper and Wild Berry Glaze
Treat yourself to the succulent flavors of Cedar-Planked Wild Salmon with a Juniper and Wild Berry Glaze, a dish that brings together the natural beauty of the wilderness and the rich taste of fresh salmon. To create the glaze, simmer a medley of mixed fresh berries until they form a luscious jam-like paste, adding a touch of maple syrup for sweetness if needed. Meanwhile, grind juniper berries, black peppercorns, and coarse salt into a fragrant rub to season the salmon. Once prepared, the salmon is gently cooked on a cedar plank over indirect heat, infusing it with a subtle smokiness and preserving its delicate texture. As the salmon cooks, drizzle the berry glaze over it, creating a beautiful presentation and enhancing its flavors with a hint of tart sweetness. Serve the salmon directly from the plank, garnished with fresh berries for a stunning finish that celebrates the bounty of the wilderness in every bite.
Cedar-Planked Wild Salmon Recipe
Cedar-Planked Wild Salmon with a Juniper and Wild Berry Glaze
Recipe Notes
- Method: Planking
- Equipment: 1 cedar grilling plank (12 to 14 inches by 6 to 7 inches), soaked in water to cover for 1 hour, then drained. (One easy way to do this is to soak the plank on a rimmed baking sheet. Place a weight on the plank to keep it submerged.)
Ingredients
For the glaze:
- 2 cups mixed fresh berries (try to use a blend of wild blueberries, marionberries, raspberries, currants, and/or gooseberries
- 1/4 pure maple syrup or sugar, or more to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the rub:
- 5 juniper berries
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt (kosher or sea)
- One 1-1/2 pound piece of fresh wild salmon fillet
Recipe Steps
Step 1: Make the glaze. Place the berries in a small heavy saucepan with 2 tablespoons water. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Uncover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low or low and cook until the berries cook down to a jam-like paste, stirring often with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add a little water if needed–do not let burn. Taste the mixture for sweetness, adding a little sugar or maple syrup to taste if desired. (If the berries you’ve selected are very sweet, you may not need to add any additional syrup or sugar.)
Step 2: Make the rub. Place the juniper berries and peppercorns in a spice mill or coffee grinder and grind to a fine powder. Grind in the salt, running the grinder in short bursts.
Step 3: Set up your grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium-high (400 degrees F). If working on a charcoal grill, rake the coals into two mounds at opposite sides of the grill and cook the fish in the center. If using a 2 burner gas grill, light one side and cook the fish on the opposite side, rotating the plank 180 degrees halfway through cooking. If using a 3 burner gas grill, light the front and rear or left and right burners and cook the fish in the center. If using a 4 to 6 burner gas grill, light the outside burners and cook the fish in the center.
Step 4: Just before cooking, season the fish on both sides with the juniper rub. Arrange the fish skin side down on the plank. Arrange the plank on the grill away from the heat. Close the grill lid. Indirect grill until the fish is nearly cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drizzle the berry glaze over the salmon in an attractive pattern. Indirect grill for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. (When done, a slender metal skewer inserted through the side and left there for 20 seconds will feel hot to the touch when removed). The plank may become singed at the edges, but if you’re indirect grilling, it shouldn’t catch fire. If it does, extinguish the flames with a squirt gun.
Step 5: Transfer the fish on its plank to a platter and serve it right off the plank, spooning the remaining berry mixture on top, if desired. Garnish with fresh berries.
