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Epicurious

Ultimate Cheater Oven-Smoked Salmon

For oven salmon we use either an enamel-coated roasting pan or a foil-lined baking sheet. As much as we love cast iron for its searing qualities and overall old-school cooking coolness, fishy bacon and cornbread are never a big hit with the breakfast club. Any salmon leftovers are earmarked for Two-Timer Salmon Salad (recipe follows). It helps to cut whole salmon fillets into serving-size pieces before cooking. Pay attention to the thickness of the fish (the very thin ends take almost no time) and cook accordingly.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Four 6-ounce salmon fillets, rinsed and patted dry
1 tablespoon bottled smoke
4 teaspoons Basic Cheater Dry Rub (page 45)
1 lemon, zested and cut into wedges

Two-Timer Salmon Salad

1/2 pound chilled Ultimate Cheater Oven-Smoked Salmon (about 2 cups), flaked
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Fresh lemon juice to taste
1 hard-cooked egg, chopped (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    HEAT the oven to 500°F. Pour the oil onto a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and wait for the oil to begin smoking.

    Step 2

    While the pan heats up, Brush the salmon with the bottled smoke. Sprinkle each piece liberally with the dry rub and the lemon zest.

    Step 3

    Carefully Place the fillets in the hot pan. If they have skin, place them skin side up. Cook for 3 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillets. The internal temperature of the fish should be about 125°F and the inside should look slightly translucent. The fish will continue to cook once out of the oven.

    Step 4

    SERVE warm with lemon wedges or chill it for serving the next day.

  2. Two-Timer Salmon Salad

    Step 5

    COMBINE all the ingredients in a bowl. Serve chilled.

Cheater BBQ
TagsSalmonFishSeafoodMainDinnerNut FreeDairy FreeEasyQuick30 Minutes or LessWeeknight MealsOven BakeCookbooks
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