Breakfast and Brunch

Ultimate Smoked Salmon Recipe: Perfectly Dry-Brined!

A perfect dry-brined smoked salmon recipe. We’ve been playing with smoked salmon recipes for years and this quick dry-brine process is easy and delicious. A go-to appetizer in our house any time there’s a party. Try serving it with plain bagels and cream cheese.

Recipe Details

Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Additional Time:
8 hrs 15 mins
Total Time:
10 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
3 pounds

Ingredients

  • 1 ½cupsbrown sugar, divided

  • 1cupkosher salt

  • 3poundssalmon fillets

  • ½cuphoney

  • 2(12 fluid ounce) cans or bottlescola-flavored carbonated beverage (such as Coca-Cola®) (Optional)

  • 3cupswood chips, soaked

Cooking Directions

  1. Mix 1 cup brown sugar and kosher salt together in a small bowl.

  2. Spread a thin layer of the brown sugar mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch baking pan. Arrange 2 to 3 salmon fillets on top; cover with some of the brown sugar mixture. Repeat layers until all the salmon fillets are coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.

  3. Preheat a smoker to 195 degrees F (91 degrees C) according to manufacturer’s instructions.

  4. Rinse brown sugar mixture off salmon fillets. Brush fillets lightly with honey and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar on top.

  5. Pour cola-flavored beverage into the smoker’s water pan; add water to within 1 inch of the top. Place half of the wood chips around the perimeter of the hot charcoal. Place salmon on the cooking racks.

  6. Cook salmon, adding more wood chips if needed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 2 hours. Cool before serving, at least 15 minutes.

Editor’s Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of brine ingredients. The actual amount of brine consumed will vary.

Nutrition Facts

Full Nutrition Label
Servings Per Recipe12
Calories296
% Daily Value *
Total Fat
4g 		5%
Saturated Fat
1g 		5%
Cholesterol
49mg 		16%
Sodium
7653mg 		333%
Total Carbohydrate
45g 		16%
Total Sugars
45g
Protein
21g
Vitamin C
1mg 		7%
Calcium
65mg 		5%
Iron
1mg 		4%
Potassium
429mg 		9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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