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An image of a piece of hot smoked salmon on a wire rack.
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4.95 from 19 votes

Hot Smoked Salmon

This Hot Smoked Salmon recipe is easy to make on your wood or pellet smoker and can be used in so many ways.  Eat it plain as an appetizer or for dinner, scramble it with eggs, make smoked salmon chowder, and lots more!
Prep Time12 hours
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time15 hours
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 249kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds salmon

Brine

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup kosher salt

Rub

  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Basting

  • ¾ cup maple syrup

Instructions

  • Mix the brine ingredients together in a large shallow dish with a lid or a 2-gallon ziploc bag.
  • Add the salmon to the brine, then cover or seal and brine for 4 to 8 hours in the refrigerator.
  • Remove the salmon from the brine, rinse, and pat dry.
  • Place the salmon skin side down on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Allow to dry in a cool, breezy spot for 2 hours or for 8 to 12 hours in the refrigerator to develop a pellicle.
  • Heat your smoker to 180°F. Set a water tray on the smoker grate to create a humid environment.
  • Mix rub ingredients together, then sprinkle over the salmon.
  • Place the salmon on the grill with the skin side down and close the lid. Smoke for 3 to 5 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 135°F to 140°F, brushing with maple syrup once each hour.
  • Remove from the grill and serve or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 8 to 10 days.

Notes

Adapted from Cooking LSL.
If your smoker goes lower, start smoking the fish at 150°F and increase to 180°F after 2 hours. It will take slightly longer to smoke the fish, but you run less of a risk of drying it out by cooking too quickly.
If you have a vacuum-sealer, you can seal the salmon and it will last for up to 3 weeks in the fridge. Or you can freeze it for up to 1 year.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 3383mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg