Smoke-Grilled Salmon With Fennel And Tarragon
This grilled salmon recipe features a whole salmon or salmon fillet infused with the flavors of lemon, onion, fennel, and tarragon. The fish is enveloped in a packet of foil with these aromatic ingredients before being cooked over a medium-high grill. The result is a moist, flavorful dish that is perfect for a gathering with family and friends.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 whole salmon, 5 to 8 lb., cleaned by the
- fishmonger, or whole salmon fillet, skin
- intact, 3 to 4 lb.
- Olive oil or vegetable oil for coating
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced,
- feathery green tops reserved for garnish
- 4 or 5 fresh tarragon sprigs, coarsely chopped,
- or 1 Tbs. dried tarragon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
- Wood chips or chunks, soaked for 30 minutes
- and drained
Instructions
- Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect grilling over medium-high heat.
- If using a salmon fillet, remove any pin bones with sturdy tweezers. Coat the salmon with oil. Cut a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil large enough to wrap the salmon. If using a whole salmon, place it in the center of the foil and score it 4 or 5 times diagonally through the skin. Put half of the lemon, onion, fennel bulb and tarragon inside the fish and arrange the rest on top. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. If using a salmon fillet, place it, skin side down, in the center of the foil and arrange the lemon, onion, fennel and tarragon down the center. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Fold the foil over the salmon and crimp the edges to seal.
- Sprinkle the wood chips on the coals, or add in a perforated foil packet to a gas grill. Place the foil-wrapped salmon on the unheated portion of the grill, cover the grill and cook. After 35 minutes for a whole salmon and 25 minutes for a fillet, open the foil and check for doneness by cutting into the fish or testing with an instant-read thermometer. The salmon should be opaque throughout and flake easily when prodded with a fork, or register 125°F on an instant-read thermometer. Continue to cook as needed with the foil opened and the grill covered, 10 to 25 minutes more for the whole salmon, 5 to 15 minutes more for the fillet. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the fish, the heat of the fire and the desired degree of doneness. Do not overcook.
- Transfer the foil and fish to a large platter. Lift the fish gently with a long spatula and slide the foil out from underneath. Garnish with the reserved fennel tops and serve immediately. Whole salmon serves 8 to 10; salmon fillet serves 4 to 6.
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