Honey Smoked Salmon

Total Time Prep: 20 min. + brining Grill: 45 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Bust out the hickory wood chips, fire up the grill and make this honey smoked salmon with crushed peppercorns.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup salt
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh gingerroot
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 salmon fillet (1 pound)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns, crushed
  • 2 cups soaked hickory wood chips

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the first six ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until brown sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the cold water to cool the brine to room temperature.
  2. Place salmon in a large resealable plastic bag; carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 4 hours, turning occasionally.
  3. Drain and discard brine; rinse salmon and pat dry. Spread honey over fillet; sprinkle with peppercorns.
  4. Add wood chips to grill according to manufacturer's directions. Place salmon on greased grill rack, skin side down. Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat until fish flakes easily with a fork, 45-50 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

3 ounces cooked salmon: 244 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 143mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 0 fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.

I found this recipe in an Alaska fishing guide. Now it's the only way we do salmon. The brine gives it a sweet caramelized coating, and the hickory wood chips give it a distinct smoky flavor. —Judy Ashby, Jamestown, Tennessee
Recipe Creator

© 2025 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC