Cedar plank salmon with maple whiskey glaze, lemon and herbs on a rustic wooden table

Canada • Regional Dish • Seafood

BC Cedar Plank Salmon

Cedar-grilled salmon finished with maple and Canadian whisky. Clean, coastal and composed.

Servings4
Prep Time15 min
Cook Time18 min
DifficultyModerate
Print Recipe

Instructions

  1. Soak the cedar plank in cold water for at least 2 hours. Pat the salmon dry and brush the skin lightly with oil.
  2. Whisk maple syrup, whisky, Dijon, soy sauce, garlic and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
  3. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (200–220°C). Place the soaked plank directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and heat for 3–5 minutes until the plank begins to smoke lightly.
  4. Flip the plank and place the salmon skin-side down on the heated surface. Brush generously with the maple-whisky glaze. Close the lid.
  5. Grill for 12–18 minutes, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily but remains moist in the center. Avoid overcooking.
  6. Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flaky salt and chopped parsley. Serve with lemon wedges.

Cultural Context

Cedar plank salmon feels like British Columbia in one dish: Pacific salmon, wood smoke, open flame and the kind of view that makes city people briefly consider buying hiking boots.

The plank gently smokes the fish as it cooks, giving it West Coast aroma without bullying the salmon. The technique has roots in Indigenous cooking traditions of the Pacific Northwest, where salmon was cooked over wood fires using cedar or alder. That history gives the dish more weight than another grilled fish recipe. The whisky-maple glaze adds a modern Canadian touch, but the soul is still simple: fish, wood and fire.

Fun Fact

Plank cooking originated with Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest who roasted salmon on cedar or alder over open-pit fires.

Cook’s Tip

Honey can replace maple syrup. Bourbon may substitute for Canadian whisky. Oven method: bake at 200°C on a soaked plank placed on a baking sheet.

Trivia

Salmon is peak Canadian here: wild Pacific fish, maple syrup and Canadian whisky all in one place.

More Canadian Recipes

Keep cooking Canada

View all Canada recipes →
Canadian butter tarts with flaky pastry shells and glossy brown sugar filling on a plate

Canadian Butter Tarts

Flaky pastry shells filled with a rich brown sugar and butter custard. Sweet, gooey and a staple of Canadian baking tradition.

View Recipe