Alaska Sockeye Salmon Grilling Tips
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Servings: 4 to 6
- Yield: 1 whole sockeye salmon side, about 1.5 pounds
Ingredients
- There are five delicious species of Alaska Salmon: King, Sockeye, Coho, Keta, and Pink. Each salmon species has a unique color and flavor profile. Alaska Sockeye salmon has a distinctive rich flavor and a deep red flesh color – color that stays bright even when cooked. Although it is one of the most abundant of the salmon species it is a small fish, averaging just 6 pounds. A whole Sockeye salmon side usually weighs 1.5 pounds. The following cooking techniques have been developed specifically for Alaska Sockeye salmon.
Instructions
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Step 1 Outdoor Grilling
Preheat grill to 375ºF.
Remove Alaska Sockeye salmon from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
Make a foil pan by cutting 2 pieces of wide,heavy-duty aluminum foil about 6-inches longer than the salmon side. Stack the foil pieces (shiny side down) on a baking sheet; spray generously with cooking spray.
Place Alaska Sockeye salmon, skin side down, in the middle of the foil. Fold the foil sides and ends up (1 to 2-inches) to make a shallow pan around the salmon, leaving at least a 1-inch margin around the fish.
Season salmon with salt and pepper or favorite seasoning. If using a rub, let it rest on the salmon for 10 minutes before cooking.
Transfer the foil pan to the center of the preheated grill. Close grill cover and cook for 10 to 13 minutes. Do not cover the salmon with foil or close the foil over the salmon. Do not flip the salmon.
Cook just until salmon is lightly translucent in the center – it will finish cooking from retained heat.
Remove salmon to a plate/platter and let it rest a few minutes before serving.
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Step 2 Indoor Pan-Grilling
Remove Alaska Sockeye salmon from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking.
Heat a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat until hot (about 3 minutes).
Drizzle a large dinner plate lightly with olive oil. Swipe each salmon portion through the oil (both sides) and place salmon in pan, skin side up. To reduce sticking: Move each salmon portion in several small circles as you place it in the pan. Do not move it again until it is seared/browned.
Cook for 3 minutes.
Flip fish, season with salt and pepper or favorite seasoning, and cook 3 minutes more. Cook just until salmon is lightly translucent in the center – it will finish cooking from retained heat.
Remove salmon to a plate/platter and let it rest a few minutes before serving.
