Planked Salmon

It's finally summer here in Holland! Don't expect too much of the summer here.... every day with a temperature above 75F is like a summer day for me! And even though I do use the Weber in the winter too, nothing beats the combination of sun, grilling and wine (or beer)...

A very tasty and easy recipe is Planked Salmon. It doesn't require a lot of time to prepare, so there's more time for you to spend outside!

First of all, make sure you soak the plank in water long enough (at least 2 hours) before you start grilling. For an extra great flavor you can use wine or beer too. I used a cedar plank for the salmon.

Other ingredients you need:

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Maple Syrup

ground black pepper

This goes on top of the salmon (make sure you buy salmon fillets with skin!):

After you prepared the barbecue (make sure it's real hot) put the plank above the coals and close the lid. After a few minutes you can turn the plank around and place the salmon on the hot plank.

Don't open the lid too often, just check once or twice. Normally it takes about 20-25 minutes depending on the size of your salmon fillets.

You can serve this for example with a green salad and some asparagus you've sprinkled with olive oil, pepper and parmesan cheese and then grilled for about 5 - 8 minutes:

Add some bread and don't forget the wine! A Chardonnay for example will pair very well with this dish, but if you're an adventurous type you really must try a Pinot Noir, lightly chilled.
NOW you're ready for a delicious dinner!

Note: this is the plank afterwards: