Crowd-Pleasing Peanut Cedar Salmon

October 30, 2009 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director

I rarely write down a
recipe (other than when I'm writing our healthy recipe blogs) but this one was such a success
that I wanted to try to replicate it. And it was a huge kid-pleaser.
The first time I didn't have a camera with me, so rather than post
without a photo, I decided to see if I could replicate the magic — and
bring a few photos along as well.

A few weeks ago,
my wife and I went to a friend's house and both Henry and his friend
Cooper chowed down on this grilled salmon that I made. The adults raved
about it too. It was my first time using a cedar plank to grill on, and
it won't be my last.  

Serves approx. 6 people

2 pounds salmon
Olive oil
Sea salt
1 lime
1/2 cup of crushed peanuts
4 cloves of garlic
2 Tablespoons of sugar
1 small onion
1 teaspoon brown mustard
1 cedar plank

Soak the cedar plank according to directions. Usually for 20 minutes to 4 hours.

Mince garlic, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and mustard together. Add finely minced onion and peanuts.

Cut salmon into 1-inch wide pieces and coat with olive oil and juice from one lime and sea salt. Place salmon onto cedar plank.

Coat top of salmon with the peanut mixture.

Grill cedar plank/salmon over indirect heat for 30 minutes.

I love the smokiness of the cedar. The combination of the sweetness of
the sugar with the crunch of the peanuts makes for a great contrast. It
got the big thumbs up from two kids and four adults the first time I made it. The second time
around it was equally an adult-pleaser, but the kids this time… well,
Henry decided he wasn't hungry and didn't eat anything. Oh well. As
they say, the best-laid plans…