Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa

This Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa has a lovely smoky flavor combined with the sweetness of fruit salsa.  The salmon is cooked over indirect heat on the grill and comes out tender and moist every time.  Serve this easy family dinner with Cilantro Lime Rice for a recipe everyone will want you to make again and again.

Love easy salmon recipes? Also try my Easy Baked Salmon with Rosemary, Salmon Foil Packets with Rainbow Vegetables & Salmon Teriyaki Bowls. 

Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa recipe

Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa is a gorgeous, restaurant-quality meal that will wow your family or guests any day of the week.  This meal might look fancy, but you'll be surprised at how quickly and simply it all comes together.  The cedar plank infuses a perfectly soft smoky flavor while allowing the salmon to cook slowly and keep a tender moist inside.

This dish is topped with my delightful Peach Salsa but you could also easily swap our other fruit salsas like Mango Salsa, Pineapple Salsa, or Avocado Mango Salsa.  The combination of savory, smoky salmon and sweet fruit salsa is simply the most lovely flavor explosion.  The complex flavors are perfect for each other.

You'll be surprised at how much everyone will love this simple meal that comes together in just around 30 minutes.

What does a cedar plank do for salmon?

This process really brings out the flavors in the salmon and infuses it with the smoky cedar flavor.  It's a great way to get a "smoked" salmon flavor without having a smoker.  It adds flavor, creates a moist and tender salmon, and makes grilling salmon a lot easier.  Often grilling salmon directly on the grill can be tricky because it will stick and sometimes even fall through.

If you've never cooked with cedar plank salmon recipes before it is super simple.  Start with a cedar plank and soak it in the sink for at least two hours.  This keeps it from catching on fire on the grill.  Put the marinated salmon on the cedar plank and grill until tender.  That's it!

Why You'll Love this Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa Recipe...

• The Cedar Plank Salmon absorbs the cedar flavor and is wonderful.
• This is a simple and effective way to cook salmon or any fish on the grill.
• Between the grilling and the fresh fruit, this is really the best of summer cooking in one dish.
• The salmon gets even more flavor from a simple honey lime marinade which helps flavor the salmon and keep it tender.
• This recipe is super healthy coming in at around 350 calories a serving.  Plus salmon is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, magnesium, and b vitamins.  The peach salsa is also rich in vitamin C and fiber.
• This restaurant-quality meal comes together in just around 30 minutes.
• It's so flavorful, you'll never realize it's a healthy dinner!

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

For the Cedar Plank Salmon:

• Cedar Plank: Buy your cedar planks here.  You'll want ones that are food safe and natural.  You must soak the cedar planks completely in the water BEFORE grilling with them.  Submerge them completely and put something heavy on them to keep them in the water.  Soak them for a minimum of 2 hours but up to 4.  This step keeps them from just catching on fire.
• Salmon: You'll need 4 salmon fillets that are 6-8 ounces each with the skin removed. You can use your favorite type of salmon for this including Alaskan Salmon or Wild Salmon.  Look for salmon that is rich in color and not fishy smelling.  You can use frozen salmon from the grocery store for this recipe, and if you don't live near the coast this might actually be your best option because the fish is frozen at packaged at peak freshness.  To thaw the salmon put it in the fridge overnight or submerge it in cool water for up to an hour.

Marinade:

• Lime Juice: Lime juice is a great flavor addition to this Cedar Plank Salmon marinade.  It matches the flavors in the salsa.  Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.
• Honey:  Honey brings just a touch of sweetness to the salmon to compliment the peach salsa and the smokiness of the fish.  You can also use maple syrup.
• Olive Oil: A touch of olive oil gives the salmon some moisture.
• Spices:  I use a blend of chili powder, garlic Powder, and dried oregano to give some simple Mexican-inspired flavors to the marinade that matches the fruit salsa.
• Salt and Black Pepper

Peach Salsa:

Get the full recipe to make Peach Salsa here, but here's an overview of what you'll need to make it.

• Peach: Look for tender, tree-ripened peaches for the best flavor.  They are in season in the summer. Frozen peaches or canned peaches will not work.
• Tomato: You'll also need a fresh summer tomato.  It's a nice combination of summer vegetables and fruits.
• Red Onion: Red onion brings so much color and flavor to the dish.
• Cilantro: Use fresh cilantro as dried will not work. If you don't like cilantro you can substitute parsley or just leave it out, but you will not get the same flavor.
• Jalapeno: I think a little jalapeno really adds to the flavor of this fruit salsa.
• Lime: Freshly squeezed fresh lime juice makes all these flavors POP and makes it taste like salsa.

For the Plate:

• Cilantro Lime Rice: Use my 3 ingredient recipe for Cilantro Lime Rice to add maximum flavor to your plate or serve with plain white or brown rice.  You could also use my Coconut Lime Rice.
• Peach Salsa: Get the recipe for my Peach Salsa here.
• Garnish: cilantro & lime

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions to make this Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa recipe, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

Inside Prep:

1. In a shallow flat dish whisk together the marinade.
2. Put the salmon in the dish and spoon the sauce over it. 
3. Allow it to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.
4. Assemble the Fresh Peach Salsa.

Cedar Plank Grilling:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, 400 to 450  degrees.
2. Remove the salmon fillet from the marinade and put the salmon on the cedar plank, add salt and pepper.
3. Put the salmon on the cedar plank on the grill plate.  Cover the grill to get smoke.
4. Grill for 10-15 minutes under its flakes with a fork.  Thinner pieces of salmon might take closer to 10 minutes or less.  You can use an instant read thermometer to give your doneness.  I like my salmon rarer with an internal temperature near 125-135 degrees, but the FDA recommends 145 degrees.  That will be VERY, very done and not moist, but use your own caution when eating meat that's less than fully cooked.
5. Plate the salmon with rice, and a topping of salsa.  Serve with limes and cilantro.
6. Serve immediately on a bed of white rice.

Pro Tip: Keep a spray bottle of water near the grill in case your cedar plank catches on fire.

Variations

I love this Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Mix Up the Salsa: You can easily swap out the fruit salsa in this recipe if peaches aren't in season.  Make it with Mango Salsa, Strawberry Salsa, Pineapple Salsa, Pineapple Blueberry Salsa, and Mango Avocado Salsa.
• Mix Up the Fish: Don't love salmon?  You can make this cedar plank fish with any thicker, meaty fish like halibut, swordfish, or grouper.
• Make it Spicy: Add some chipotle pepper to the marinate and more jalapeno to the salsa.
• Make it in the Oven:  Yes, you can make this in the oven.  Follow all of the same instructions to prep the salmon, marinade, and cedar plank.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Put the soaked and dried cedar plank on a baking sheet with the salmon.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until your salmon is done.

FAQ

Leftovers & Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How long does it take to grill salmon on a cedar plank?

Grilling time for salmon can vary a lot depending on the actual temperature of your grill and the thickness of your salmon.  A general room is salmon takes about 10 minutes to cook per inch thick.  Most salmon pieces will cook for between 10-15 minutes.

Do I need to soak a cedar plank for salmon?

Yes, it is essential to soak your cedar plank before making this cedar plank salmon recipe.  You'll need to soak it for 2-4 hours or the wood will catch on fire.

Do you flip salmon when grilling on a cedar plank?

No, you do not need to flip the salmon because it is being cooked over indirect heat.

How do you keep salmon from sticking to cedar planks?

If you soak your cedar planks for at least 2 hours it should keep the salmon from sticking.  A marinate with olive oil will also help it from sticking.

How do I tell if salmon is cooked?

There are three ways to tell if your salmon is cooked.  The first is by temperature.  For tender salmon that is medium-rare to medium-well cook it until it reaches 125-130 degrees.  Once again, the FDA recommends 145 degrees to be safe but that does make your salmon very dry.  So proceed with your own caution.  You can also watch the salmon and see when it turns from a bright pink raw to more of an opaque pink.  You can also test a corner of the salmon and see if it flakes with a fork.  If it does, it is done.

Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa recipe is So Tasty!

This Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa is really the absolute best of summer in a bowl.  I love this restaurant's quality meal that comes together in no time.  It's also a great way to get smoky flavor in a fish, without a smoker.  This is a well-rounded plate as shown, but below are some ideas to round out your meal.

I know you will be making this dinner on repeat all summer long. Enjoy!

Make it a Meal:

• Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
• Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Kale Berry Salad
• Lemon Garlic Sauteed Kale
• Roasted Broccoli
• Broccoli Slaw
• Mexican Chopped Salad
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Pineapple Avocado Salad

Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa Share on X

More Healthy Salmon Recipes to Try:

• Baked Blackened Salmon
• Parmesan Panko Crusted Salmon
• Easy Baked Salmon with Rosemary
• Easy Lemon Pesto Salmon
• Teriyaki Salmon
• Everything But the Bagel Salmon
• Baked Lemon Salmon with Creamy Greek Yogurt Dill Sauce
• Salmon Foil Packets with Rainbow Vegetables
• Salmon Asparagus and Tomato in Foil
• Balsamic Glazed Salmon
• Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa
• Pistachio Crusted Salmon

If you make this Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa

Julie Wunder

This Cedar Plank Salmon with Peach Salsa has a lovely smoky flavor combined with the sweetness of fruit salsa.  The salmon is cooked over indirect heat on the grill and comes out tender and moist every time.  Serve this easy family dinner with Cilantro Lime Rice for a recipe everyone will want you to make again and again.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 367 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Salmon:

• 1 cedar plank, soaked in water for at least two hours
• 4 salmon fillets, skin removed, about 6 ounces each

Marinade:

• ¼ cup lime juice + zest from 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt & pepper, to taste

For the Plate:

• 1 recipe Peach Salsa
• 1 recipe Cilantro Lime Rice
• garnish: cilantro, lime

Instructions

 

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat 400 to 450 degrees.
• In a shallow flat dish whisk together the marinade. Put the salmon in the dish and spoon the sauce over it.  Allow it to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes.
• Assemble the Fresh Peach Salsa.
• Remove the salmon fillet from the marinade and put the salmon on the cedar plank on the grill plate.  Cover the grill to get smoke.
• Grill for 10-15 minutes under its flakes with a fork.  Thinner pieces of salmon might take closer to 10 minutes or less. 
• Plate the salmon with cilantro lime rice, and a topping of salsa.  Serve with limes and cilantro.
• Serve immediately on a bed of white rice.

Notes

Leftovers & Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

 

How to Tell if Your Salmon is Done:

You can use an instant read thermometer to give your doneness.  I like my salmon rarer with an internal temperature near 125-135 degrees, but the FDA recommends 145 degrees.  That will be VERY, very done and not moist, but use your own caution when eating meat that's less than fully cooked.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 35gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 93mgPotassium: 998mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 664IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Cedar Plank Salmon, Salmon with Peach Salsa

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