Wood Plank Copper River Salmon w/ Whole Grain Brown Rice and...

Dinner Tonight: Wood Plank Copper River Salmon w/ Whole Grain Rice and Whole Grain Bread

Well I made another first for dinner, using a wood plank to grill my Salmon. I used a Cedar plank for the grilling and had Copper River Salmon. Our local Kroger had a fantastic buy on the Salmon, $5.95 a lb.! Needless to say they were sold out in about a half a day. I seasoned the Salmon with Parsley, Sea Salt, and Pepper. Recipe and instructions follow at the end of the post along with info about the Copper River Salmon. The Salmon turned out incredible! Seasoned just right and had that smokey taste from the plank. As sides had Whole Grain Brown Rice and Healthy Life Whole Grain Bread. I used a smaller plank than the one that is called for in the recipe.

Ingredients

    * 24x8x1 inch untreated cedar plank
    * 6 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
    * 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
    * Parsley,Sea Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

   1. Submerge untreated cedar plank in water. Soak approximately 12 hours, or overnight.
   2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Place prepared plank on the grill, and sprinkle with coarse salt. Cover grill and heat plank 2 to 3 minutes, until dry. Adjust grill temperature for medium heat.
   3. Rub salmon fillets with olive oil. Arrange on the plank. Season salmon with Parsley, Sea Salt, and Pepper to taste.
   4. Cook salmon, covered, 10 to 12 minutes, or until opaque and easily flaked with a fork.



Copper River Salmon
What's the Big Deal?
Each May Pacific Northwest restaurants and markets herald the news - "Copper River salmon is here!" Copper River salmon? What is it? Why is everyone making such a fuss over it? One taste of this firm red fish, with its rich and nutty flavor, and you will understand why food lovers relish the three to four weeks that fresh Copper River salmon is available each year.

Copper River Salmon are High in Omega-3 Oils
The Copper River flows in the state of Alaska. Almost 300 miles in length, this wild rushing river empties into Prince William Sound at the town of Cordova. Salmon that originate in these pristine waters are challenged by its length and its strong, chill rapids. Consequently, Copper River salmon are strong, robust creatures with a healthy store of natural oils and body fat. These qualities make the salmon among the richest, tastiest fish in the world. Fortunately, fatty Copper River salmon is good for you, as it is loaded with Omega-3 oils, which are recommended by the American Heart Association1. Your heart is not the only part of your body that benefits from salmon consumption: studies have found that fish oil can help combat such ailments as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer and migraines.

The Annual Arrival of Copper River Salmon
Northwest seafood lovers have turned the mid-May to mid-June Copper River salmon season into an annual celebration. Seattle restaurateurs and markets compete to be the first to get an ice-packed shipment of the fresh salmon. Area newspapers fill with advertisements announcing availability at fine dining establishments. Local residents pay top dollar for chef-prepared creations that feature the Copper River delicacy.