Planked White Fish With Gin Salt & Lime (7 Super Simple Steps)

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You can make tons of different delectable recipes with fish, prawns & oysters.

However, if looking to up your seafood game, then try cooking with a plank!

Many people love the smoky flavor but don’t want to go to the effort of smoking fish. 

However, all you need is to pick up some cooking planks and you can create the delicious smoky flavor in just 20 minutes!

So, I’m going to share how to make grilled whitefish on a cedar plank with gin salt

Best Fish for Cedar Plank Grilling

You can use any mild, flaky white fish for this recipe. I chose cedar plank because of the strong wood flavor and how well it pairs with fish

What Can You Cook on a Cedar Plank?

When it comes to cedar-planked grilling, fish is usually the most popular choice. However, you can grill almost anything with a plank. You can try grilled steak, chicken, pork, or tofu.

Or you can grill veggies such as zucchini, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, tomatoes, corn, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, green beans, and cabbage.

Just make sure you keep different proteins on separate planks. Don’t let veggies and meats mix on one plank.

Note: you can also cook your fish on a pellet grill. If I don’t have any cedar planks I like to use my pellet grill.

Can You Use a Plank Again?

Cedar planks can be used again unless they are totally charred.  If it’s still in good condition you can reuse them by washing them with hot water, then freezing them.

Picking The Right Plank Planks

There is a range of flavors, cedar, cherry, hickory, pecan, maple and apple.

However, cedar planks are the most popular because they impart a strong smoky flavor. You should try different types of planks to see what you like best.

Not a Fan of White Fish?

You can also cook a salmon fillet on a plank, you can see my recipe for it here.

2 Methods for Cedar Plank Fish

Below we have two methods for cooking whitefish on a wooden plank, the oven and the grill. We recommend trying both and seeing what you prefer.

What You Need for Cedar Planked Fish

• 2 medium fillets of mild whitefish (Either cod, haddock or flounder)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or Gin salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or ground pepper.
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper (you can use cayenne pepper)

Tools

• Grill
• Charcoal chimney starter
• 2 cedar planks

Note: Use untreated cedar plank. Soak your planks in warm water for at least an hour before use. 

Cedar Plank Fish Recipe

Below is our recipe for cedar plank fish on the grill. If you don’t have gin salt don’t worry, you can use any salt you have at home.

Step 1: Rub the fish with olive oil and cover with the gin salt.

Step 2: Heat the charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Light a chimney starter filled with charcoal. When charcoal is fully lit and covered with grey ash, pour it out. Then, carefully set the coals on one side of the charcoal grate.

Step 3: Put the grill grate in place, and cover the grill. Let it preheat for about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Clean the grill and oil it.  Using direct heat, place the wooden planks on top of the hot part of the grill until it begins to char and smoke, turn the grill down to medium heat

Step 5: Turn over the planks and move them to the cool side of grill to use the indirect heat.  Then, arrange the fish on top of it. Cover the grill and let it cook until the fish is opaque and begins flaking. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 6: Take the fish from the grill. Your cedar-plank whitefish is ready to serve!

How To Cook Fish on a Cedar Plank in the Oven

So, what if you are about to use the grill and it starts pouring outside?

Not to worry, there’s a delicious alternative! 

You can cook your fish in the cedar planks in the oven.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of salt for the brine
• 1 pound of white fish
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter (optional)

Special Equipment: 1 Cedar Grilling Plank

For a homemade rub

Mix one tablespoon of brown sugar, a tablespoon of coarse salt, 1 tablespoon of ancho chili powder, 1 tablespoon of ground cumin, 1/2 tablespoon of ground black pepper

Steps

Step 1: Soak your cedar wood plank in water for about 1-2 hours. Shortly before it’s fine soaking, preheat your grill to medium

Step 3: Take the soaked cedar plank and shake off the excess water. Remove the salmon from the salt mixture and gently pat to get rid of excess brine.

Step 4: Coat the salmon with the rub.

Step 5: Cover a baking sheet with a foil, then place a flat rack on it.

Step 6: Set the soaked cedar plank on top of the rack. Then put the baking sheet or baking dish with the rack into the oven and leave for five minutes. 

Step 7: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Set the rubbed salmon on the hot cedar plank. You can turn it over so it cooks evenly.

Step 8: Put the baking sheet with the salmon back into the oven. Let it bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until it is fully cooked.

Make sure to use untreated all-natural cedar planks for your meals!

Smoke On!

Charlie

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