Cook Your Fish

Prepare to cook the fish you will catch with Reel Tight Fishing Charters with the following recipes.

CEDAR-PLANKED SALMON BBQ with BOURBON MAPLE GLAZE

1 c. maple syrup
½ c. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
1 tsp. crushed hot red chilies
1 T. butter at room temperature
1 whole fillet of wild Pacific salmon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
2 lemons
1 T. finely chopped parsley

Soak a cedar plank overnight or for a minimum of six hours. You can buy a special piece of cedar to cook fish from some specialty stores or you can buy a length of cedar plank or untreated cedar plank fencing and cut it to fit.

Combine the maple syrup and whisky in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a low boil and reduce by about half, until it is a thick syrup that coats the back of a spoon. Add the chilies and the butter and stir until just combined. Remove from the heat and set aside, keeping warm on the stovetop.

Prepare your BBQ grill for direct high heat. Season the skinless side of the salmon with salt, pepper and granulated onion. Let the salmon sit for 10-15 minutes until the rub is moistened.

Season the soaked plank with salt and place it on the hot grill. Close the grill and heat the plank for 3-5 minutes, until it is starting to smoke and crackle. Open the lid and place the salmon, skin side down on the plank. Close the grill and cook for 12-15 minutes until the salmon is just cooked through to an internal temperature of 140-150 F. Check periodically to make sure the plank does not catch fire and spray the burning edges with water if it does. Make sure to close the BBQ lid afterwards.

When the salmon is done, squeeze half a lemon along its length and carefully transfer it to a platter. Drizzle half the sauce over the salmon and sprinkle with the chopped parsley.

Put the rest of the sauce in a serving dish at the table for guests who want extra. Serve with lemon slices. Yields 6-8 servings. Bon appetit!

WEST COAST BAKED HALIBUT

2 lb halibut fillet
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups crushed cheese-flavoured crackers
1 large yellow onion, sliced
1/4 cup butter

Melt butter in a large frying pan, then add the sliced yellow onion and sauté until onion is translucent. Spread the onion evenly over the bottom of your baking pan.

In a bowl mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions and lemon juice. Arrange halibut in your backing pan, placing the fillet over top of onions. Spread sour cream and mayonnaise mixture over the top of the halibut. Sprinkle with crushed crackers.

Bake at 375°F for 40-50 minutes. Time will vary, depending on the thickness of your halibut fillet.

QUICK 'N EASY BBQ GRILLED SALMON STEAKS

Slice salmon into inch-and-a-half thick fresh salmon steaks
Bottle of steak sauce

Marinate salmon in the steak sauce for one hour in the refrigerator. Remove from marinade. Cook on charcoal or gas grill for 10 minutes on each side. Best when served with baked potato and salad.