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Cedar Plank Salmon With Roasted Potato Salad Recipe (North Cascades National Park)

By: Author Bram Reusen

Posted on Last updated:

Cedar plank grilled salmon recipe inspired by: North Cascades National Park, Washington (alternatively: Olympic National Park)

Cedar plank grilled salmon is arguably the greatest culinary tradition of the Pacific Northwest. Native Americans have been using this technique for literally hundreds of years—and still do.

There’s a reason this cooking method has become so popular among grilling enthusiasts today.

Grilled cedar plank salmon, when cooked properly, is potentially one of the best seafood dishes you’ll ever eat. And it’s really not that difficult to do.

The cedar wood is a natural way of infusing a subtle smokiness into the salmon, while a topping of grainy mustard, mayonnaise, hot honey, thyme, and lemon juice ensures that the salmon stays deliciously moist.

Although the entire Pacific Northwest could have been the inspiration for this cedar plank grilled salmon recipe, I found my inspiration in the beautiful rivers of the North Cascades.

The Skagit River Watershed, which bisects the park complex, “is one of the few watersheds in the continental U.S. to have runs of all Pacific salmon species: chinook (king), coho, chum, pink and sockeye,” the National Park Service says.

That makes this the perfect park to pair with this cedar plank grilled salmon recipe.

Cedar plank grilled salmon recipe with roasted potato salad inspired by North Cascades National Park

This North Cascades National Park-inspired recipe for cedar plank salmon with roasted potato salad contains affiliate links. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here.

North Cascades Cedar Plank Salmon

  • Prep time: 2 hours
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Calories per serving: 991

This succulent salmon, featuring a wonderful hint of cedar smoke, is amazing served with an intricate Yukon gold potato salad. Besides roasted potatoes, this salad also includes radishes, hard-boiled eggs, red onion, and herbs and spices.

If you’re hosting a backyard party, this national park-inspired grilling recipe is certain to leave a lasting impression on your guests!

It’s fun, delicious, and perhaps most importantly, super-healthy.

I should emphasize the importance of letting your cedar plank(s) soak in water for at least 2 hours before grilling the salmon. This prevents them from catching on fire on the grill. I always have a little spray bottle with water nearby, just in case the plank does catch on fire.

Cedar plank salmon recipe inspired by North Cascades National Park

Necessary Kitchen Tools

North Cascades cedar plank salmon recipe
Yield: 4 servings

North Cascades Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon With Roasted Potato Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Inspired by Native American culinary traditions of the Pacific Northwest and the abundant salmon in the North Cascades, this cedar plank grilled salmon recipe is a fun and healthy grilling option. Served with a roasted potato salad, it makes for an absolute delicious outdoor dinner.

Ingredients

Cedar Plank Salmon

  • 4 wild-caught salmon fillets
  • 3/4 cup grainy mustard
  • 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup hot honey
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
  • Salt and pepper

Roasted Potato Salad

  • 1.5 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups radishes, diced
  • 1 cup red onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
  • 2 tablespoons pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Cedar Planks

  1. Submerge the cedar planks in water and soak for at least 2 hours.

Roasted Potato Salad

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Put potatoes on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Use your hands to massage the oil and seasoning into the potatoes. Spread potatoes out in a single layer.
  3. Roast potatoes until they're golden brown and easily pierced with a fork, about 30-40 minutes. Watch closely and flip potatoes halfway through.
  4. When potatoes are roasted, remove them from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes.
  5. While potatoes cool, combine mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, paprika and garlic powder in a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. Add radishes, red onion, celery, eggs, cooled potatoes and parsley to the dressing. Mix very well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  7. Cover and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Roasted potato salad in bowls, grilling side recipes

Grilled Salmon

  1. Combine mustard, mayonnaise, hot honey, lemon juice and thyme in a small bowl.
  2. Light the charcoal in your grill.
  3. Take cedar planks out of the water. Place salmon on the cedar planks. Season salmon generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Generously cover the salmon fillets with the mustard-mayo mixture. Make sure to get all sides, too. (It's okay if the mixture runs off of the sides a bit.)
  5. Let salmon rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes while the grill heats up.
  6. Move the charcoal to one side of the grill. Place cedar planked salmon on the other side of the grill.
  7. Grill salmon until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F or until it flakes easily with a fork. Start checking after about 15 minutes. If not ready, continue grilling until temperature is reached or flakes easily, about 5 more minutes.
  8. Remove cedar planks from the grill. Scoop salmon fillets off of the planks with a fish spatula.
  9. Serve with roasted potato salad on the side. Enjoy!

North Cascades cedar plank salmon grilling recipe

Notes

Note: I do recommend checking the salmon regularly after 15 minutes. The exact time will depend on your grill, type of charcoal, and other factors. It took me 20 minutes to get the salmon to my desired doneness.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 991Total Fat 51gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 38gCholesterol 244mgSodium 1539mgCarbohydrates 73gFiber 9gSugar 28gProtein 62g

A general nutrition calculator was used to determine the nutritional information of this recipe, which is meant solely as an indication of the dish's nutritional values. Depending on specific ingredients, quantities used and/or serving size, the ultimate dish you end up making may have different nutritional aspects. Please consider the information provided here only as guidance and not as an absolute fact.

© Bram
Cuisine: Fish and Seafood / Category: Fish & Seafood Recipes
If You Decide to Make This Succulent Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe Inspired by North Cascades National Park at Home, Feel Free to Tell Everyone About It Below! Happy Cooking!

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