Copper River Salmon {with Lemon Dill}

Grilled Copper River Salmon with Lemon/Dill White Sauce, Grilled Asparagus and Fresh Baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Most of you all know, we love to use our grill.  My husband finds it a personal quest to make the best out of grilling and salmon is no exception.  We've tried salmon so many different ways: cooking methods and marinades, this one has been moved to #1 in the ranks!  I made a fresh lemon, dill white sauce while he marinated the salmon in a similar lemon, dill mixture.  If you don't prefer the sauce, the salmon eaten just with the marinade grilled into it is just as excellent as there is a slight hint of honey coating as well... Enjoy! Diane 

Lemon Dill White Sauce

Ingredients:
1/2 cup minced shallots or onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup dry white wine
Juice of one lemon (approx 3 Tbs) 
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup heavy cream
5 tablespoons butter**, cubed
Salt and pepper to taste

**you can use unsalted butter and adjust for salt once sauce is completed. 

In a saucepan, combine the shallots or onions, garlic, wine, and lemon. Bring the liquid up to a boil. Stir in the dill and cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in the mustard and cream, continue to cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the butter a cube at a time, until all the butter is incorporated. Season with salt** and pepper. 
Yield: about 2/3 cup
Recipe adapted from: "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, 1993.


Lemon Dill Marinade

Ingredients: 
1 Tbs  olive oil
1 Tbs  chopped fresh dill weed
1  tsp  grated lemon peel **
3 Tbs lemon juice **
2 Tbs honey
1/2 tsp garlic powder 
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb salmon fillets, cut into 2 pieces (8 oz each)

In 8-inch square, glass baking dish, arrange salmon pieces skin side up in single layer. Pour marinade over salmon; turn to coat. 
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 20 minutes before cooking. 


To grill salmon, place skin side down on lightly oiled tin foil: place on grill and let cook until fish is flaky - our grill runs approx 350 and we cook our salmon for about 20 minutes as we like it thoroughly cooked. SO MANY recipes say it takes 10 minutes on a grill and we have yet to have ours fully cooked, and flake easily with a fork at that timing.  We do 20 minutes - it's your preference. 
To broil salmon, place skin side down on sprayed rack in broiler pan; broil with top 4 to 6 inches from heat using times above as a guide, brushing with marinade during last 8 minutes of cooking time.

**You can substitute lime peel and juice for the lemon in the sauce and marinade for a refreshing lime flavor.

Recipe Adapted from: Betty Crocker Grilled Salmon with Lemon Dill.