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This zesty maple bourbon salmon recipe is the best fish recipe I’ve made! The perfectly grilled salmon with tender and flaky meat cooked on a pile of citrus rings brushed in a sweet and savory maple bourbon glaze. All the flavor balance one another perfectly making for a delicious light summer meal.

Step 1: How to make a homemade maple bourbon glaze.

This zesty maple bourbon glaze is the perfect finish for the salmon recipe. It’s savory, sweet and citrusy. Put it on fish, chicken or pork. It will work on any protein.

Start by adding zest from an orange and squeezing fresh orange juice into a sauce pan. Next add maple syrup, bourbon of choice, minced garlic, soy sauce, hot sauce for a bit of heat and Dad’s Maple Bourbon rub to bring all the flavors together.

Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat until the the thickness of the sauce is to your liking.

Dad’s Seasonings

Must have grillin seasonings!

Step 2: Prep the salmon filet.

Salmon is a great protein option if you are trying to take a break from poultry or red meat. It’s high in fat making it flavorful and fun to cook. The seasoning and marinade options are endless and best of all it’s easy and quick to make.

I had a beautiful salmon filets in my freezer from Salmon and Sable. If you haven’t heard of them, please go check them out. They catch wild Alaskan salmon and other fish a few months out of the year and ship it directly to you. Does not even come close to store bought. Best of all it’s a small operation which I love to support.

I started off by seasoning the salmon filet with Dad’s Maple Bourbon rub gently pat it in and set aside.

Next, I decided to make a bed out of citrus fruit instead of using the traditional cedar plank. Slice 2 oranges and set aside. The zestiness of the fruit penetrates the meat balancing out the strong salmon flavor.

Step 3: Grill the perfect maple bourbon salmon.

Preheat the grill to a medium heat and set for indirect heat. I used my weber. I’ve been really enjoying cooking on this charcoal grill. I created an indirect heat set up by placing the charcoal the the sides of the grill and leaving the middle empty. That’s where I placed the citrus bed and seasoned salmon on top.

20 minutes into the cook, brush the maple bourbon glaze over the salmon. Continue to cook allowing the sauce to caramelize over the fish.

Remove from the grill once the internal temperature of the fish reached 130 degrees. Keeping it on the grill for longer will lead to dry meat even with all the citrus notes around. Remove and rest for 5 minutes.

Before serving the zesty maple bourbon salmon, drizzle a little more sauce over the top, sprinkle some chives and enjoy!

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this in the oven or stove top?

All my recipes can be replicated in the oven, stove top or gas grill. You do not need a big green egg or weber grill to replicate any of my recipes.

What is good non alcoholic substitute for bourbon

A mix of vanilla extract and apple cider vinegar can mimic the taste of bourbon. But there are so many on alcoholic bourbon alternatives available that will provide a much better taste profile.

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5 from 1 vote

Zesty Maple Bourbon Salmon

The zesty maple bourbon salmon is the perfect weeknight dinner option. Flaky, tender meat brushed in a sweet and savory maple bourbon glaze.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 3 People

Ingredients 

  • 3 Small salmon filets
  • 2 Oranges
  • 1 tbsp Dad's Maple Bourbon rub

Zesty Maple Bourbon Glaze Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup Bourbon
  • 1 tbsp Dad's Maple Bourbon rub
  • 1 tbsp Minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Hot sauce
  • 1 Zest from 1 orange
  • 1/2 Juice from 1/2 orange

Instructions 

  • Start with the maple bourbon sauce. In a saucepan add zest from an orange and squeezing fresh orange juice. Next add maple syrup, bourbon of choice, minced garlic, soy sauce, hot sauce for a bit of heat and Dad's Maple Bourbon rub.
    Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat.
  • Gently pat the salmon filets dry and season with Dad's Maple Bourbon rub.
  • Slice 2 oranges in even side rings and set aside.
  • Preheat the grill to a medium heat and set for indirect heat.
  • Place the orange slices on the grates and place the seasoned salmon filets on top.
  • After 20 minutes, brush the salmon with the zesty maple bourbon glaze. Continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees.
  • Remove from the grill and rest for 5 minutes.
  • Before serving, drizzle more maple bourbon sauce over the top, add chives and enjoy.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 569mg | Potassium: 1136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2mg
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About Maciek

I make easy meals that anyone can replicate at home. I’m not a professionally trained chef, just your average guy that likes to fire up the grill. So follow along and see what’s cooking today!

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