Whole Grilled Salmon Food

WHOLE SALMON ON THE GRILL WITH FENNEL, LEMON, AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Fire up the grill, with the coals lined up under the fish for direct grilling.
• Sprinkle sea salt generously in the cavity of the fish and over the skin, then stuff it with the onions, lemons, fronds, and herb sprigs. Tie butcher string around the fish in three or four places to hold the stuffing in. In between the string, make deep incisions with your knife through the thickest part of the fish on both sides, all the way down to the spine. (The fish will cook more quickly, and the smoke flavor will get inside the fish better.) Brush both the fish and the grill lightly with oil, dust the salmon skin on both sides lightly with flour, and place the salmon on the grill.
• Grill over medium-hot direct heat, with the cover on and the vents open. When the skin is browned on 1 side, use 2 large metal spatulas to loosen the salmon from the grate and carefully turn over. Continue cooking until just cooked through and an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the fish registers 135 degrees F to 140 degrees F, about 35 to 40 minutes total cooking time. Remove the fish from the grill and place it on a large platter. Allow the fish to cool for 5 minutes, then remove the butcher string and serve.

GRILLED HERBED WHOLE SALMON

Steps:

• Rinse any ice glaze from frozen salmon under cold water and pat dry.
• Lay out 2 sheets of aluminum foil, double thickness, on a large tray. Coat top layer with nonstick cooking spray.
• Lay half of onions lengthwise across foil. Place salmon over onions.
• Squeeze lemon on both sides of fish. Sprinkle dry seasoning onto salmon.
• Place fresh herbs over, under and into belly cavity (if fish is not frozen).
• Lay out remaining two sheets of foil, double thickness and coat top layer with nonstick spray and place coated side face down onto herbs and salmon.
• Roll up, crimp, and seal all sides to form packet.
• Cook frozen salmon over medium-hot grill (450 F), 5-6 inches from heat for 50-60 minutes, turning packet every 15 minutes.
• Cook until fish is opaque throughout.
• Cook fresh or thawed salmon over medium grill (400 F) 5-6 inches from heat for 45-55 minutes, turning packet over every 15 minutes. Cook until opaque throughout.

WHOLE GRILLED SALMON WITH CHANTERELLES

Steps:

• Chanterelles:
• Heat a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Add butter and oil and swirl pan until butter is melted. Add mushrooms, thyme, and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing often, until mushrooms are golden brown and tender, 5-8 minutes; set aside.
• Salmon and assembly:
• Prepare a grill for medium-low heat. Using a sharp knife, make a slit along belly of salmon, running from rib cage to tail. Turn salmon on its back and cut along both sides of backbone without piercing through skin on other side. Carefully remove backbone without tearing skin, then remove pin bones with small needle-nose pliers or tweezers. Season inside of fish with salt and pepper and stuff lemon slices, dill, thyme, and tarragon inside cavity. Tie wet kitchen twine around fish in several places to secure. Place on a rimmed baking sheet; rub skin all over with oil.
• Carefully place fish on grill grates and grill, uncovered, until flesh on bottom side is mostly opaque but still slightly translucent in the center, 12-18 minutes. Carefully turn fish and cook on the other side to the same doneness, 8-10 minutes. Transfer fish to a clean rimmed baking sheet and let rest at least 10 minutes.
• Place skillet with chanterelles directly on edge of grill to reheat while you portion the fish. Remove strings and peel back skin from salmon; discard. Break flesh of top fillet into large pieces and transfer to a platter. Discard aromatics and remove skin from bottom fillet, break up, and transfer to platter. Season with more salt and pepper and spoon warm chanterelles over.