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white plate with salmon filet covered in cranberry sauce

Feel free to use any smoker or even a gas grill, just be sure to use indirect heat, so you don’t burn the skin.

I used Halos mandarin oranges for this recipe, because I love that they don’t have seeds.

Pistachios add great texture to this dish, but they can be expensive, so I buy them from the bulk section. That way you only have to purchase the amount you need.

4.78 from 18 votes

Smoked Cranberry Salmon

This smoked cranberry salmon is a healthy, festive change to traditional turkey and ham, and it’s packed with the flavors of the holidays.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 large filet of salmon
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 mandarin oranges, sliced
  • 1/3 cup toasted pistachios

Cranberry Rosemary Chutney

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp shallot, minced
  • 1 mandarin orange
  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 inch sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • pinch salt

Instructions 

  • Heat the smoker to 275 with oak and alder wood*.
  • Rub the both sides of the salmon with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the salmon to the smoker, skin-side down. Top with mandarin orange slices. Smoke for 45 minutes.
  • Increase heat to 375F degrees. Spoon on the Cranberry Rosemary Chutney (recipe below). Continue smoking for 15 minutes.
  • Remove to a platter and sprinkle with toasted, chopped pistachios.

Cranberry Rosemary Chutney

  • Heat olive oil in a sauce pot over medium heat. Sauté shallot and zest from the orange.
  • Add juice from the orange and remaining ingredients. Increase heat to medium high. Cook and stir until berries pop and sauce forms, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 892mgPotassium: 332mgFiber: 5gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 690IUVitamin C: 31.5mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Did you try this recipe?Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @girlscangrill

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christie vanover standing against wood wall.

Hey BBQ Family

Hi. I’m Christie, the head cook and award-winning competitive pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill. I have won multiple grand championships and have dozens of top ten category finishes. People know me as the girl who is forever hovering over a grill, smoker or campfire with tongs in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

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