Name: Dry-Brined Smoked Salmon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Brown sugar, divided - 1 ½ cups; Kosher salt - 1 cup; Salmon fillets - 3 pounds; Honey - ½ cup; Cola-flavored carbonated beverage (such as Coca-Cola®) (Optional) - 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles; Wood chips, soaked - 3 cups

Ingredients for - Dry-Brined Smoked Salmon

1. Brown sugar, divided 1 ½ cups

2. Kosher salt 1 cup

3. Salmon fillets 3 pounds

4. Honey ½ cup

5. Cola-flavored carbonated beverage (such as Coca-Cola®) (Optional) 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles

6. Wood chips, soaked 3 cups

How to cook deliciously - Dry-Brined Smoked Salmon

1 . Stage

Mix 1 cup brown sugar and kosher salt together in a small bowl.

2 . Stage

Spread a thin layer of the brown sugar mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch baking pan. Arrange 2 to 3 salmon fillets on top; cover with some of the brown sugar mixture. Repeat layers until all the salmon fillets are coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.

3 . Stage

Preheat a smoker to 195 degrees F (91 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions.

4 . Stage

Rinse brown sugar mixture off salmon fillets. Brush fillets lightly with honey and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar on top.

5 . Stage

Pour cola-flavored beverage into the smoker's water pan; add water to within 1 inch of the top. Place half of the wood chips around the perimeter of the hot charcoal. Place salmon on the cooking racks.

6 . Stage

Cook salmon, adding more wood chips if needed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 2 hours. Cool before serving, at least 15 minutes.