Smoked Salmon

4 servings (serving size: about 4 ounces salmon)

This recipe gives you a moist smoked salmon - not the drier type (lox) that you purchase to serve on bagels with cream cheese. Start soaking the wood chips while the salmon brines

3-1/2 .......................cups water
1/2.......................... cup kosher salt
1/4.......................... cup sugar
2............................. tablespoons dried dill
2 .............................tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 .............................cup ice cubes
1 ............................(1 1/2-pound) salmon fillet (about 1 inch thick)  4 ............................cups hickory wood chips
************Cooking spray *****
************Cracked black pepper (optional) *****
************Fresh dill sprigs (optional)*****

1.          Combine water, salt, sugar, dill, and soy sauce in a large bowl, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Pour salt mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag. Add ice and salmon; seal. Refrigerate 2 hours, turning bag occasionally.
2.        Soak the wood chips in water for 1 hour. Drain well.
3.        Prepare the grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to medium and leaving one side with no heat.
4.        Place half of wood chips on hot coals. Remove salmon from bag; discard brine. Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Place salmon on grill rack coated with cooking spray over unheated side. Close lid; grill 10 minutes. Place remaining wood chips on hot coals; close lid, and grill 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with black pepper and garnish with dill sprigs, if desired.
TIP:
You can also  smoke the salmon in the stove ; fill a cast iron skillet  with water  and pour in  4 tablespoons  of  liquid  smoke  . Bake 375*F  for  35 minutes or  until  fish  flakes .
Heart healthy