Ingredients Seafood Salmon Barbecue-Spiced Hot-Smoked Salmon 2.0 (1) 2 Reviews Homemade barbecue spice seasons both a dry brine and pineapple-based mop sauce for a double dose of flavor. Hot-smoked salmon makes a showstopping buffet centerpiece any time of day. By Justin Chapple Justin Chapple Facebook Instagram Twitter Justin Chapple is a chef, recipe developer, food writer, video host, and cookbook author. In addition, he is the culinary director-at-large of Food & Wine and host of their video series, Mad Genius Tips, for which he was nominated twice for a prestigious James Bead Award. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 1, 2019 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Greg DuPree Active Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Yield: 6 Ingredients 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup kosher salt 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons dried oregano 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 (6-ounce) can pineapple juice 1 (3-pound) skin-on side of salmon (about 1 1/2 inches thick) Cooking spray 4 cups (about 10 ounces) hardwood chips (such as hickory or applewood) 6 pounds natural lump charcoal Directions Stir together brown sugar, salt, chile powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, cayenne, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Transfer 1/4 cup spice mixture to a small bowl, and whisk in pineapple juice. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator until ready to use. Set aside remaining spice mixture. Line a 13- x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with a large sheet of plastic wrap, leaving a 12-inch overhang on 2 long sides. Spread reserved spice mixture on plastic wrap in an even layer slightly larger than the salmon. Place salmon, skin side up, on spice mixture. Wrap plastic wrap tightly around salmon; cover baking dish with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until fish is barely firm to the touch, 10 to 12 hours. Unwrap salmon, and discard plastic wrap. Rinse off most of spice mixture, and pat salmon dry. Lightly grease a flame-proof rack or perforated grill pan set over a large baking sheet with cooking spray; add salmon, skin side down. Brush salmon with 2 tablespoons pineapple juice mixture; refrigerate, uncovered, until surface of salmon forms a pellicle (a thin, slightly dry layer), about 4 hours. During the last hour of chilling the salmon, soak wood chips in water; drain. Using lump charcoal, prepare a fire in a smoker according to manufacturer’s instructions. (If necessary, follow instructions for indirect heat.) Place 1 cup soaked wood chips on hot coals. Maintain internal temperature of 150°F to 170°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Place rack or perforated grill pan with salmon on smoker. Brush salmon with 2 tablespoons pineapple juice mixture. Close lid; smoke salmon until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 145°F, about 2 hours, adding small handfuls of wood chips to coals and brushing salmon with remaining pineapple juice mixture every 30 minutes. Remove salmon from smoker and let cool completely on rack, about 1 hour. Using a fish spatula, carefully remove salmon from rack, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours or up to overnight. To serve, cut salmon into thick slices or flake into large pieces. Suggested Pairing Medium-bodied, earthy Pinot Noir. Rate it Print