We love salmon at our house and my Irish Whiskey Salmon marinated and wrapped with smoked salmon was an unexpected gastronomical delight!
The flavors that the whiskey/honey marinade imparted to the salmon were incredible. And the smoked sockeye salmon added another layer of deliciousness to this amazing dish!
I first sampled this dish while touring Ireland and later saw a similar dish served at Raglan Road in Disney Springs. Without a recipe to go by I decided to recreate this dish in my kitchen and the results were a resounding success.
But after all it isn’t rocket science it’s cooking and the recipe couldn’t be any simpler to follow and uses easy to source ingredients. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
What ingredients do I need to make Irish Whiskey Smoked Salmon?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Irish Whiskey Salmon. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Do I have to use the smoked salmon in this recipe?
No, you don’t. If you don’t have the smoked salmon or would rather skip that step, just follow the instructions leaving out the smoked salmon and it will still be incredibly delicious!
What kind of whiskey should I use?
Since this is Irish Whiskey Salmon, my whiskey of choice is Jameson, but feel free to use your favorite whiskey or bourbon.
What type of Salmon is best to Marinate?
I used Copper River Sockeye Salmon for my recipe it’s my personal favorite. The bright red color and mild flavor is what made a salmon lover out of me!
Of course, you can use any salmon you have available in your markets. My two other choices are King salmon (chinook) which has a higher fat content and is considered to be the best of the Pacific salmon, and Coho (silver) which has a lighter, milder taste that pairs well with sauces.
Atlantic Salmon is more plentiful and usually less expensive and can also be used. I prefer wild-caught fish to farmed seafood.
*Farmed salmon is much higher in fat, containing slightly more omega-3s, much more omega-6 and three times the amount of saturated fat. It also has 46% more calories — mostly from fat. Conversely, wild salmon is higher in minerals, including potassium, zinc and iron
How do I make Irish Whiskey Salmon?
The first step is to mix the ingredients for the marinade together, taking time to incorporate the honey throughout the marinade.
Once the marinade is ready, place the salmon in a dish deep enough to hold it and pour all but three tablespoons of the marinade into the dish.
Turn the salmon over to coat both sides of the fish, then place it good side down into the marinade. You should have removed any skin from the salmon before starting the process.
*Marinate the salmon in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes, if you have the time one hour is preferable.
Wrap the pieces of smoked salmon on the top side of the salmon fillets. The smoked salmon does not have to go all the way around the fillet.
You want the slices of smoked salmon on the top of the fish so it can crisp up.
This was Irish Whiskey Salmon was a delicious dinner. The flavors all came together and the salmon was moist on the outside with a smokey light crunchy layer on the outside. Perfection on a plate!
Recipe FAQ’s:
Salmon is one of the most prized and tastiest types of fish that is found in Ireland and is enjoyed in restaurants and households.
Salmon should be marinated for a minimum of 30 minutes. One hour is better if you have the time. But don’t marinate the salmon for too long it can result in a mushy piece of fish.
*Always marinate salmon in the refrigerator so that it stays fresh.
The USDA cautions: “do not rinse raw fish, seafood, meat, and poultry. Bacteria in these raw juices can splash and spread to other foods and surfaces. Cooking foods thoroughly will kill harmful bacteria.”
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Irish Whiskey Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets 5- 6 ounces each
- 4 ounces smoked salmon
- ¼ cup Irish whiskey or bourbon
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon thyme dry or fresh – finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Italian Parsley finely chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Mix together all the ingredients (except the salmon) together to make the marinade.*Make sure the honey is fully incorporated into the marinade.
- Reserve 3 tablespoons of the marinade to use when serving the salmon
- Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish or ziplock bag and pour the remainder of the marinade over the salmon. Make sure to get both sides in the marinade. *Marinate the salmon in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to one hour
- After marinating, wrap the pieces of smoked salmon on the top side of the salmon fillets. The smoked salmon does not have to go all the way around the fillet.*You want the slices of smoked salmon on the top of the fish so it can crisp up.
- Preheat oven to Broil
- Place the salmon with the marinade in a baking dish, smoked salmon side up. Brush the salmon liberally with the marinade and place the baking dish under the broiler.Broil the salmon for 8-10 minutes or until it starts to get nicely browned on top. This should yield a crispy on the outside and moist on the inside salmon, just a touch underdone. If you prefer well-done salmon, reduce the broiler temp to 400 and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes longer after the initial broiling.
- Feel free to baste the salmon with the marinade in the baking dish once during the process.
- Use the reserved marinade to baste the salmon before serving.
Ramona
This is a really interesting recipe for a salmon dish! I am really tempted to make this for tomorrow as it looks super delicious and flavoursome. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Lesli Schwartz
This is such an interesting salmon recipe! One can never get enough salmon, and doubling it up is pure genius!
Monica Y
OMG I need to make this recipe for our anniversary, this looks so delicious, you are making me hungry
Tasheena
This looks really flavorful and delicious, thanks for sharing this recipe.
Wanda
I grew up river fishing with my dad in the Pacific Northwest so I adore all salmon recipes! Can’t wait to try it.
Kathy
I finally had some salmon for the first time not long ago and I have to say it was pretty good. Now I know I can start making recipes with it. This sure looks amazing too. I will have to try it.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
My husband would love this. He likes cooked salmon and whisky. I never thought to combine the two.
Lynndee
Oh, my! The hubs loves whiskey. But I’ve never thought of using it to marinate salmon. Must try this. Looks delish!
Catalina
Oh my goodness! I want this salmon for tonight! Sounds like a delicious and fancy dinner!
Marysa
What a unique way to cook salmon! It is nice to have some different variations to try. I feel like we are in a cooking rut lately.
Nikki Wayne
I would definitely use bourbon for this. Such a great salmon recipe.. thanks!
Gervin Khan
Another new way to cook my salmon and this one look so easy and delicious, yum!
Mar Wahrer
Yum! I love wild-caught salmon and I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. This recipe sounds heavenly!
Anosa
I love salmon but I have never tried cooking Irish whiskey with it and can not wait to try this recipe.
Amber Myers
This looks like a delicious dish. I’ll have to show my mom–she loves her salmon and I’m sure she’d want to try this.