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Alaska Salmon Recipes
From Our Guides' Kitchens to Yours

Alaska Salmon Recipes

Guide Recipes

How to Cook Kenai River Salmon — 5 Recipes Our Guides Actually Use

Fresh-caught Kenai salmon is the finest seafood in the world. Don't ruin it with bland preparation. Here's how we cook it — from simple campfire methods to restaurant-level presentations.

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Classic Cedar Plank King Salmon
⏱ 25 min Best for King Salmon

Soak a cedar plank in water for 1 hour. Season a king fillet with brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic, and butter. Grill on plank at 375°F for 20 min until flakes separate. The cedar perfumes the fish with a smokiness money can't buy.

💡 Guide Tip: Don't overcook. King salmon is done at 125°F internal temp.
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Lemon Dill Sockeye Baked in Foil
⏱ 20 min Best for Sockeye Salmon

Place sockeye fillets on foil. Top with lemon slices, fresh dill, capers, and a drizzle of olive oil. Seal and bake at 400°F for 15 min. The steam inside the foil packet self-bastes the fish — zero dry fish, guaranteed.

💡 Guide Tip: Add a splash of white wine before sealing for extra depth.
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Blackened Silver Salmon Tacos
⏱ 15 min Best for Silver Salmon

Coat silver fillets in a mix of cayenne, cumin, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Sear in a cast iron on high heat for 3 min per side. Serve in warm tortillas with shredded cabbage, lime crema, and pickled jalapeño.

💡 Guide Tip: Silver salmon's high fat content stands up perfectly to blackening spices.
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Alaska Salmon Chowder
⏱ 40 min Best for Any Species

Sauté onion, celery, and garlic in butter. Add diced potato, chicken stock, and cream. Bring to simmer, add cubed salmon and corn. Cook 8 min more. Finish with fresh dill and cracked pepper. The perfect use for your smaller or broken fillets.

💡 Guide Tip: This recipe freezes beautifully — make a double batch.
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Soy-Glazed Grilled Sockeye
⏱ 12 min Best for Sockeye Salmon

Combine soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic in a bag. Marinate fillets for 30 min. Grill skin-side down on high for 5 min, then flip 2 min. Serve over steamed rice with sesame seeds and green onion.

💡 Guide Tip: Watch carefully — the sugar in the marinade can burn quickly.
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Kenai River — Soldotna, Alaska  ·  Licensed Guide  ·  All Gear Included