Smoked salmon is a classic dish that is such a treat, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where the salmon is fresh and plentiful. This Togarashi Smoked Salmon is made on the Traeger and is as tasty as it is easy.

Togarashi Smoked Salmon

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we tend to have fresh salmon and a variety of fresh seafood available to us at any given moment.

I know. Hate us all you want, but we definitely pay for the awesome shellfish and seafood with all of the grayyyyy skies approximately 11 months of the year.

Okay, that’s a stretch. It is only 10.5 months of gray, and when it is nice here it is SPECTACULAR, so it is worth it. 

All of that preamble to say that you’re going to find a lot of fish and seafood around here these days. Lots. Scroll down for a list of my favorite salmon recipes from the site, or check out my entire post all about my Salmon Recipes for the full low-down.

Get all of my Easy Traeger Recipes here!

How should I serve this smoked salmon?

You can serve this easy smoked salmon as an appetizer with crackers, as a luncheon option with crackers plus assorted vegetables and fruits with a bowl of soup or chowder.

You can also serve this as a whole platter.

Place your smoked salmon alongside a variety of cream cheese, sliced English cucumbers, capers, thinly sliced red onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and soft-boiled eggs. You can also set out a platter of various crackers and breads. It would be a great option to bring along to a potluck, family gathering, book club night or girls weekend!

What do I look for when buying fresh salmon?

Moisture content is the most important thing to look for as to how fresh the salmon is, so if it looks dry, don’t buy it. Also if there are browned spots on the belly, edges of the fillet, or on the skin – don’t buy it.

You want the flesh of the meat to be brightly colored and firm, and there shouldn’t be a strong fishy odor at all. If it smells fishy it is because it is likely old. 

How many types of salmon are there, and what is the best to buy for smoking?

You can use any of these for smoking. Just choose what is easily available to you. But here are a few facts for you!

There are 6 types of Salmon, 5 of which are all wild-caught from the Pacific:  

1. Chinook or King Salmon | Said to be the best tasting of the Salmon group. High in fat content and flavor.
2. Coho/Silver Salmon | Slightly more delicate flavor but similar to Chinook/King.
3. Pink Salmon | Most common Pacific Salmon. This variety is often canned, sold fresh or frozen, or smoked. Very light color and flavor.
4. Red/Sockeye Salmon | Known for their dark red/orange flesh and deep rich flavor.
5. Chum/Dog/Keta/Silverbrite | Smaller fish usually canned or sold frozen to foreign markets.
6. Atlantic Salmon | The only variety you won’t find wild caught, as they are farm raised.

The best kinds of salmon for smoking are, in my opinion, King and Silver. That’s really the only kinds of salmon we mess with, around here. Other sources may vary, but I say stick to the highest quality fish you can catch or afford for the best results.

Do I have to “cook” smoked salmon?

Hot smoked salmon is already cooked during the smoking process, so you don’t have to cook it before serving.

You do need to observe proper food-handling practices. Keep the smoked salmon in the fridge, and make sure it doesn’t sit out at room temperature for more than an hour or two, at the most. The “danger zone” is between 40 and 140, so if your food stays in that range for too long it has the potential to make you sick. 

What can I make with smoked salmon?

Yes!  I have several ideas for you!

1. Smoked Salmon Dip
2. Smoked Salmon Chowder
3. Easy Salmon Orzo Pasta Salad (you may substitute dressing to fit with the Togarashi seasoning)
4. Toss into a salad of fresh greens and vegetables for a light, nutritious lunch on the go
5. Toss a little into my Traeger Smoked Mac and Cheese for another layer of flavor

I love using my Traeger Pellet Grill every chance I get. It’s easy to use and so versatile. Your whole meal can be prepared on it. I use mine year-round! 

What is Togarashi?

This particular recipe uses Togarashi Seasoning, also known as Japanese Seven Spice or Shichimi. If you are not familiar with this seasoning, it is one of my new favorites. It has a kick but not a “point me in the direction of the nearest water fountain” kind of kick.  

Togarashi has a variety of dried chili peppers and other seasonings like orange peel, black and white sesame seeds, Japanese pepper, ginger, poppy seed, seaweed, and various other spices depending on what brand you buy.

It is DELICIOUS!

More ways to use Togarashi

Togarashi was the Sriracha of 2018 for me, so I’ve got plenty of ways for you to use up that food-service-size bottle of Togarashi that I had your order earlier. Check them out below: