Smoked Chipotle Salmon Tacos

These smoked smoked salmon tacos from our friend Aaron Riley are absolutely delicious. The flavors meld together perfectly and create a complex, flavorful, and textural medley.

First, the smoked salmon on the Yoder Smokers YS640S exudes a bold flavor with a subtle smokiness that’s slightly sweet and heady. When paired with the chipotle slaw, the salmon’s richness is given a bold, spicy counterpart — crisp cabbage and carrots, intertwined with the smoky notes of the chipotle pepper seasoning adds a fiery kick and a crunchy texture that perfectly contrasts the tender fish.

The addition of the cilantro-avocado cream sauce elevates the whole dish to new heights. The homemade sauce introduces a cool, creamy, and vibrant flavor that counters the heat of the chipotle slaw. The fresh, herbaceous notes of cilantro combined with the rich, buttery flavor of avocado embolden the fresh flavor and calm the palate at the same time. It’s truly a symphony of flavor — the smokiness and heat from the salmon and slaw are perfectly tempered by the refreshing cream sauce. And of course, built into a taco it makes for the best fish taco dinner you’ll have this summer!

Recipe from @beardedskullbbq on Instagram


INGREDIENTS

Main Ingredients:
  • Fresh Salmon Filets
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil for binder
  • Your Favorite Chipotle BBQ Rub
  • Warm Corn Tortillas
Slaw:
  • Purple Cabbage
  • 1 Tbs Sour Cream
  • 1/2 Tsp Chipotle Adobo
Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce:
  • 1 Bunch Cilantro
  • 1 Avocado
  • 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 Tsp Lime Juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First trim up them salmon filets.
2. Hit them with that EVOO and season with your choice of rub. I went with Bearded Skull BBQ Kickin’ Kajun Rub.
3. Let the rub set while you fire up your Yoder. Preheat to 225-235°F with some Cherry wood pellets.
4. Roll smoke on those salmon filets until hitting internal temp of 145°F.
5. While the salmon is smoking, start preparing the slaw by finely shredding the cabbage.
7. Next mix in 1 tablespoon of sour cream and 1/2 teaspoon of Adobo to taste.
8. To make the Cilantro Avocado Cream, add cilantro, avocado, and remaining ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy.
9. Season with salt and lime juice to taste.
10. Build your tacos and enjoy!!