Smoked Crab Stuffed Salmon with Honey Herb Butter Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 Salmon fillets (large fillets, skin-on or off per preference)
• 8 oz Lump crab meat (drained and picked for shells)
• 4 oz Cream cheese (softened)
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 2 Green onions (finely sliced)
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (plus more for dusting)
• 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 4 tbsp Unsalted butter (for the sauce)
• 2 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C) using a mild wood like alder, cherry, or apple.

2. 2

   In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sliced green onions, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth.

3. 3

   Gently fold the lump crab meat into the cream cheese mixture, being careful not to break up the lumps too much.

4. 4

   Prepare the salmon fillets by cutting a horizontal slit into the thickest part of each fillet to create a pocket, being careful not to cut all the way through.

5. 5

   Stuff each salmon pocket generously with the crab mixture. Season the outside of the salmon fillets with a little more Old Bay, salt, and pepper.

6. 6

   Place the stuffed salmon fillets directly on the smoker grates. Smoke for approximately 45-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the salmon reaches 145°F (63°C).

7. 7

   While the salmon is smoking, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the honey and chopped parsley until well combined and warm.

8. 8

   Remove the salmon from the smoker and let it rest for 5 minutes.

9. 9

   Drizzle the honey herb butter sauce over the warm salmon fillets just before serving.

Notes

If you do not have a smoker, you can bake these in an oven at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes. Ensure the crab meat is fully picked over to remove any cartilage or shell fragments.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• seafood
• salmon
• crab
• smoked
• dinner
• keto-friendly