Smoked Salmon Sliders With Garlic Aioli

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• brine:
• water as needed
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon dried tarragon
• 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
• aioli:
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
• salt, or to taste
• 1/2 cup apple wood chips, or as needed
• 12 slider-size burger buns

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ready Time: 4 hrs 15 mins


• pour enough water into a large baking dish to fill about halfway. stir 1/2 cup salt into water until dissolved; add tarragon. place salmon in the brine, adding more water if needed to completely cover salmon. cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until brine has soaked into the salmon, 2 to 12 hours.
• whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, pepper, lemon zest, and 1 pinch salt together in a bowl until aioli is smooth; refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• remove salmon from brine and place on a wire rack to dry, about 30 minutes. discard brine.
• place apple wood chips in the smoker. place salmon in the smoker and smoke according to the manufacturer's instructions on low heat until salmon flakes easily with a fork, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• assemble sliders by dividing the salmon among the 12 buns. top each piece of salmon with a spoonful of aioli. place top bun on aioli layer creating a sandwich.