Smoked Salmon Sliders with Garlic Aioli

Sliders made with salmon that has been brined and smoked with apple wood, is topped with garlic aioli and served on slider buns for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 320 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 ½ pounds salmon fillets
• 1 tablespoon dried tarragon
• water as needed
• ½ cup salt
• salt, or to taste
• 12 slider-size burger buns
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
• ½ cup apple wood chips, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Remove salmon from brine and place on a wire rack to dry, about 30 minutes. Discard brine.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

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.