Hot Honey Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
A Perfect Balance of Sweet, Spicy & Smoky
Few dishes capture the magic of outdoor cooking quite like Hot Honey Smoked Salmon with Fresh Mango Salsa. It’s a beautiful balance of smoky heat, sweet glaze, and a burst of fresh, zesty flavor — perfect for summer cookouts, dinner parties, or even a weeknight treat.
In this recipe, Tommy the Butcher walks you through every step: trimming and seasoning the salmon, smoking it to perfection, brushing on a luscious hot honey glaze, and topping it with a vibrant mango salsa. But before we dive into the how-to, let’s look at where this dish comes from and why you need it in your life.
Watch our step by step guide on how smoke hot honey salmon below!
A Brief History of Smoked Salmon & Hot Honey
Smoked Salmon has been enjoyed for centuries across cultures. Indigenous peoples in North America smoked fish as a way to preserve and enhance its flavor. In Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, smoking fish became a culinary tradition celebrated for its depth and complexity. Today, smoked salmon has evolved beyond preservation — it’s a gourmet staple on brunch tables, appetizer platters, and high-end restaurants.
Hot Honey, on the other hand, is a more recent culinary trend that took the food world by storm. Originally popularized in the 2010s, hot honey blends sweetness with a gentle heat, making it a perfect complement to savory dishes. When combined with smoked salmon, the natural richness of the fish meets the sweet-heat punch of hot honey, creating a flavor pairing that feels modern but deeply satisfying.
Why This Recipe Is Worth Trying
Flavor Explosion: The salmon’s smokiness pairs beautifully with the sticky-sweet heat of the hot honey glaze, while the mango salsa adds brightness and crunch.
Healthy & Vibrant: Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, and the fresh mango salsa delivers vitamins, antioxidants, and a refreshing kick.
Beginner-Friendly: This recipe is perfect for those new to grilling or smoking fish. Tommy shares grilling tips and clear instructions on how to smoke salmon so you can nail it on your first try.
Show-Stopping Presentation: The colorful mango salsa over perfectly smoked salmon is as stunning as it is delicious — guaranteed to impress.
Final Thoughts
This Hot Honey Smoked Salmon with Fresh Mango Salsa is more than just a recipe — it’s a celebration of flavors that bridge tradition and innovation. Whether you’re new to smoking fish or a seasoned grill master, this dish brings something special to the table: vibrant, exciting flavors that showcase what BBQ can be.
Ready to try it? Fire up the smoker, grab a mango, and let’s get cooking.
Hot Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
Equipment
- 1 Smoker
- 1 brush for glazing hot honey
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1 Whole Side Filet Salmon about 3 1/2 lbs
- Smoky turmeric
- Hot Honey
Salsa
- 3 Ripe Mangos chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion chopped
- 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro chopped
- 1 Juice of Lime 1 lime
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Salsa
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well3 Ripe Mangos, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1/2 cup red onion, 1 jalapeno, 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, 1 Juice of Lime, salt, black pepper
Smoked Salmon
- Set the smoker to 275 degrees
- Season salmon generously with smoky turmericSmoky turmeric
- Place salmon on a rack on foil-lined baking sheet
- Place in the smoker and allow to smoke for 30-60 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees1 Whole Side Filet Salmon
- When it reaches 130 degrees, remove from the smoker
- Drizzle and brush on hot honey evenlyHot Honey
- Return to the smoker for about 5 minutes to let it set
- Remove from the smoker
- Allow to cool for 15 minutes
- Top with mango salsa
- Serve and enjoy!