Maple-Smoked Salmon Steaks with Maple-Mustard Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 1⁄4 cup table salt
• 1⁄3 cup maple syrup, preferably Grade B
• 1 tsp. whole peppercorns, crushed
• 6 cups ice water
• 6 salmon steaks, each about 1⁄2 lb.
• 3 Tbs. maple sugar or firmly packed golden
• brown sugar
• 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1⁄3 cup mild-flavored oil, such as grapeseed
• or canola
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh tarragon
• Canola oil for oiling the grill grate
• 2 or 3 handfuls maple, alder or hickory wood
• chips, soaked in water for 30 minutes, plus 1
• additional handful dry wood chips if using a
• gas grill