Blazingly Simple But True Trout Recipes

CRISPY TROUT WITH KITCHEN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• If it's convenient, set the serving plates to warm in a low oven (175 degrees F) as you prepare the fish.
• For the sauce, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and thyme and cook them briefly until lightly browned. Add the cream, bring it to a boil and reduce quickly by half. Add the remaining 10 tablespoons butter gradually, pat by pat, whisking until incorporated. When the sauce is smooth and thick, discard the garlic and thyme and add the chives, sherry vinegar, tarragon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat two large cast-iron skillets over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and dust the skin sides with the flour. When the pans are hot, add enough canola oil to thinly coat the bottom of each and add a fish to each pan, skin-side down. Cook until the skins turn golden brown and opaque doneness creeps into the pink flesh of the fish. You want to cook the fish nearly all the way through on the skin side. Flip the fish and transfer them to a plate to keep warm in the oven. Cook the remaining fish.
• Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of sauce onto each warm plate, top with a trout, skin side pointing up, and serve immediately.

FIRE BROILED TROUT

Steps:

• Start fire in pit, make sure fire is hot, and let burn down to glowing coals. Place cooking grid or grate 6 inches above heat.
• Wash trout thoroughly with cold water. Remove head from trout and burn in fire pit. Tear off a large piece of aluminum foil and place on work surface. Pour olive oil to cover mid-section of foil. Place fish on top of oil. Sprinkle seasoned salt and lemon pepper on the top and inside of the trout cavity. Insert butter and sliced onions into the trout cavity. Tightly wrap foil around the trout so that no area is exposed. Place foil-wrapped trout onto cooking grid. Cook on each side for 10 minutes or until internal temperature is 120 degrees F. Remove from cooking grid and garnish with parsley, thyme or spinach.

WHOLE POACHED TROUT

Steps:

• Lay the trout in a poacher or roasting pan. Pour the wine in, and add enough water to cover. Drop in the onion, bay leaf and peppercorns. Season the water with salt. Cover, and bring just to a boil. Turn off the heat and leave to cool to room temperature. Transfer the fish to a serving platter. Let sit 30 minutes, and then drain off any excess liquid. Pat dry. Remove the skin from the fish, leaving the head and tail intact.
• Prepare the cream mixture by beating the mascarpone with the chives, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper. Cut down the back of the fish and open out the fillets. Remove the bones. Spread most of the cream mixture inside and sandwich the fillets back together. Spread the cream in a thin layer of the remaining cream over the flesh of the fish. Lay over cucumber slices to cover the flesh completely, like fish scales. Lay a chive flower over the eye. Serve.

CRISPY COLORADO TROUT

Steps:

• Preparing Trout: After de-boning, finning, cleaning, and filleting fish, rinse and pat dry. Combine egg and milk in a shallow dish to make an egg wash. Dredge trout in seasoned flour shaking off excess. Dip into egg wash mixture, and then into panko crumbs, turning to coat both sides and patting lightly. Remove fillets and place separately onto platter. Use waxed paper to keep fish from touching. Preparing Aioli Sauce: Place all ingredients into blender except for olive oil, and puree. Add a little water to loosen, if needed. Once you have reached the puree stage, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream. This will cause the ingredients to emulsify. Set aside. Cooking Trout: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a heavy saute pan, coat bottom with 1/8-inch of oil. Heat pan and oil to medium heat. Add fillet skin side up and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn fillet over and cook until golden brown on the other side. Remove from heat and place on paper towels in baking dish.
• Place fillets in preheated oven for 6 to 7 minutes. Arrange on plates and drizzle with sauce making thin ribbons across the fillets.
• Serve with Chevre Orzo.
• Cook orzo in salted boiling water to just under done. Drain and keep warm.
• Heat the cream, add remaining ingredients, and toss with the pasta. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.