Cornmeal Battered Trout Recipes

PAN-FRIED TROUT

Steps:

• In a wide flat dish, combine the bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, zest of 1 lemon and salt, to taste.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mustard and the juice of 1 lemon. Brush both sides of the trout with mustard mixture. Coat the fish on both sides with the seasoned bread crumbs and press firmly to adhere the crumbs to the fish.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Coat a large skillet with about 1/4 to 1/2-inch of olive oil and bring to a medium-high heat. Add the fish to the pan, skin side down, and cook the fish 2/3's of the way, about 6 to 7 minutes. Carefully turn the fish over and cook the other side until the fish is brown and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the fish from the pan and drain on paper towels. You will probably need to work in batches to do 4 fish. After the first batch is done and dried on paper towels reserve it on a rack in a warm oven.
• When all the fish has been fried, remove the oil and any brown bits from the pan. Add the butter and remaining lemon juice and swirl to combine as the butter melts. Season with salt, to taste, and reduce by about half. Transfer the fish to a serving platter, drizzle with the butter lemon sauce and serve.
• What a fishtale!

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED TROUT

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until just soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato, vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the green beans in a large microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; keep warm.
• Put the cornmeal in a shallow bowl. Dredge the fish in the cornmeal, shaking off the excess. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the fish and cook until golden, turning once, about 5 minutes. (Add more butter between batches, if needed.) Transfer the fish to plates.
• Return the sauce to medium heat. Add the half-and-half, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon tarragon and 1/2 tablespoon butter and season with salt. Serve the fish with the green beans and top with the sauce.
• Per serving: Calories 380; Fat 14 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 164 mg; Sodium 238 mg; Carbohydrate 30 g; Fiber 4 g; Protein 33 g

B. SMITH'S CORNMEAL-DIPPED PAN-FRIED WHITING

Steps:

• Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt, paprika, and pepper together in a shallow dish or plastic container. Pour the milk into another dish. Dip the fillets into the milk, then into the cornmeal mixture, coating them well and shaking off any excess.
• Heat 1/2 the butter in a large skillet over high heat, and fry 2 of the fillets for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Transfer the fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining butter and fillets. Serve immediately, with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

MEMPHIS CORNMEAL BATTERED COD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add flour, cornmeal, cayenne and sugar and mix together. Whisk in cold beer and honey until well incorporated and free of lumps.
• Preheat deep-fryer to 375 degrees F. with peanut oil.
• Season cod with salt and pepper and dredge in batter. Allow excess batter to drip off and place gently into the deep-fryer. Fry for 6 to 8 minutes until golden, crisp and delicious. Drain on paper towels. Place cod on a large serving platter or individual places and serve with Tartar Sauce.
• In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED TROUT

Steps:

• To make the crawfish sauce, put the lobster stock and tomato paste in a small saucepan and boil over high heat until reduced by half, about 6 minutes.
• Pour the cream into a medium saucepan and boil over medium heat until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the trout, spread out the flour on a large plate and season with salt and pepper. Place the eggs in a large shallow bowl. Add a few tablespoons of water, season with salt and pepper, and whisk until combined. Place the cornmeal on a large plate and season with salt and pepper.
• Add the reduced cream to the lobster stock and stir to combine. Add the crawfish tails and watercress leaves, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just to heat through. Keep warm.
• Season both sides of each fillet with salt and pepper. Dredge one side of each fillet in the flour and tap off any excess, then dip that side in the egg mixture and let any extra drip off. Finally dredge the same side in the cornmeal and tap off any excess.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Place 2 of the fillets in the pan, cornmeal side down, and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn over and continue cooking until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining 2 fillets, butter, and oil.
• Ladle some of the sauce onto large plates or shallow bowls and top with the trout. Garnish with watercress leaves.

PAN FRIED WHOLE TROUT

Steps:

• Remove gills from fish and discard. Rinse fish under cold water.
• In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat.
• In shallow dish, combine the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper. Raise heat to high. Dredge fish in flour mixture and fry in hot oil for about 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until meat flakes with a fork. Serve garnished with lemon wedges.

PAN-FRIED BREADED TROUT

Steps:

• Rinse fish in cold water; pat dry. In a shallow bowl, combine the cheese, cracker crumbs, cornmeal, garlic salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat eggs and milk. Dip fish in the egg mixture, then gently roll in the crumb mixture., In a large skillet, fry fish in oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until it flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with lemon, chives and/or parsley if desired.