
By our definition, fresh trout is that which has gone directly from its freshwater home to the dinner plate without ever being frozen or processed in any way, shape, or form. Endowed with natural oils that are heart friendly, proper preparation of freshwater trout is a treat to the palate as well as a boost to your health.
Cleaning Your Trout:
The trout is one of the easiest freshwater fishes to clean. Of course if you have purchased your trout at the market, the methods described here will have been taken care of already. We will cover the basics and then discuss the issue of filleting your trout as an option.
First of all, let me offer this cautionary advice. Many areas have length limits for trout, and removal of the head before you arrive home could constitute a violation of regulations. Regardless, when you are done fishing, using a sharp fillet knife, make an incision starting at the anus up the belly (not too deep) to the gill slit. If you can now legally remove the head do so now and likely the entrails will come with the head’s removal. If you are not removing the head now, you may need to make an incision around the gill region to loosen the entrails. After removing the entrails, make a slight incision inside the cavity of the fish along the backbone, and remove the black and red bile. Rinse the insides as thoroughly as possible in the stream or using whatever freshwater source available. If you will not be cooking your trout immediately, get them on ice now.
If you have only removed the entrails, once you get home, go ahead and remove the heads (some folks cook trout with heads on). Even if you don’t have to remove the heads, you will certainly need to rinse your fish thoroughly once more.
Some people do fillet their trout. By doing so, you do remove many of the bones that must otherwise be contended with. Since trout do not need to be skinned – most people eat the skin – the fillet process is simplified. However, as with any time you fillet fish, some of the meat is lost. This is a personal decision.
Cooking Trout:
It seems that a predominance of recipes have lemon as one of the ingredients. There are many great recipes you can use, and I will summarize a couple.
BBQ Trout
Ingredients: Fresh Lemon, Sliced Onion, Parsley, Salt, Pepper, Fresh Trout
Cut 1 slice of lemon in half and squeeze juice over fish, then place on fish. To the top of fish add seasonings to taste. Cover with onion slices and chopped parsley, topping with teaspoon of butter. Wrap Trout individually in aluminum foil, wrapping tightly so ingredients will not escape. Cook until meat can easily be pulled away from bones.
Trout Over Campfire
Ingredients: Trout (at least 2), 1 Can Stewed Tomatoes, Onions, Butter
Form aluminum foil around the fish and seal ends. Distribute the small can of stewed tomatoes evenly between the two packages pouring over and into the fish. Seal foil tightly.
Place the foil packages along side of but not in the campfire, about five inches from the hot coals. Cook fifteen minutes then reverse the packages for an additional fifteen minutes.
Best served with baked potatoes wrapped in foil and started about twenty minutes in the campfire prior to starting the fish. A green salad is a nice addition as well.