How to Cook Trout 

If learning how to cook trout some important facts are needed to be known about this fish. They are generally fresh water fish and they vary tremendously in size and the skin color. For the most, trout will spend their entire life in the water where they were born; one exception being the rainbow trout.


Many people who have learned how to cook trout, prefer the rainbow trout.  The rainbow and steelhead trout are almost one in the same; so closely related that one cannot tell the difference by looking. These start their lives in the streams but head into larger bodies of water to forage and grow; then they return to the streams to spawn. The steelhead also grows very much larger but most of the time they are referred to as rainbow trout.

These lake trout, the rainbow and steelhead trout are very popular up north due to the abundant supply found in the fresh water of the Great Lakes region; Lakes Huron, Superior, Michigan and other lakes. This is where some of the largest (steelhead) and most perfect trout can be found. Salmon trout is the name applied to the trout caught in the New York lakes. The brook trout, caught in brooks and small lakes are known to be for superior eating.

For those who have learned how to cook trout love the flavor due to their diet. They feed on the crustaceans which is more flavorful than feeding on insects. The down side of cooking these fish is that they are very bony.


NOTE: Allow about 6 ounces cleaned and boned trout for each adult serving; fillets or steaks.

NOTE: For the pictures below I used stealhead trout. 

TROUT ALMONDINE RECIPE

How to Cook Trout Almondine RecipeHow to Cook Trout Almondine Recipe
  • 4 Trout, cleaned and scaled
  • ½ Cup butter
  • Flour
  • 2 Beaten eggs
  • ¼ Cup slivered almonds
  • ¼ Cup white wine
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Dry trout with paper towels.

In a large skillet, melt butter until very hot but not burning.

Dip trout into the beaten egg and then in the flour.

Sauté over medium heat until golden brown about 5 minutes on each side.

Remove from skillet and place on a serving platter and keep warm.

Add the almonds into the skillet and brown. Add the wine, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Cook until slightly thickened scraping bits from the pan. Pour over the fish and serve.

POACHED TROUT RECIPE with tarragon

Poached Trout Recipe with TarragonPoached Trout Recipe with Tarragon

Learn how to cook trout with cream sauce.

  • 4 Trout fillets or steaks
  • ½ Cup dry white wine
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped onion
  • 1 Lemon thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (Divided)
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon (Divided)
  • ½ Cup whipping cream
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper

Place trout in large skillet with lid; add the wine, water, onion and lemon.

Add HALF of the parsley and tarragon to skillet; bring mixture to a simmer.

Cover skillet with lid; simmer 10 to 12 minutes until fish test done with fork.

Remove fish and lemon slices from skillet to a warm platter; cover to keep warm.

Add cream to the skillet; cook and stir over medium heat until thickened.

Season with salt and pepper; spoon sauce over trout.

Sprinkle with parsley and tarragon to serve; serves 4.

CAPERED TROUT RECIPE

Capered Trout RecipeCapered Trout Recipe

Learn how to cook trout with delicious mustard flavor.

  • 2 Trout fillets or steaks (4 Ounces each)
  • 1/3 Cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons drained capers 
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons soft breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Combine mayonnaise, capers, lemon juice and mustard; blend well and set aside.

Place trout in lightly grease baking dish; spoon mustard mixture over fish.

Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs; bake 25 minutes until fish flakes when tested.

Serves 2.

HOW TO COOK TROUT WITH CRAB SAUCE

How to Cook Trout with Crab SauceHow to Cook Trout with Crab Sauce

Learn how to cook trout with crab.

  • 2 Pounds trout 
  • 1 Cup lime juice
  • 1 Cup flour
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Teaspoon onion powder 
  • ½ Cup melted butter
  • 2/3 Cup water
  • ¼ Cup lemon juice
  • ¼ Cup sherry
  • 1 Package (1  1/8 Ounces) Hollandaise sauce mix
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped chives
  • 1 Teaspoon parsley flakes
  • ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Can (6.5 Ounces) claw crabmeat (Drain)
  • 1 Can (4 Ounces) sliced mushrooms (Drain)
  • ¼ Cup sliced toasted almonds
  • ½ Teaspoon paprika

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Place trout in large shallow baking dish; pour lime juice over top.

Cover and marinate in refrigerate 2 hours turning once; drain.

Combine flour, 1 teaspoon garlic and onion powder; drudge fish in mixture.

Melt butter in large heavy skillet; brown fish on both sides.

Place fish in lightly greased 9X13 inch baking dish.

Add water and next 6 ingredients to the drippings in the skillet.

Stir mixture until well blended; cook and stir until thickened.

Stir in the crabmeat, mushrooms and almonds; spoon over trout.

Sprinkle top with paprika; cover and bake about 30 minutes until fish flakes.

Serves about 6.

MICROWAVE TROUT RECIPE

  • 2 trout
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • ¼ Cup melted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons dehydrated onions
  • 2 Tablespoons slivered almonds
  • 2 Heaping teaspoons parsley flakes
  • Paprika
  • Salt/pepper

Pat dry fish and sprinkle inside and out with lemon juice.

Pour 1 tablespoon butter inside each trout.

Place onion, almond and parsley inside the cavity.

Season to taste with salt, pepper and paprika.

Pin bodies closed with toothpicks.

Pour remaining butter over the fish.

Cook on high speed for 4 minutes.

If more browning is desired, 2 minutes under broiler in a conventional oven is sufficient.

STUFFED TROUT RECIPE a delicious recipe when you know how to cook trout

  • 5 Fresh rainbow trout
  • ½ Pound crabmeat, picked over
  • 1 Red apple finely chopped
  • 8 Ounces finely chopped ham
  • 3 Ounces finely chopped black walnuts
  • 3 Beaten eggs
  • Pepper to taste
  • 20 Bacon strips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Skin trout from back of head to the tail, leaving fillets connected at the dorsal fin (fin located on the back of fish)

Remove head and tail and then slice off the dorsal fin.

Cut trout lengthwise in half.

In a bowl, mix the crabmeat, apple, ham, walnuts and eggs and season with pepper.

Stuff trout and wrap tightly with the bacon.

Grill trout on medium heat until bacon is crisp and then bake in oven until fish is done.

Serves 10

GRILLED TROUT RECIPE

  • 2 Rainbow trout filets
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Lemon juice
  • 1 Lemon sliced
  • 1 Can green chilies (Drained)

Rinse fish and pat dry; lay out a large piece of foil.

Baste both sides of each filet with olive oil; place on foil.

Top each piece with garlic powder, pepper and salt.

Drizzle the lemon juice over each filet; top with lemon slices and green chilies.

Roll edges of foil up around fish to catch the drippings.

Place on grill over medium hot fire; cook about 10 minutes on each side until flaky.

NOTE: You can also cook this recipe under the broiler.

APRICOT GLAZED TROUT RECIPE

Learn how to cook trout with the delicious flavor of apricots.

  • 4 to 6 Trout filets
  • 1 Jar apricot preserves
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons grated orange peel
  • 2 Tablespoons rosemary
  • 1 Tablespoon basil
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Lightly grease a baking dish with oil; place filets in dish.

In a small saucepan combine and stir the preserves, garlic, orange peel, rosemary, basil, salt and pepper.

Heat over low stirring until hot; pour over filets.

Bake about 20 minutes until fish flakes with a fork.

GRILLED TARRAGON TROUT RECIPE

  • 2 Trout (2 pounds each dressed)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh tarragon
  • ¼ Cup lemon juice
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 4 Sprigs fresh tarragon
  • 1 Sliced lemon
  • Cooking spray

Combine olive oil and tarragon in a small saucepan; cook over low for 20 minutes.

Strain and discard solids; combine and blend oil, lemon juice and salt.

Divide half of the oil mixture between each of 2 trout; brush inside cavities.

Place 2 tarragon sprigs and 2 lemon slices inside each trout.

Place trout in a large baking dish; pour remaining oil over trout.

Cover and chill trout for 2 hours.

Place trout in a grill basket coated with cooking spray.

Cover with grill lid; cook over hot coals 5 minutes on each side.

Serves 4.

BAKED TROUT RECIPE

  • 10 Ounces fresh spinach
  • 1 Small chopped onion
  • 4 Ounces salt pork
  • Pinch thyme
  • 4 Drops Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 Cloves garlic
  • Pinch tarragon
  • 1 Tablespoon bacon grease
  • 1 Tablespoon Cognac
  • 1 ½ Teaspoon sherry
  • 1 Teaspoon anise
  • 4 Trout (Clean and bone 10 ounces each)
  • ½ Cup clarified butter
  • 4 Ounces Hollandaise sauce

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Puree spinach, salt pork, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, garlic and tarragon until smooth.

Heat bacon grease in skillet; add Cognac, sherry and anise.

Add spinach mixture to skillet; cook until moisture is absorbed.

Open trout flat with skin side down; cover half the inside with 2 ounces of spinach mixture.

Fold the trout over to close the cavity; place butter in bottom of shallow baking dish.

Place fish in the butter; bake until the fish feels springy to touch.

To serve place fish on plates; drizzle Hollandaise sauce over each fish in a design.

Serves 4.