How to Salt-Bake Whole Rainbow Trout

Learn How to Salt-Bake Whole Rainbow Trout: A simple elegant recipe for a dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious.

Salt baking is a surprising simple & elegant technique to cook rainbow trout or any whole fish

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Prep Time

60 minutes

Cook Time

30 minutes

Author:

Chef James Arthur

Navigate the art of salt-baking a stunning rainbow trout from Smoke & Chimneys in West Virginia. Our chef expertly guides you through the process of preparing this dish, starting with drying the fish thoroughly, preparing a salt mixture, and using it to create a mold around the fish. With fresh herbs, lemon, and a perfectly executed baking technique, this trout becomes a succulent, aromatic delight. Learn how to preserve the presentation and extract the fillets with finesse for a dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious. Step-by-Step Instructions

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Ingredients

Smoke in Chimneys Whole Trout (12-16oz)
Extra Virgin & Certified Organic Oil
Microplastic Free Salt
2 cups Kosher Salt
2 Eggs
1/4 cup water
1 lemon, sliced
Fresh herbs (fennel, parsley, etc.)
Fresh tomatoes (for salad)

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Directions

Prepare the Salt Mixture: In a large bowl, combine kosher salt, water, and eggs. Mix until the texture resembles wet sand, which will help seal in the moisture and flavor during baking.
Create a Salt Bed: On a baking sheet, spread a layer of the salt mixture to form a bed for the trout. This will ensure even cooking from all sides.
Stuff the Trout: Fill the cavity of the trout with lemon slices and fresh herbs like fennel, which will infuse the fish with subtle, aromatic flavors.
Encase the Trout: Place the trout on the salt bed and cover it completely with the remaining salt mixture. Press the salt around the fish to form a tight seal, leaving a small hole at the thickest part of the fish for inserting a thermometer.
Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F and select the convection setting for even cooking.
Bake the Trout: Place the trout on the top rack and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches approximately 130°F.
Rest and Finish Cooking: Remove the trout from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes. During this time, the internal temperature will continue to rise as the heat from the salt crust transfers into the fish, bringing it to a perfect final temperature of around 150°F.
Remove the Salt Crust: Carefully crack and remove the salt crust from the trout. Then, peel away the skin to reveal the perfectly cooked fish underneath.
Carve the Fish: Make a clean incision along the center line of the fish to separate the top and bottom quarter loins.
Serve: Gently remove the loins as intact as possible, aiming to keep them whole. Serve the succulent loins with a simple salad for a beautifully balanced meal.
Serve the loins with a simple salad and share with loves ones!

Recipe Video

Recipe Note

A note about this particular rainbow trout from Smoke in Chimneys: Ty Walker raises rainbow trout in the fresh mountain spring mineral water that comes out of the rocks meters away from the hatchery. The water that comes from this limestone aquifer has a natural pH of 8 and flows at about 3,000 gallons/minute.

The natural stream makes for lots of naturally occurring feed (bugs and vertebrates) that grow in the water which the fish feed on. In addition ot the natural feed Smoke in Chimneys trout are fed a feed that is 65% protein from ocean-based fish products and 4% grain fiber (the lowest available). The remaining 30% of the feed is plant products and trace minerals to ensure a balanced nutrient makeup.

The raceways, ponds, and fish are never treated with chemicals or antibiotics. Instead, they are carefully moved frequently and are stocked in lower densities so that they grow naturally and healthily. <Click here to learn more>

Rainbow Trout Salt Baked Trout Seafood 101 Trout Trout Recipe wholefish

How to Salt-Bake Whole Rainbow Trout

Salt baking is a surprising simple & elegant technique to cook rainbow trout or any whole fish

Prep Time

Cook Time

Author:

Ingredients

Directions

Recipe Video

Recipe Note

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