Smoky Spicy Trout
With the summer weather upon us, I’ve been getting the urge more than usual to fire up the grill to smoke and cook some food. Yesterday I returned from a trip to Nigeria and came home to an empty fridge (with intense “hanger” pains).
For some reason or another, I was craving seafood – something fatty and flavorful – so I headed to Kroger. Of course, I scooped up some salmon but I noticed that rainbow trout was on sale so I bought some too.
What I really like about trout is that it pretty much has the same texture of salmon (and even look of salmon) but with a slightly different taste. In my opinion, it tastes less “fishy” than salmon does which is a common complaint I hear about people’s aversion to salmon.
Also, it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and is fairly high in protein with over 20g at just 3 oz. While it does have some fat, it’s still considered low-fat so it’s a good, heart-healthy substitute for beef and lamb. Oh yeah – it’s low in mercury so it’s one of those fish you can comfortably enjoy on a weekly basis.
BAKED TROUT RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1lb rainbow trout
- Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (smoked) paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- zest of lemon (or lime or orange)
- 1 teaspoon cracked pepper
- pinch of sea salt
- pinch of cinnamon (optional instead of using coconut sugar or brown sugar)
- Garnish
- fresh lemon juice (or lime or orange)
- kosher salt & cracked pepper
Steps
Step 1
Fire up the smoker/grill to about 200F (or set oven to 300F).
Step 2
Brush the fish with olive oil, then rub it in the seasonings. Careful not to use all the oil – you’ll need it for basting. If you are going to bake the fish in the oven, then you may want to consider using smoked paprika (or adding a drop or 2 of liquid smoke to the rub) in order to achieve a somewhat smoky flavor that makes this recipe really tasty.
Step 3
Place the fish on a wood plank (the same flavor as the wood you’re smoking). Or, if you’re using the oven, set the fish on a baking tray.
Step 4
Smoke for 2.5 to 3 hours, or bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Brush the fish with the remaining olive oil every 45 minutes.
Step 5
Garnish and enjoy!
Approximate macros for 1 of 4 servings
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, I'm Kevin
My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.
By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!