When it comes to delicate fish like trout, I think simpler flavors are best. This recipe uses classic fish accompaniments like butter, lemon, white wine, and garlic with a light smoky flavor from the cedar plank. While this recipe was made with small brown trout, it would certainly work with a variety of fish.
I like to use cedar planks for various meals so it's nice to always have some on hand. I buy this 12-pack
from Amazon so I never run out.
The trout I used for this recipe were caught on the Shoshone River in my parents' backyard. I caught my first fish on this river after my husband got me into fly fishing so it is always special to come back to it. It doesn't hurt that the river is just a few steps out the back door and the view is gorgeous.
Trout is so delicate that it's difficult to produce a full filet after it's been cooked. If you remove the spine, most of the bones come with it. Then you can separate the flesh from the skin. You don't end up with a pretty piece of fish to eat but you do get some tender, flaky deliciousness so it's OK if it doesn't look great.
Cedar Plank Trout with Brown Butter Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 2 cedar planks
Ingredients
Fish
- 2 small trout, gutted and cleaned
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp butter, cut into ⅛" cubes
- salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- ¼ cup white wine
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Fish
- Soak cedar planks in water for 2 hours before cooking.
- Preheat grill to 450°F.
- Season fish inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff lemon slices, garlic slices, and butter cubes inside each fish. You may have to cut the lemon slices in half depending on the size of your fish.
- Place prepared fish on cedar planks and grill for 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Time can vary widely depending on the size of your fish.
- The fish will be very flaky and tender so don't expect to serve a uniform filet. Remove the lemon slices and garlic. Find the backbone on the head end of the fish and carefully pull it out so most of the bones come with it. Then you can remove the flesh from the skin. There will probably still be some bones remaining in the flesh so be careful when you eat it.
Sauce
- While fish is cooking, add butter to small pan and heat over low heat until it becomes bubbly and light brown. It should also produce a nutty smell.
- Once butter is browned, carefully pour in white wine a little at a time. If you add it too quickly, the butter will splatter. Add in salt and pepper. Heat over medium-low heat until sauce has reduced by half. Remove from heat and add in lemon juice and parsley. Drizzle sauce over fish after skin and bones have been removed.
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