Are you wondering what the difference between a smoked trout and a smoked salmon is? Well, a trout has a more delicate flavor, which makes it a yummy and easy on the tummy starter. You can also cook this delicious type of food and serve it as a hearty meal or add it to your soups or dips. A trout's size and texture make it so easy to smoke and it is available everywhere in the market. It is always a great idea to keep a trout in the fridge for whenever you might need it.
If you are wondering how you can cook this fridge staple, we have curated a list of recipes and a few guidelines to help you make the perfect one.
Different styles of smoked trout
Before you go ahead and start making your hot-smoked trout, you need to be aware of the different styles of smoked trout. There is a whole rainbow trout or a brown one; both of these differ in the texture and the flavor. There are also fillets of hot-smoked ocean trout.
Regardless of whichever style you are going for, make sure you opt for a home-grown trout to guarantee freshness and good quality. These kinds of trout are usually better, since they do not have that muddy taste that is usually felt when you buy a trout that was grown in lakes or ponds.
Smoking a Trout
Hot-smoked trout is normally cooked through and the smoke penetrates the flesh. Most of the liquid is lost as it is being cooked, and the natural oils and flavor in the trout are concentrated. To get a simple hot-smoked trout, you will need half a cup of kosher salt and one-quart water. Combine the salt and the water in a small container and stir them together, add the trout fillets, and then keep them in the fridge for three hours. Afterward, remove the trout, rinse it thoroughly, and then place it on a cooling rack set in a half sheet pan. Make sure it dries in the fridge for 24 hours until the skin becomes shiny.
On the following day, set the smoker's temperature to 150 or 160 degrees, and place your trout on the smoking racks. Adjust your heat and leave the trout to cook for two and half or three hours. Its color should get darker and its flavor should be smoky. Sounds easy? It sure is! Here are more recipes for you.
Smoked Trout with Pickled Beetroot and Tomato Salad
Cook this yummy recipe by cooking two beetroots in salter simmering water for thirty minutes, and then drain, peel, and cut them into chunks. You can combine them in a bowl with red wine vinegar or normal vinegar and add 50gm of caster salt, 2 tsp of sea salt, and warm water. Afterward, use a separate bowl to add 200gm of sliced tomatoes, 1 or 2 tsp of pine nuts, extra virgin oil, your smoked trout and orange juice. Add these yummy mixtures to a plate of beetroot, and serve them with yoghurt on the side.
Smoked Trout with Potato and Lemon Salad
This is yet another juicy salad that works by cooking 600gm of cream potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes, and then draining and chopping them. Then, add 120gm of sour cream, 120gm of aioli, half a cup of parsley, preserved lemon, and 320gm of a hot-smoked trout. Toss them all together and combine them, and add whatever seasoning you like.
Smoked Trout with Herb Crème Fraiche and Cavatelli
This creamy recipe is done by cooking 350gm cavatelli in boiling water for around 9 minutes. Use a frying pan to add 2 diced shallots and 1 crushed garlic clove. Stir this over medium high heat for 3 minutes until it's tender, and then add 125ml of dry white wine. After it boils a bit, add the trout flaked fillets with 3 tsp of crème fraiche. Afterward, add some chopped spring herbs and 1 tsp of pasta water. You can serve this yummy trout over a hot plate of pasta.
Smoked Trout on Sesame Bagels
This recipe is very similar to the smoked salmon bagels recipe. You'll need to combine salt, sugar, white pepper, and garlic powder together, and sprinkle your trout with the salt mixture. Preheat your grill to 180 degrees, place your fish on indirect heat, and remove them after 2 hours. Then, combine your cream cheese with scallions, spread them on your bagels, and then add the trout.
These yummy recipes are bound to leave your loved ones' and guests' mouths watering with excitement. All you need to do first is learn how to smoke a trout, and then enjoy this addition to your fridge by making tons of recipes. Make sure you buy the style that best suits your recipe and, most importantly, serve your food with love.
