Closely related to salmon, trout has a delicate nutty flavour and can be white, pink or orange. This fish may not be as popular as it used to be, but it’s worth getting back onto your dinner plate as it’s healthy and delicious.
When selecting your fish, look for moist flesh, a fresh, mild aroma, shiny skin and clear eyes. If you’ve caught one yourself in Lake Taupo or a river, back country stream or creek, even better. Nothing beats a fresh catch for dinner!
Cedar Plank Trout – Serves 4
- 2 Brown or Rainbow trout fillets, about 700g each
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cedar plank
Step 1:
Soak your grilling plank in water as per directions. Pre-soaking the plank prevents it from catching fire while your food is cooking and ensures the slow release of the natural smoky flavour.
Step 2:
Make sure that you have everything ready to go before you take your cedar wood planks out of the water. It doesn’t take long for the wood to dry again, so preheat your grill and mix up the seasoning first. When ready, take out the planks and place the trout on top.
Step 3:
Mix the sugar, salt and spices together to create a sweet and spicy rub. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on the fish, and gently rub it in so the beautiful flavours will penetrate the whole trout. While it may look like there is lots of it on the fish, it creates a flavourful outer shell around the trout.
Step 5:
Place the planks on the grill and close the lid. The base of the plank will start to smoulder, and smoke will fill the grill. You want to keep the lid closed as much as possible as every time you open it, smoke escapes and the temperature drops, sacrificing a bit of that smoky goodness.
It’ll take about 20 minutes for the trout to fully cook, and if you have a large or thick fillet of fish the cooking time will be a little longer. Your trout is cooked when the internal temperature of the fish reaches 62C.
Step 6:
You can use a grill spatula to lift the trout off the plank and place on a plate or platter to serve. The fish will be moist and succulent inside, and the outside pops with flavour from the rub and the smoke from the plank.
Serving suggestions:
You can serve your cedar plank grilled trout with all sorts of side dishes such as roast veggies, a fresh homemade slaw or salad, pasta, rice or our personal favourite, au gratin potatoes. Foods with fins call for a subtle white wine as the drink of choice, as it brings out the delicious flavours even more. You can also pair trout with a delicious craft beer. Follow our suggestions and this meal will be a real winner for you and your dinner guests.
