Crispy Fried Trout Recipe

There are certain foods that are automatically associated with a fancy meal. In some cases, like the delicious but challenging soufflé, it's the difficulty in making a particular dish that gives it an air of elegance. And then there's trout. Delicate in both texture and flavor, this fish is ideal for everything from a romantic, candlelight dinner for two to a formal gathering among friends and colleagues. And thanks to recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge, you can now make picture-perfect crispy butterflied trout in just about no time at all.

Yes, you read that right. With just a little bit of prep work and six minutes of cook time, this flaky fabulous fish can be gracing your dinner table in about 10 minutes. How awesome is that? And whether you want to pair it with sides like sweet potatoes, roasted broccoli, or carrots, or let it take center stage on the plate with just a squeeze of lemon, you won't need to fish for compliments when you serve this mouthwatering dish.

It's quite a fun and impressive dish to prepare for dinner guests, and you won't even have to work hard putting it together. Isn't that the best kind of recipe to choose to prepare when you're having company?

To make your crispy fried trout, you'll need to get a few ingredients together, including black pepper, all-purpose flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and butter. You'll probably have all of those items in your pantry and fridge already. As for the star of this recipe, you'll want to head to your fish market, and pick up two fillets of fresh trout that have been butterflied. Although some recipes allow for frozen fish, Olayinka says only fresh trout will work here, so you'll have to plan to pick up this key ingredient.

"We [want to] get that crispy finish, and if it's frozen, it will just have a lot of water inside the fish," she explains. It will all be so worth the extra stop at the market for the fresh star of the show!

To begin this recipe, pat dry your fish fillets on both sides with paper towels. And if you're concerned about deboning your fish, do not worry. Olayinka says, "The majority of trout that are butterflied come deboned." However, if you're unsure, don't be afraid to double check at your fish market before purchasing your fillets. After all, nothing takes the charm out of an elegant fish dinner quite like the crunch of tiny, pointy fish bones.

Of course, to get your trout fillets nice and crispy, you'll need just the right coating. So, you're going to mix together the black pepper, all-purpose flour, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. And don't worry about the size of the bowl, because once you've thoroughly combined all the dry ingredients, you're going to transfer them to a large plate, so you'll be able to easily coat your fish fillets.

Coat your trout fillets on the outside and the inside in the flour mixture, then set aside. Next, place the butter in a frying pan, and turn the heat to medium-high heat. And for anyone who prefers the taste of margarine to butter (or just prefers cooking with it), Olayinka says, "Margarine spread can definitely be used as well!" And fun fact for all the margarine fans out there: Margarine used to be pink!

Once the butter is all melted, place one of your trout fillets in the frying pan, and fry for a total of six minutes. Remember, you're going to want to flip the fillet over at the three-minute mark to ensure that the fish is fully cooked.

And for anyone who is new to cooking trout, Olayinka has a simple trick to avoid both undercooking and overcooking your fish. "You can tell the fish is done as it goes from being pink to pale pink, and it is less opaque," she says.

While this crispy fried trout is perfect as-is, Olayinka does have a couple of optional ingredient suggestions, if you prefer your fish with a touch of garnish. Of course, a little lemon juice is a classic when it comes to all fish dishes. As a matter of fact, for your next meal, you might want to try grilling fish on top of lemon slices. And nothing quite tops off an elegant meal like a little chopped parsley!

This meal will go really well with some white rice and your vegetable of choice. Be sure to pick up a bottle of white wine, and you are all ready for a scrumptious dinner. This crispy fried trout is really light and fresh for a perfect summer meal.