Cast Iron Skillet Fresh Trout With Cornmeal Recipes

Steps:

• Remove gills from fish and discard. Rinse fish under cold water.
• In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat.
• In shallow dish, combine the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper. Raise heat to high. Dredge fish in flour mixture and fry in hot oil for about 4 to 6 minutes on each side or until meat flakes with a fork. Serve garnished with lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Prepare a hot campfire. Generously season each fish, inside and out, with salt and pepper. Pour the cornmeal onto a large plate and season it generously with salt and pepper.
• When the fire dies down, place a grill rack over the bed of embers and assemble everything you will need: your largest cast-iron skillet, the oil, a thick dry towel or sturdy pot holder, a metal spatula, a pair of long tongs to adjust the embers or grill rack if needed, and a serving platter for the fish. When the grill is very hot, the flame has completely died down, and the coals are covered with ash, put the skillet on the center of the grate and let it get hot.
• In the meantime, thoroughly coat each fish with a light dusting of cornmeal.
• Add 1/4 inch of oil to the hot skillet and test the oil: a sprinkling of cornmeal should immediately sizzle. Shake any excess cornmeal from the fish and slowly lay them in the skillet (you may need to work in batches if your skillet is not large enough to fit them all). Keep a close eye on the fish as they cook, and rotate the pan or gently adjust the fish with the spatula and tongs as needed. Cook the fish for 4 to 6 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Flip them over and continue until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. If the pan becomes dry during cooking, add a small amount of additional oil to the skillet.

Steps:

• If it's convenient, set the serving plates to warm in a low oven (175 degrees F) as you prepare the fish.
• For the sauce, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and thyme and cook them briefly until lightly browned. Add the cream, bring it to a boil and reduce quickly by half. Add the remaining 10 tablespoons butter gradually, pat by pat, whisking until incorporated. When the sauce is smooth and thick, discard the garlic and thyme and add the chives, sherry vinegar, tarragon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat two large cast-iron skillets over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper and dust the skin sides with the flour. When the pans are hot, add enough canola oil to thinly coat the bottom of each and add a fish to each pan, skin-side down. Cook until the skins turn golden brown and opaque doneness creeps into the pink flesh of the fish. You want to cook the fish nearly all the way through on the skin side. Flip the fish and transfer them to a plate to keep warm in the oven. Cook the remaining fish.
• Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of sauce onto each warm plate, top with a trout, skin side pointing up, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Mix egg and water and slowly whisk in flour and cornmeal. Add parsley, garlic salt, onion salt, salt, and ground white pepper. Lay prepared fish in batter while oil is heating.
• In heavy skillet (preferably cast iron or non-stick), heat oil over medium-high heat until a 1/2 teaspoon batter dropped into it sizzles and begins to brown. Fry fish for 3 minutes on each side. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Garnish with lemon slices and flat-leaf parsley leaves.
• Serving suggestion: Southern tartar sauce (chopped piccalilli mixed with mayonnaise) and hot green pepper sauce.