Hunting & Cooking: End of summer trout recipe

Over the past few days, I have heard many people utter that they can feel fall. Some people notice the evening golden glow from the shifting sun, others the whispering cool breeze mixing into warm summer nights. The leaves, too, are subtly fading from vivid green, paling to yellow: They are small hints of the inevitable exit of summer and arrival of fall. 

The arrival of each season is marked with welcoming traditions, such as the first day of wearing flip flops to announce the summer’s official start or the first cup of warm apple cider on a brisk day giving a nod to the start of fall. There are also season departure traditions, like a final day at the lake before school starts. Large or small, these moments are celebrated every year. I find this trout recipe filled with fresh citrus and garden herbs to be a perfect fit for the end of summer and welcoming of fall. 

This trout recipe works well with any species, such as rainbow, cutthroat, or brown trout. The filets can be removed from the bones and left on the skin for cooking. The citrus can be adjusted to fit what is fresh and available, whether it be oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit. The same can happen with the herbs, just use what you have in the garden for the close of summer. Enjoy!

End of summer trout

Ingredients

• 8 trout filets
• 2 oranges or other citrus fruits
• Handfuls of fresh herbs, such as tarragon, dill, and parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions

1. After cleaning trout filets, season with salt and pepper. 
2. Thinly slice oranges and place in single layer on one fish filet. 
3. Top orange slices with sprigs of parsley, tarragon, and dill. 
4. Top with second fish filet and tie the fish, herbs, and citrus together with kitchen twine. 
5. Place filets in grill basket and set on pre-heated medium-high grill. 
6. Close grill lid and allow fish to cook for seven minutes. 
7. Flip basket and let fish cook additional seven minutes. 
8. Serve with extra slices of orange and enjoy!

Lindsey Bartosh is an eighth-generation Moab girl who loves hiking, hunting, fishing, cooking, writing, photography and working on her website: www.huntingandcooking.com.