Best Grilled Trout With Grape Leaves Recipes

TROUT GRILLED IN GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Step 1: Rinse the grape leaves thoroughly under cold running water, then place them in a bowl with cold water to cover and let soak for 30 minutes, changing the water once or twice. Drain the grape leaves and blot dry with paper towels. ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 2: Rinse the trout inside and out under cold running water, and dry (inside and out) with paper towels. Season (inside and out) with salt and pepper, then set aside. ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 3: Combine the walnuts, garlic, dill, cilantro, and lemon juice in a food processor and process to a very coarse paste. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste and more lemon juice as necessary; the mixture should be highly seasoned. Spoon the stuffing into the cavities of the trout, dividing it evenly among them. ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 4: Working with one trout at a time, arrange 2 or 3 grape leaves, overlapping them slightly on a work surface to form a rectangle. Lay a trout on the grape leaves, and wrap up, tucking the ends under, leaving the head and tail exposed, but enclosing the stuffing. (NOTE: If you like, secure the bundles by tying them at intervals with butchers string.) ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 5: Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 6: When ready to cook, brush and generously oil the grill grate. Place the wrapped fish on the hot grate. Grill the fish until the grape leaves are nicely browned and the fish is cooked through, 3 to 6 minutes per side, testing for doneness by inserting a thin metal skewer into the thickest part of the fish; if it comes out very hot to the touch after 20 seconds, the fish is cooked. ShareTweetPin3 Shares Step 7: Using a thin spatula, transfer the fish to serving plates or a platter. Garnish with the lemon slices, and serve at once. (Unwrap the trout and discard the grape leaves before eating.) ShareTweetPin3 Shares

WHOLE GRILLED TROUT

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Rub each trout generously with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt; sprinkle inside of cavities with salt and black pepper. Place half the lemon and onion slices into cavity of each trout, along with minced garlic, and place a sprig of rosemary and thyme into cavities.
• Turn preheated grill down to low and place the trout directly onto the grill; cook until flesh flakes easily and the skins are browned, 6 to 7 minutes per side, flipping once.

GRILLED PANCETTA-WRAPPED TROUT WITH VERJUS, CRUSHED GRAPES, AND FENNEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat a medium sauté pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the butter, and when it foams, stir in the red onion. Add the thyme, a healthy pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Sauté about 10 minutes, until the onion is translucent and soft. Add the sorrel to the pan, and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the cream, and cook, stirring continuously, about 3 minutes, as the cream reduces and coats the onions. Taste for seasoning, and transfer to a plate to cool completely.
• Lay the trout, skin side down, on a cutting board, open like a book. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and spread the sorrel onions on one side of each fish. Fold the fish back together, and wrap each trout with a piece of pancetta, spiraling the meat around the fish like the stripe on a candy cane. Refrigerate the fish until 15 minutes before cooking.
• Light the grill 30 to 40 minutes before cooking.
• Meanwhile, using a mortar and pestle, pound the grapes until they're partially crushed. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the parsley, a healthy pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
• When the coals are broken down, red, and glowing, brush the trout with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the trout 3 to 4 minutes on each side, rotating the fish a quarter-turn after a couple of minutes, to get the skin crispy.
• Scatter the watercress on a large platter, and place the trout on top. Spoon the warm verjus sauce over the fish, and top with the crushed grapes. Serve the fennel gratin at the table.
• Place the grapes, shallot, and verjus in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and simmer until the liquid is reduced by three-quarters. Let the mixture cool until lukewarm.
• Transfer to a blender, and, with the motor running, add the cold butter a little at a time, blending until the butter is just incorporated. Taste for seasoning, and add a little lemon juice, a pinch of pepper, and more salt if you like. Return the sauce to the pan, cover, and keep in a warm place. Reheat just before serving.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Toast the fennel seeds in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, until they release their aroma and are a light gold color. Using a mortar and pestle, pound the seeds coarsely.
• Trim the root end of the fennel, cut the stalks off where they meet the bulb, and peel off any outer layers that are brown or bruised. Cut the bulb in half lengthwise, leaving the core intact. Place the halves, cut side down, on a cutting board, and slice the fennel thinly lengthwise. You should have about 6 cups of sliced fennel.
• Toss the fennel in a large bowl with the onion, thyme, bay leaves, fennel fronds, fennel seeds, and 1/3 cup olive oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of pepper.
• Slice the potatoes on a mandoline into 1/16-inch-thick slices. Toss the potatoes in a medium bowl with the cream and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Add the potatoes and parsley to the fennel, scraping all the cream into the bowl. Toss well to combine, and taste for seasoning.
• Arrange one layer of potato slices in the pan, overlapping them slightly, on the bottom of a gratin dish. (For this recipe, I like to use a copper or black iron dish, so the potatoes get extra crisp.)
• Toss the remaining fennel-potato mixture again, and arrange it over the layer of potatoes. Pour all the remaining creamy juices over the top. Bake about 45 minutes, until the potato is cooked and the fennel is golden and slightly crispy on top.
• You can stuff and wrap the fish the morning before you plan to grill it. Both the fennel gratin and the verjus sauce can also be prepared ahead of time and reheated before serving.