Pan Fried Trout

While in Idaho visiting a good friend, we went fishing and all we caught were some small pan fried sized trout. One 10-inch Brookie and five 9-inch Rainbows. Although not the biggest fish in the lake, we knew they would be great for breakfast the next day.

Now I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to eat freshly caught trout. If you're like me, most of the trout I've eaten has been farmed raised and there is a DIFFERENCE. Taste!!! These little pan fryers were a mouthful of sweet tasting meat...better than any trout I've ever tasted. My Idaho friend who only eats non farm raised trout told me these little pan fryers are tastier then the big guys.

Cook you eggs any style you like and if you add bacon to this meal, use some of the drippings to cook the fish in for some additional flavor. We cooked up some of those famous Idaho potatoes to go with this meal. Hey, did you see in the paper recently there is a new vodka on the market made from Idaho potatoes called Teton Glacier??

Reluctant Gourmet’s Tips
1. Use a cast iron fry pan for this meal if you have one.
2. Try margarine instead of butter to reduce smoking.

Pan Fried Trout with Eggs & Fried Potatoes

Cooking Technique = Pan Fry

• 2 Tablespoons margarine
• Trout, fresh caught if possible and cleaned
• Bacon Fry Coating Mix
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4-5 Idaho potatoes, cubed
• 1 egg for coating, farm fresh if possible
• eggs, as many as you like to eat for breakfast

Cleaning the fish: We cleaned the fish just after we caught them by gutting them, cutting off the gills, and most importantly, scraping off the blood line off the backbone.

Chop the onion, cube the potatoes and you are ready to start.

Heat margarine in your fry pan over medium high heat. If you use butter, lower the heat a little to prevent smoking. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then add potato. Cook until potato softens up a little, approximately 10 minutes. Make room for the fish.

Rinse the fish under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Drying will prevent the fish from steaming when you cook it.

Place fish into egg and coat with Bacon Fry Coating Mix. We used Krusteary Bacon Fry Coating Mix, but I'm not sure this is available outside of McCall, Idaho.

Add fish to the fry pan and cook until golden brown and the meat separates from the backbone. Another way to test for doneness is when the dorsal and pectoral fins pull out easily.

Remove the fish, onions, and potatoes to a plate, cover with foil to keep warm. Cook your eggs any way you please in the fry pan and serve with fish, onions, and potatoes.

Of course some home made biscuits would be nice, but that's another trip. Enjoy!