How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry – 12 Easy Trout Recipes

By Charles •  10 min read
Camping 
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When it comes to trout, there are a few different things you need to know to cook them properly in the backcountry. In this article, I will begin with how to clean and prepare them for cooking. Then, I will cover how to cook trout in the backcountry in a variety of ways. Finally, I will give you twelve simple recipes to cook trout in the backcountry.

Table of Contents

Cleaning And Preparing A Trout For Cooking In The Backcountry

When you catch a trout, the first thing you need to do is to clean it. Use a sharp knife to slice along the belly of the fish from the gills to the tail. Remove the guts and any other organs that you see. If you are going to cook the trout whole, you can stop here. If you want to prepare the trout for frying or one of the many baking recipes, you will need to remove the skin. To do this, hold the trout firmly by the tail and run a sharp knife along the skin, removing it.

Various Ways To Cook Trout In The Backcountry

If you are trying to figure out how to cook trout in the backcountry, you have several options. Below I will briefly discuss the three most popular methods of cooking trout.

How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry – Open Fire Cooking/Baking

If you are looking for something a little bit more adventurous, you can try cooking trout on a campfire. One popular method is to use a stick and wrap the trout in tin foil then cooking the trout over the open flame. Another option is to place the trout directly on the coals. Make sure that the trout are cooked through before eating them.

How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry – Frying

When it comes to cooking trout, there are a variety of different methods that you can use. One popular option is to fry them. To do this, you will need some cooking oil or butter and possibly some other ingredients if you can take them with you. Finally, you will need a pan for your backcountry cooking kit.

How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry – Soups/Boiling

Finally, if you have a stove in your backcountry kitchen, you can also cook trout using that. One simple method is to place the trout in a pan and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the trout are cooked through.

No matter how you choose to cook your trout, they will be sure to taste delicious and provide you with some much-needed protein. So the next time you are out in the backcountry, be sure to try cooking some trout for dinner!

Delicious Trout Recipes Four Your Next Backcountry Trip

Trout can be a delicious and healthy addition to any backcountry meal. Whether you are looking for a main course or just a light snack, trout can easily be cooked in a variety of ways. I have broken down the recipes into two different groups. The first group of recipes is for how to cook trout on backpacking trips and the second is for pack trips or car camping trips.

Backpacking Recipes

This group of recipes will cover some backpacking-type recipes. When backpacking in you most likely will not have much room to carry a bunch of ingredients with you so these recipes are lightweight and simple.

Fried Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (Bring along a few packets of olive oil. These are pretty lightweight and small enough to throw into a backpack.)
  • Salt and pepper (You can throw a few packets of each of these in a ziplock with the olive oil)

Directions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
  2. Season trout fillet with salt and pepper.
  3. Fry trout in the hot oil for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  4. Serve hot and enjoy!
how to cook trout in the backcountry how to cook trout in the backcountry

Grilled Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Preheat a piece of foil over an open flame. (Bring a few squares of foil folded into a ziplock bag.)
  2. Place the trout or fillet in the foil.
  3. Drizzle trout fillet with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill in the hot coals for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy.

Poached Trout

Using a backpacking stove and cook set.

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • Water

Directions:

  1. Bring water to a boil in a pot on medium-high heat.
  2. Season trout fillet with salt and pepper.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low and carefully add trout to the boiling water.
  4. Poach trout for 3-5 minutes, or until cooked through.
  5. Remove trout from pot and serve hot.

Baked Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Place trout in the center of the foil.
  3. Drizzle trout fillet with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy.

With these delicious backpacking trout recipes, you’ll be sure to have a satisfying and nutritious meal while in the backcountry.

Pack Trip or Car Camping Recipes

The second group of recipes are for anyone that may be using horses or llamas to pack into the backcountry or have driven in for their camp. These recipes take a few more ingredients which might weigh too much to take with you if backpacking.

Trout and Bacon Foil Pack

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout, gutted and cleaned
  • 1 slice of bacon, cut into small pieces
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the bacon, butter, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Grilled Trout with Lemon Butter Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout, gutted and cleaned
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the lemon juice, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill or cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Crispy Fried Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup of flour
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. In a shallow dish, beat the egg.
  2. In another shallow dish, combine the flour and salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Dip the trout in the egg, then coat in the flour mixture.
  4. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add oil to cover the bottom.
  5. Fry the trout for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
  6. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Bacon-Wrapped Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout fillet
  • 2 slices of bacon
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, wrap in the bacon, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the butter, salt, and pepper to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill or cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Simple Trout Stew

Ingredients:

  • 2 trout fillets
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 potato, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup of fish stock
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, combine the onion, carrot, potato, fish stock, salt, and pepper.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  3. Add the trout and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Chili Trout

Ingredients:

  • 2 trout fillets
  • 1 tablespoon of oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon of chili powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the oil, onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, black beans, chili powder, salt, and pepper to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill or cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Grilled Trout with Herbs

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout, gutted and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon of oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, or parsley)

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the oil, salt, pepper, and herbs to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill or cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Spicy Grilled Trout

Ingredients:

  • 1 trout, gutted and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon of oil
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Heat a piece of foil over an open flame.
  2. Cut the trout into small pieces, and place them in the center of the foil.
  3. Add the oil, chili powder, salt, and pepper to the trout.
  4. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it forms a sealed packet.
  5. Grill or cook over the open flame for 10-12 minutes, or until the trout is cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Final Thought On How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry

Are you planning a backcountry trip and want to know how to cook trout in the backcountry? No problem! We’ve got you covered with twelve delicious recipes that are sure to please. Whether you’re grilling, frying, or baking your trout, we’ve got an option for you. So build a campfire or fire up the stove and get cooking!

How To Cook Trout In The Backcountry – Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Prepare Trout For Cooking?

When you catch a trout, the first thing you need to do is to clean it. Use a sharp knife to slice along the belly of the fish from the gills to the tail. Remove the guts and any other organs that you see. If you are going to cook the trout whole, you can stop here. If you want to prepare the trout for frying or one of the many baking recipes, you will need to remove the skin. To do this, hold the trout firmly by the tail and run a sharp knife along the skin, removing it.

Can You Catch And Eat Trout?

Yes, you can catch and eat trout that you catch. Our article has taken you through the steps necessary and given you 12 simple recipes to use.

Can You Fry Fish On A Jetboil?

Yes, you can fry fish on a Jetboil. All you need is some oil and you are ready to go.

Featured Image From WikiMedia Commons

Charles

Charles is a man who loves the outdoors. He moved to Wyoming specifically to spend more time in the mountains and wilderness. A hunter and fisherman, Charles knows how to enjoy nature and all that it has to offer. He is an outdoorsman through and through, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Charles is the President of Absaroka Enterprises, an company focuse on outdoor entertainment and endeavours. He's also an Editor for Alpha and Omega Outdoors, an online hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, and all around outdoors blog.

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