Rainbow Trout with Dry Rub – Foil Packet Cooking

I’m a huge fish fan. Honestly there’s not much in the seafood department that I’m not excited about. My family, however, is a different story. The hubby is a work in progress and 2 out of 3 kids won’t even touch it. But I have to tell you – this incredibly easy version of rainbow trout is now on the request list. This is the perfect recipe for backyard cookouts or taking with to the campsite. If you’re into fishing and could catch your rainbow trout fresh – it would be that much more amazing!

The secret to this recipe is the dry rub mix. A friend of mine had this mix in cute little tins as her party favors at her baby shower. Turns out her mom made the mix up! If you like your spices – it’s heaven on earth. Make up a batch and keep it in your pantry. If you plan on taking this recipe camping with you – the only thing you need to do ahead of time is make up some of this dry rub. And you’ll be glad you did because it’s an incredibly versatile spice mix. I use it all the time on chicken, pork, and fish.

I used store bought fish in the pictures below because we haven’t been anywhere close to somewhere to fish lately. But honestly – if you think you’re going to fish while you’re out camping – bring some foil and the dry rub just in case.

Dry Rub Recipe

• ¹⁄₃ Cup salt
• ¼ Cup light brown sugar
• ¼ Cup paprika
• 2 Tbsp black pepper
• 2 Tbsp oregano
• 2 Tbsp thyme leaves
• 1 Tbsp cayenne (optional)

Mix together. Store in a cool dry place.

Rainbow Trout Recipe

(1 fillet is about the right amount for each person)

• 2-4 fillets deboned rainbow trout (the fresher the better)
• Dry rub mixture (enough to liberally cover the fish with – I’d say about ¼ Cup)

What Else You’ll Need

• Heavy duty foil (it must be heavy duty!)
• Tongs (to turn the fish while on the cooking surface)
• Hot pads (to help you open up the fish once it’s cooked)

Before You Leave Home

The only prep for this recipe is to prepare your dry rub if you don’t already have some to grab. I’d suggest making some up and keeping a small container of it ready to go for camping trips. You’ll want to use this rub on lots of different things!

At the Campsite

Step 1

If you caught your rainbow trout – clean, debone, and fillet them. If they’re store bought – simply unwrap them from the packaging. Then liberally rub the spice mixture onto the non-skin side.

Step 2

Prepare your cooking surface. If you’re cooking these over the fire – get your logs burning. Red hot coals work best for these fillets rather than very active flames. If you’re using charcoal – get them started…you’ll definitely want to use the white hot briquets. This would also work just as well over a propane grill.

Step 3

Wrap your fillets in foil. You can use either prepared packets (they have one side left open while the other three are sealed to create a sort of foil envelope) or just grab a sheet of your heavy duty foil. Place the fillet on the foil. I usually create a packet for each fillet.

Now turn two sides in towards your fish.

Then take the remaining two sides and turn those in to create a tight little foil packet.

Step 4

Now you’re ready to cook! When your coals are ready – place the packets directly onto the coals.  Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes (depending on your fillet thickness), then carefully rotate to the other side using your tongs and cook 3-5 more minutes.

These are done when the fish is white, not opaque. If you’re not sure – grab one packet off the coals, and use your hot pads to gently peel one packet open to take a quick peek at your fish. If it’s not quite done – simply re-wrap it and place it back on the fire. These fillets cook very quickly so it’s best to stay close while they cook – it should take no more than 10 minutes, but as few as 6!

 

You could even add vegetables to your foil packet so that your complete meal is ready as soon as the fish is cooked through. Asparagus, corn, green beans, zucchini, or summer squash would be great additions. If you opt to include veggies in the foil – cut these veggies up at home and have them in zip-top baggies in your cooler ready for campsite cooking.

This fish is crazy delicious! The rub really sets off the sweetness of the rainbow trout since it’s a teeny bit spicy. And it’s a perfect dinner to make while camping because it’s hearty and cooks quickly. I know that after a full day of outdoor activities – we’re usually hungry and ready to eat immediately.

Guest Post by Robin Laulainen. Robin writes about camping and other outdoorsy stuff at Trek Southwest, pets every dog she meets, and drinks more coffee than she should. She blogs about her other passion - creating - at Make It Yourself Girl.

 

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