Quick and Easy Speckled Trout Recipes

Sea trout are not really related to freshwater trout at all but are members of the saltwater family that includes croakers and drum. Like freshwater trout, however, sea trout make excellent table fare.

Gray trout (often called weakfish) are found in the surf from Maine to the Carolinas, while speckled trout (or spotted sea trout) prowl the inshore waters from Virginia to Texas. There are important recreational size and creel limits on sea trout in states that have them.

Simple Sautéd Trout

4 sea trout fillets
1/2 cup white wine
3 pads of butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
handful of fresh chopped parsley

Melt the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan until it sizzles. Place the fillets in the pan and sauté for 1 minute. Flip and sauté 4 minutes. Flip and sauté again for 4 minutes. Flip once more and sauté another minute of until fish is done. Remove the fish and add the wine and chopped parsley. Scrape the residue from the frying pan and stir the mixture thoroughly. Pour the sizzling juices over the fish and serve. Serves 2. Great with wild rice, new potatoes.

Classic Fried Sea Trout

4 pan-sized sea trout, dressed
½ cup cornmeal
1 ½ tablespoons flour
dash salt
dash pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon olive oil
lemon wedges

Combine cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper. Dip sea trout in milk then coat with cornmeal mixture. Fry sea trout in hot oil for about five minutes on each side. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serves 2.

Beachfront Broiled Sea Trout

1 ½ lbs sea trout fillets
¼ cup butter, melted
¼ cup lemon juice
¾ teaspoon paprika
dash salt and pepper
olive oil

Preheat broiler. Place fillets in a baking dish greased with olive oil. Combine remaining ingredients, mix, and brush fillets on both sides with the sauce. Broil for 6-8 minutes basting halfway through. Serves 4.

Sea Trout Au Gratin

1 ½ lbs fillets
2 tablespoons onions, chopped
2 tablespoons celery, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
½ cup grated cheddar cheese
flour
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put the fillets in a baking pan and top with onions, celery, and salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water to pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate pan melt butter and stir in flour. Gradually stir in milk and cook until it thickens. Add cheese and heat until melted. Pour sauce over fish and bake fillets for 8 to 10 more minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve. Serves 4.

For many more fish and seafood recipes see my blog A Dash Of Salty.