Pan-Fried Trout With Garlic and Lemon

By
Syrie Wongkaew
Syrie Wongkaew
Sydney-based food writer, editor, photographer, and food stylist with a focus on Australian and Thai cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/21/21
Pan-fried Trout

Annabelle Breakey / Photodisc / Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1049 Calories
33g Fat
133g Carbs
58g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 1049
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 42%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 142mg 47%
Sodium 1322mg 57%
Total Carbohydrate 133g 48%
Dietary Fiber 14g 51%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 58g
Vitamin C 75mg 373%
Calcium 236mg 18%
Iron 10mg 55%
Potassium 4185mg 89%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for pan-fried trout uses simple ingredients—garlic, lemon juice, and a little butter—to let the subtle flavor of this delicious fish shine through. All the fillets need are buttery mashed potatoes and roasted cherry tomatoes for a stellar meal. Luckily, the two sides are included in this recipe, creating a perfect dinner for two.

The recipe is a specialty of New Zealand, where people come from all over the world to fish for the country's trout. This most prized freshwater fish, with its delicate pink flesh, swims the rivers and streams of both Australia and New Zealand, but New Zealand is the place where the trout are legendary.

No matter where your trout comes from, you're going to love how this recipe dresses up the fish.

Ingredients

For the Tomatoes:

For the Potatoes:

  • 4 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the Trout:

  • 2 (7-ounce) skin-on trout fillets

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

Make the Tomatoes

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat oven to 375 F / 190 C.

  3. Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes. Place them in a small baking dish.

  4. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the lemon zest and then cover the dish with foil.

  5. Roast for 25 minutes, remove from the oven and set aside.

Make the Potatoes

  1. Add the peeled and quartered yellow potatoes to a pot of cold water. Boil the potatoes until soft, about 20 minutes, then drain.

  2. In a large bowl, mash the potatoes well.

  3. Add the milk, butter, sea salt, and pepper. Combine well, cover, and set aside.

Make the Trout

  1. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add 2 cloves finely chopped garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.

  2. Fry the fish, skin-side down, in the skillet for 5 minutes.

  3. Turn the fillets over and fry for 2 minutes. Turn them over, skin-side down again, and turn off the heat.

  4. Squeeze 2 tablespoons lemon juice over the fillets and add 2 teaspoons butter. Sprinkle on 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.

  5. Plate the fish with the sides of mashed potatoes and roasted tomatoes.

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tip

  • Pay attention to the timing needed to cook each of the three elements so they're all done at about the same time. Start with the tomatoes, but get your potato water boiling right away, too. About 5 minutes before those are done, begin warming up your skillet. Keep both warm while you finish the trout.

Recipe Variation

  • If you want to fire up the grill, you can make this meal with a couple of adaptations. Either make the mashed potatoes in the house or grill the potatoes rather than mashing them. You can also skewer cherry tomatoes or grill large tomatoes directly on the grate.
  • Bring more flavor to the trout by adding 1 teaspoon of onion powder and a few fresh sprigs of dill. A pinch of paprika is also a nice touch for trout.