Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (2024)

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ByEmilie

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Have you ever eaten steelhead trout? I hadn’t until last weekend while picking up a few items at my local warehouse store. I passed by the food samples and noticed what I thought was salmon being offered. It certainly had the appearance of salmon but it turned out to be steelhead trout! This trout was prepared very simply with just olive oil and Parmesan cheese but it absolutely delicious. I decided it would make the perfect Sunday dinner so I grabbed a filet to bring home. I came up with this simple Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout recipe inspired by the sample and it was a hit!

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (1)

What is Steelhead Trout?

If you are like me and completely clueless about steelhead trout, I’ll fill you in. Rainbow trout and steelhead trout are really the same fish. The difference is that steelhead trout spend two or three years in the ocean and then typically comes back to fresh water to spawn whereas rainbow trout stays in fresh water their whole lives. And while they may be the same species, I found that steelhead trout tastes much more like salmon than it does rainbow trout.

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (2)

How to Bake Steelhead Trout

You can cut your steelhead trout filet into individual portions or you can leave it whole with the skin on like I did. I wasn’t sure what my kids would think of this fish and thought it would be easier to take smaller portions off the larger filet to avoid any waste. Serving the whole filet looks pretty on a serving dish but cutting them before cooking makes for a nicer presentation on your plate.

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (3)

For this steelhead trout recipe I chose to add garlic, lemon juice, parsley and Parmesan cheese because I love these flavors for fish.If you have a favorite salmon recipe you can easily swap out steelhead trout for salmon. You might not even notice the difference.

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (4)

This steelhead trout recipe was an overall hit with my family. My 10 year old said it was the best fish he ever had and my husband really liked it, even though he normally doesn’t care for baked salmon. My other two boys ate it but said they preferred my pan fried fish. I loved it myself, but I can’t win them all over apparently!

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (5)

4.85 from 13 votes

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Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 -6

Author Emilie at FindingZest.com

Ingredients

  • 2lbsteelhead trout filet
  • 2tablespoonsolive oil
  • 1 to 2clovesgarlicminced
  • 2tablespoonsfinely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1lemonhalf sliced, half juiced
  • 3tablespoonsfresh shredded Parmesan cheese
  • sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  2. Place filet skin side down on baking sheet.

  3. In small bowl, stir together olive oil, parsley, garlic and juice from 1/2 of the lemon.

  4. Pour oil mixture over fish gently rub to coat.

  5. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste.

  6. Top with Parmesan cheese and sliced lemon.

  7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until fish is flaky.

  8. Optional: Broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end of cooking to slightly brown filet.

  9. Serve immediately.

Give This Steelhead Trout Recipe a Try!

You can have this fish dinner on your table in under 20 minutes. Serve them with my ridiculous easy drop biscuits and a fresh salad for an easy weeknight meal. Steelhead trout is loaded with lean protein in addition tovitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains a low level of contaminants so itis a dinner you can feel good about feeding it your family.

More Baked Fish Recipes

If you love fish, here are some more great baked fish recipes to add to your upcoming meal plan.

Parmesan Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What temperature should steelhead trout be cooked to? ›

Steelhead Trout Cooking Guide

Like most fish, Steelhead should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145° F.

Do you cook steelhead trout the same as salmon? ›

While you can cook steelhead and salmon similarly, there are a few differences to consider when preparing either type. Steelhead boasts a milder and more delicate flavor, while salmon is richer and oilier. Many describe the texture of steelhead as firm, while salmon feels more buttery.

Is steelhead trout healthy? ›

It is rich in lean protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids while containing a low level of contaminants like mercury, pesticides, dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Steelhead is one of the best fish to grill and tastes great broiled or roasted.

How to cook trout in the oven Jamie Oliver? ›

Finely chop the chilli and coriander stalks, reserving the coriander leaves. Place everything into a small bowl, then add the soy sauce and mirin and mix well. Pour the sauce over the trout fillets, then pop in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the fish is just cooked through and the flesh is flaking.

What temperature is best for steelhead? ›

Stream temperatures in September and October, cooling to the 45-50 degree F range, maintain the metabolism of fall steelhead, allowing them to hold in faster water like the heads, lips, and tail-outs of pools, fast runs and chutes, and fast pocket water. At these temperatures, steelhead will take flies aggressively.

Can you eat the skin on steelhead trout? ›

We often get the question, “Are fish skins safe to eat?” The quick answer, yes. However, because the skin of a fish is exposed to its environment and pollution, it's important to know where your fish is coming from. Stay away from farmed or wild fish from more polluted areas or farms that use chemicals and antibiotics.

Is steelhead high in mercury? ›

Fish in California were tested for chemicals in their bodies. The most common chemicals found in fish in California are mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). American shad, Chinook (king) salmon, and steelhead trout were low in these chemicals. Striped bass and sturgeon had more mercury and PCBs in their flesh.

What tastes better steelhead trout or salmon? ›

What Does It Taste Like? Steelhead trout lacks the fatty mouthfeel of salmon, offering a more delicate flavor and flaky texture. These qualities make it equally suited as an entree on its own or in tacos, salad, or soup, and those averse to salmon's ocean fish notes may find steelhead trout more palatable.

Is Costco steelhead trout or salmon? ›

Steelhead is not salmon. Salmon Trout and Steelhead are types of trout, an entirely different fish from the same family of fish as salmon.

Does steelhead trout have a lot of bones? ›

There are approximately 62 vertebrae that make up the spinal column running from head to tail, with at least two or more bones extending from each vertebra. There are between 27 and 30 pairs of large rib bones on the bottom of the fish with another 27 to 30 bones on the top of the spinal column.

Is steelhead trout anti inflammatory? ›

Both salmon and trout are oily fishes, which are recommended as part of a healthy diet because they are excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3s, which in fish are made up of DHA and EPA acids, can help support heart health and reduce inflammation in the body, and are considered essential to human growth.

Should you rinse trout before cooking? ›

Washing raw fish carries the same risks as washing poultry — by attempting to clean your seafood in the sink, you're actually spreading harmful bacteria to surfaces that likely won't be sanitized by heat or disinfectants before they come into contact with other food, according to Reader's Digest.

Do you put lemon on fish before or after baking? ›

How to do keep fish from drying out while baking? A great way to lock in the juices and avoid ending up with dry, overcooked, bland fish is by mixing herbs, ground garlic cloves, and lemon zest into softened butter and spreading it over the whitefish before baking.

Do you eat the skin on baked trout? ›

It's now commonplace for chefs to season and then sear the skin until crispy, then serve the fish portion skin side up. These days, a good rule of thumb is that if your snapper, bass, trout, or salmon is plated that way, the flavorful skin is intended to be eaten.

What temperature should trout be cooked to internally? ›

135°F to 140°F

Can you eat steelhead trout medium rare? ›

Cook the steelhead trout, turning once — five to six minutes each side for medium rare.

What is the ideal temperature range for trout? ›

For example, research suggests a rainbow trout's feeding range is generally 40 to 68 degrees, and its optimum temperature range is 52 to 64 degrees.

What should the internal temperature of baked fish be? ›

Fish and other seafood should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). At this cooked temperature, fish meat develops an opaque, white color up to the center and flaky meat characteristics.

References

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