Smoked-Trout Spread Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Smunter

A few tablespoons of whipped cream cheese will add a little body and tang. A hit of horseradish is a nice add too.

Rich

I make a smoked trout spread with Lake Trout from the Ojibway tribe in Lake Huron, who catch and smoke the fish. It's available at the Lincoln Park Greenmarket in Chicago. This is large pieces of trout, for about $10/lb., not those puny "minnow" size filets you get at the super market. I buy it, freeze it and bring it back to NY. PS: I gave this info to Pete Wells a few weeks ago. Try some, you'll like it!

Jani Nan Sickell

I use readily available canned smoked kippers and fresh goat cheese, both staples in my kitchen. Skip the chives if none are in the fridge. Big favorite with damily and last minute guests.

Lizzy

Agree about the cream cheese and horseradish addition. Also a little minced red onion at the end if you don't have the horseradish. An easy "do again" app for any time.

Mary

I used maple-glazed smoked trout (from Whole Foods) and a tad more yogurt than called for - swoony!

Mic

This dish is a winner for a co*cktail party served with crackers or thin slices of baguette on the side. I make it with labneh, the yogurt cheese. But using a very heavy yogurt with a dollop of cream cheese works very well in substitute. Chives are best, but minced scallions (half the amount i.e. one tablespoon) are another good substitute. Easy on the processing. I like it with a little texture, which means pulse for each step.

Maria

No yogurt on hand, so sour cream worked swell. Also, the addition of finely sliced scallions. Used a 3.9 oz. tin of Trader Joe's smoked trout, drained, and eyeballed the sour cream, maybe 2.5 tbsp. Really good

Theresa SF Bay Area

Tried this with Alaskan alder-smoked salmon (as well as the trout, previously), and it was delicious. It needed a bit more yogurt and lemon juice for taste and consistency.

NG

This got good reviews, though I added some cream cheese (not a lot) and some red onion, as others recommended.

LindaL

Very good, but a bit too salty. I added some more yogurt.

Pat

Lovely on bagels with cream cheese for breakfast.

StylinGirl

Trader Joe’s smoked trout in the tin is a staple in my house. It’s perfect for this. I use cream cheese, sour cream and a tad of mayo. Thin sliced scallions. Yummy and so easy when entertaining.

DreaAn

I’ve become a fan of tinned fish and I used two cans of Fishwife smoked trout and substituted the Greek yogurt with crème fraiche, and added a bit more lemon than the recipe suggested. The spread is creamy and delicious. So simple!

yum

Used cream cheese instead of yogurt and added paprika. Yum.

Calvin

It does the (basic) job. Nice clean flavors that really rely on the quality of your smoked fish. Given the small amount used, I would upgrade to mayonnaise, crème fraîche, or anything with a bit more flavor and body. Season with lemon juice to taste, as my batch was a touch too watery. I would also try adding some chopped shallots, celery, or something similar to get a little bit of crunch and texture, along with a teaspoon or so of Dijon or another mustard.

Meredith

Couldn’t be simpler and it still produced an excellent result. Will save a few chunks of trout from the food processor next time to mix in by hand after to vary the texture more.

Jane

DELICIOUS and simple. Doubled the lemon juice and yogurt and added feta cheese, smoked paprika, dried dill & capers.

Hope

Delicious, quick appetizer. I added a bit more of sour cream to make it a little “wetter” and add some tang

Sue

If your fish isn't wildly salty in the first instance, a teaspoon or so of white miso works wonders to subtly boost umami here.

sandra

I love smoked trout pate. Surprisingly a lot of recipes out there - some with cottage cheese, I usually use ricotta. Not completely a blank slate recipe, but many modifications work well. This is the first I've seen that purees it - I usually just flake, but this brings it to a different level.

Mathilde

Taking into consideration some previous comments, I omitted the chives in the blender, and instead added them to the end result. I added almost 1 extra tbsp lemon, as I felt it needed some more tang. It was still quite thick so I blended in an ice cube, a trick I was once told for a creamier result! It was creamy, delicious and very impressive given the minimum effort involved!

Mathilde

Thinly sliced scallions on top not inside. Yog and lemon to taste

Mic

This dish is a winner for a co*cktail party served with crackers or thin slices of baguette on the side. I make it with labneh, the yogurt cheese. But using a very heavy yogurt with a dollop of cream cheese works very well in substitute. Chives are best, but minced scallions (half the amount i.e. one tablespoon) are another good substitute. Easy on the processing. I like it with a little texture, which means pulse for each step.

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Smoked-Trout Spread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the best way to eat smoked trout? ›

This trout is a great option for times when you don't have a lot of time for prep, and since it's a fairly mild fish, it's perfect for making at gatherings. You can serve it warm from the smoker as a main dish with side dishes like kale and corn succotash, buttery smashed potatoes, or a classic wedge salad.

How do you keep trout from drying out when smoking? ›

Tips for Keeping Smoked Trout Moist:

The first step is to brine the fish before smoking it - more on that later. Start the smoker at a low temperature and gradually raise it. This helps prevent white albumin from accumulating on the surface of the meat and doesn't dry it out as quickly.

What do you soak trout in before cooking? ›

I use a simple brine recipe of 2 cups water, 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt (coarse grain) and 1 Tablespoon brown sugar. You can add in aromatics or flavor in the form of fresh herbs (dill is a favorite) or fresh garlic and onions. Place the trout in the brine and set it in the refrigerator.

What is the best temperature for smoking trout? ›

Most experts suggest smoking at approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit. A range between 165 and 225 degrees is acceptable. Any temperature below 165 degrees could create unsafe conditions and bacterial growth. Temperatures above 225 degrees will cook the fish but won't allow much time for smoke to flavor it.

Is smoked trout healthy to eat? ›

Low in fat and carbohydrates

It is also packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and improve brain health. Eating smoked trout also provides an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients, such as vitamin B12, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Is cold smoked trout ready to eat? ›

Once thoroughly cooked, the smoked fish will be safe to eat, and can be served immediately, or served cold after being chilled in the fridge. If consumers would like to add cold-smoked fish to dishes like cooked pasta or scrambled eggs, it is important to cook it first.

Why do you soak trout in milk? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish. What's left behind is sweet-smelling, brighter flesh with clean flavor.

What is the best wood to smoke trout? ›

Hardwoods such as alder, apple, oak, and cherry—all sold commercially as chips— work well for smoking fish. Remember that a little wood goes a long way. Too much smoke will make the fish taste bitter. Fish are done when they flake easily with a fork or when the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.

How do you get the muddy taste out of trout? ›

One of the most effective ways to eliminate the muddy taste is to soak the fish in milk. Place the cleaned fish in a bowl of cold milk and let it sit for 3-4 hours in a cool place. The milk acts as a neutralizer for the muddy flavor. Remember to pat the fish dry thoroughly before proceeding with your recipe.

Can you smoke trout without brine? ›

Smoking and brining trout

I love cooking whole fish (or whole hogs, turkeys, etc,) as I think you get a much better flavor. These fish are small enough to go in most people's smokers or grill and still look great on a plate. Now, I've happily smoked and grilled trout without brining and gotten delicious results.

How to tell if smoked fish is done? ›

A typical fish-smoking cycle (see Figure 1) should bring the fish to over 160°F internal temperature within 6 to 8 hours (internal—not oven—temperature). If your smokehouse cannot provide 200 to 225°F oven tem- peratures, you'll have to cook the final product in your kitchen oven.

How do you keep fish moist when smoking? ›

Seafood is cured with either a dry rub or a wet brine before smoking. We recommend curing fish with a dry rub before hot smoking to create a crust (or bark), and a wet brine before cold smoking to retain moisture in the longer cook.

Is smoked trout as good as salmon? ›

SMOKED TROUT

Trout is a great choice as it doesn't have quite as strong of a flavor profile, and lacks some of the fattiness of salmon, but retains the smoke flavor that makes salmon such a fantastic choice for smoking.

Does smoked rainbow trout need to be cooked? ›

Smoking trout can be a delicious way to preserve and consume your catch, but fish smoked without proper salting and cooking can cause foodborne illness—it can even be lethal. Many dangerous bacteria can and will grow under the conditions normally found in the preparation and storage of smoked fish.

Is hot smoked trout ready to eat? ›

Whole | Ready To Eat

These trout are famous for their delicate texture and delicious flavours ideal for salads, pastas and dips. Try it in a frittata or a warm potato salad. Yum!

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