Trout Grilled In Grape Leaves Recipes

GRILLED WHOLE TROUT WRAPPED IN PICKLED GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Rinse the fish under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Deeply score the outside of the fish three times on each side. Season inside and out with salt and pepper. Cut three of the lemon slices in half and set aside. Stuff the cavity of the fish with the fennel fronds and remaining lemon rounds. Close the fish and slide a halved lemon round into each of the score slits.
• To wrap the fish in the grape leaves, lay it on one side and shingle the leaves over the side of the fish facing you, leaving some overhanging over the top. Delicately flip the fish, so now it's leaf side down, and repeat shingling on the other side of the fish until it's fully wrapped. (It's okay if some fish skin is still exposed.) Use 3 or 4 pieces of kitchen twine, depending on the length of the fish, to wrap around the fish and tie a knot. Tuck the leaves under the string as best as you can to create a little wrapped package. This will help keep the fish together while grilling. Fish can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. Allow the fish to temper for 30 minutes to 1 hour before grilling.
• Prepare your grill to medium heat.
• Drizzle olive oil over the grape leaves, using your hands to rub it around. Lay the fish perpendicular to the grill gates and cook for 8 to 10 minutes on each side, depending on the size of your fish. The grape leaves help to keep the moisture in and steam the fish, so you have some wiggle room. Once the first side is charred and the fish has released itself from the grill, use two metal spatulas to delicately flip the fish over to finish cooking on the other side. Use a paring knife to check the meat along the spine of the fish for doneness.
• Cut the string and squeeze over fresh lemon juice to serve.

GRILLED TROUT WITH GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Seafood Alternatives: small salmon, small bluefish, small Arctic char
• In a medium bowl, combine the cooked rice, lemon juice, olive oil and lemon zest with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat a barbecue grill or preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Thoroughly rinse the fish inside and out and pat dry with paper towels.
• Spoon the rice mixture into the cavity of each fish.
• Lay 6 grape leaves in a rectangle on the work surface, slightly overlapping so there are no large gaps.
• Set one of the trout on top and wrap the leaves up and over the fish.
• Lay another leaf or two on top of the fish if necessary to fully enclose it.
• If grilling, tie a few pieces of kitchen string around the fish to secure. Repeat with the second fish.
• Brush the grill with oil and cook until the fish is just opaque through (make a small slit through the leaves to check), 4 to 6 minutes on each side.
• Alternatively, put the fish in an oiled baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes.
• Discard the strings and serve.