By Emily Hare
What is your ideal cabin setting? The answer to that question can vary widely from person to person. Some would say deep in the woods or high up in the mountains. Overwhelmingly popular among cabin owners is lakefront property, where boating, swimming and fishing are just steps away.
But you don’t have to be on a lake to enjoy water-based activities. If your cabin is located on a river or stream, then you probably enjoy aspects like the soothing sound of water trickling (or rushing) past or the thrills of exploring from the seat of a canoe, kayak or raft.
Then there’s the fishing. For the characters in the novel “A River Runs Through It,” fishing is likened to religion. As the author Norman Maclean wrote, “One great thing about fly fishing is that after a while nothing exists of the world but thoughts about fly fishing.” River fishing is enjoyable in itself, but the true reward is in tasting the delicate, flaky texture of the day’s catch.
Salmon and trout, in particular, are substantial enough to stand up to rich, flavorful sauces, but they can also taste divine when grilled with nothing more than a dash of salt and pepper. Many recipes, like those shown here, work well with either salmon or trout as the main star, so it doesn’t really matter which one happens to be biting (or is available fresh at your local market).
Easy Cedar Plank Salmon
Serves 4
- 1 cedar plank (16x7)
- 1 lb. wild caught skin-on salmon filet
- 2 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
- Salt
- Ground pepper
- 1 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ lemon
- Soak the plank in water for at least 1 hour. (If you have time, soak it for 4 hours.) A good way to do this is to fill your kitchen sink with water and use canned goods as weights to keep the plank submerged.
- Meanwhile, rub the Cajun seasoning, salt and ground pepper over the salmon.
- Preheat the grill* on high heat. Place the soaked plank on the grill for about 3-5 minutes, or until it begins to crackle and smoke. Place the salmon fillet skin side down on the plank.
- Cook for 12-20 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily (actual cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillet).
- Garnish with fresh parsley and squeeze lemon over salmon before serving.
*You also can make this recipe in the oven. Preheat to 350°F. Place the plank in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove it from the oven and place the salmon skin-side down on plank. Bake for about 17 minutes.*
Cooking fish on a cedar plank lends a beautiful smoky flavor to the fillet. The plank also protects the salmon from direct heat and preserves the moisture inside. Serve the salmon with a side of salad or on a bed of rice or quinoa.
Recipe & photo used with permission from the blog “Primavera Kitchen,” primaverakitchen.com.
Roasted Trout with Herb-Champagne Vinaigrette
For the vinaigrette:
- 1 cup chopped fresh chervil or chives
- ¾ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons roughly chopped shallots (about 1 shallot)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white-wine vinegar
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
- To make the vinaigrette, put the chervil or chives, parsley, shallots, lemon juice, vinegar, and ½ cup of the olive oil in a blender and purée. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, stir in the remaining oil and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle the inside of the trout with salt and pepper. Arrange in a glass baking dish and spoon about half of the vinaigrette over the trout, both on the inside and the outside. Rub the vinaigrette into the fish. Wrap the fish with butcher’s twine across the body to close the cavity. Cover the trout and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 500°F. Transfer the fish to a rack in a roasting pan and roast for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of the trout, until the flesh is firm and translucent.
- Serve immediately with the remaining vinaigrette spooned over the top as a sauce.
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