Jun 04 2026

Smoked Steelhead Recipe

Time2h
Serves4

Brined, smoked, and pan-seared trout, sautéed good-for-you greens, fresh peas, double smoked bacon, braised farro, and leftover-wine cream sauce.

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Ingredients

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Brine and Marinade

Sautéed Greens and Bacon

Braised Farro

Leftover-Wine Cream Sauce

Method

Brining the Trout

  1. 1

    Prepare the Brine

    In a large bowl, dissolve kosher salt and brown sugar in water. Add black peppercorns and fresh dill.

  2. 2

    Brine the Trout

    Submerge the steelhead trout fillets in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Cooking the Farro

  1. 3

    Sauté the Onion

    In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until translucent.

  2. 4

    Cook the Farro

    Add farro and vegetable broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 25-30 minutes until farro is tender.

Cooking the Greens and Bacon

  1. 5

    Cook the Bacon

    In a large skillet, cook the double smoked bacon until crispy. Remove from pan and crumble.

  2. 6

    Sauté the Greens

    In the same skillet, add olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute, then add spinach and fresh peas. Cook until spinach is wilted.

Smoking and Cooking the Trout

  1. 7

    Smoke the Trout

    Preheat your smoker to 225°F (107°C). Remove trout from brine, rinse, and pat dry. Smoke for about 1 hour until cooked through.

  2. 8

    Pan-Seer the Trout

    In a separate skillet, heat a little olive oil and pan-sear the smoked trout for about 2-3 minutes on each side until crispy.

Making the Cream Sauce

  1. 9

    Prepare the Sauce

    In a saucepan, combine leftover white wine and fresh thyme. Simmer until reduced by half, then add heavy cream and simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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