You’re planning your trip to Red River, NM and looking forward to catching your dinner with a rod and reel. First things first, make sure you have your New Mexico fishing license. There are 3 places in town, including Williams, Sitzmark, and The Starr where a fishing license can be purchased, as well as online. Check out New Mexico’s Rules and Regulations when it comes to fishing.
The two ponds in town are stocked with a few different types of Trout. However, you cook your fish, may depend on what you catch. Here are a few ways to enjoy your hard-earned meal.
Bake Your Rainbow Trout
An easy way to cook Rainbow Trout is to bake it. You can season your fish with lemon pepper, or to your liking. Fresh dill is a seasoning you want to have on hand when it comes to cooking Trout. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
Rainbow Trout
Makes 4 servings
- 4 small rainbow trout, bone-in
- 2 lemons
- 8 sprigs tarragon or dill
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil
- Preheat the oven to 450°. While the oven preheats, cut aluminum foil into 4 square pieces.
- Coat the dull sides of the aluminum foil with olive oil and place the trout skin side down.
- Season each trout with salt and pepper and place two sprigs of tarragon or dill in the middle of each fish along with two slices of lemon.
- Fold the two sides together again. Loosely fold the foil and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake them for 10-15 minutes.
Fry Your Catch
One of the most well-known ways to cook fish is to fry it. You can do this with an air fryer or in a pan. The best way to fry fish is to season your flour with your choice of seasoning. Slap yo mama seasoning is one of the most commonly used for fish frying. It’s available at any Walmart and most grocery stores. Once your flour is seasoned to how you want it, dip it in the flour and then the beaten eggs and coat it in panko bread crumbs. From there you can fry it in the pan or air fryer, whichever you prefer.
Grill Your Fish
Another well-known way to cook fish is to grill it. When grilling fish it is most common to filet it and marinate it for just a few minutes. Grill each side for just 3-4 minutes and garnish with lemon slices.
Smoked Fish for Dinner
When it comes to smoking fish on a smoker, the best way is to have the fish whole, but gutted and grilled before you begin. Here is a recipe I found on Hunter and Angler website.
Ingredients
- 4 whole trout, gutted and gilled
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Mix the salt and sugar with a gallon of water and stir to dissolve the salt and sugar. Submerge the trout in this brine and put in the fridge, covered, for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
- Remove the trout from the brine (discard the brine), pat dry with paper towels and set on a rack over a baking sheet in the fridge for at least a few hours, and up to overnight (you can never brine too long). You can also set the fish to dry in a cool, breezy place for a few hours.
- Put the fish in the smoker, hanging or on the grates, and get a nice cool smoke going. Slowly let the temperature rise to 200° and hold it between 175° and 200° for at least an hour, and up to 4 hours; I prefer 2 hours. Do not let the temperature get above 225°. If it does, set a tray of ice in the smoker.
- When your trout are smoked, you can eat them warm or chilled.
Enjoy Your Fish Over an Open Flame
After a day of fishing and cleaning fish, build a fire to sit around and cook your catch on it. Wrap your fish in foil to keep the seasons in or lay it out over the grate. Squeeze some lemon juice and some butter on your fish for a pop of extra flavor.
Make a side of rice and veggies to go with any of these options and you’re set for a healthy, delicious meal for everyone to enjoy.
