Chefs' Recipes

King trout and Lebanese zucchini

Hugh Wennerbom's advice for beautifully tender fish is to season it a day ahead. With a bit of pre-planning, it's the kind of trick that's 100 per cent achievable.

By Hugh Wennerbom
  • 5 mins preparation
  • 8 mins cooking plus resting
  • Serves 6
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"I always season fish and meat the day before cooking them – a bit like brining," says Hugh Wennerbom. "With this trout I salt the cut side with around one per cent of its weight."

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 king trout fillets (180gm each), skin on
  • 6 Lebanese zucchini or other small zucchini, trimmed and quartered lengthways
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 dill sprigs, coarsely chopped

Method

  • 1
    Heat oil in a frying pan over high heat, pat trout dry with paper towels and lightly season the skin with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add trout to pan skin-side down, reduce heat to medium and fry until skin is crisp (4-5 minutes). Flip trout and fry until medium-rare (2-3 minutes). Rest for 5 minutes in a warm place (internal temperature should be 50°C).
  • 2
    Meanwhile, cook zucchini in boiling salted water for 1½ minutes. Drain well. Combine butter, lemon juice and dill in a bowl, and season. Add hot zucchini, toss to coat and serve with trout.

Notes

Drink Suggestion: A pinot noir such as 2015 Denton. Drink suggestion by Hugh Wennerbom