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Grilled BBQ Trout Stuffed with Tarragon

A whole grilled trout stuffed with tarragon and lemon may sound really fancy but it really is a very simple and tasty way to up your barbecue game.

Portrait image of a whole trout being cooked on a BBQ in a fish basket

BBQ Fish.

Most minds leap to sausages and burgers when it comes to cooking on a BBQ or a grill.

If something fishy is thought of it is typically BBQ Prawns!

But that smokey flavour and high heat is great for cooking whole fish. This whole trout recipe features a stuffing of anise-flavoured tarragon and some lemon.

The seriously, nothing else required other than a healthy sprinkling of salt and pepper and dinner is served!

You can cook this dish using all sorts of fish, everything from snapper to bass all work well.

Once you have this recipe nailed down it is just a short step to something a little more complex… My BBQ Tandoori fish is ALWAYS the recipe that kicks off my bbq season!

A man cooking on a BBQ
A Rare Cameo Appearance From Yours Truly!

How to Prepare the Fish.

If you can I would suggest that you get a fishmonger to prepare your fish for you.

It is not a difficult job but it is “icky”.

But if you cannot find someone to do it for you here is a brief guide.

  • Rub the skin of the fish with the back of a knife in a direction running from the tail to the head.
  • Once the scales have been removed run under cold water.
  • Cut of any and all fins.
  • Look at the belly of the fish you will find a hole, yes it is that hole.
  • Place in the tip of a sharp knife just through the skin and cut up towards the head.
  • Follow the gills form the side of the head to under the mouth. These will form a “triangle” cut this traingle with some sharp sheers.
  • Put your fingers into the gills and firmly pull, this will remove the innards and gills in one step.
  • Clean the inside of the fish under running water.

Like I say, icky but it takes not more than a minute or two.

Portrait image of a whole trout that has been cooked on a BBQ in a fish basket

Serving Suggestions.

This recipe is insanely simple and I tend to keep my sides equally simple.

If it is in season I usually just grill up some asparagus and cut some radishes in half and throw them on the BBQ.

But if you wanted something you can prepare in advance them a big bowl of my roasted vegetable couscous salad would work a treat.

If I wanted a sauce I would knock up a quick classic parsley sauce.

Square image of 2 whole trout that has been cooked on a BBQ in fish baskets
Yield: 2 Servings

Grilled BBQ Trout Recipe with Tarragon and Lemon

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

The aniseed flavour of tarragon is the perfect permeates the flesh of this gloriously simple grilled trout on the Barbecue recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 Whole Trout
  • 1 Large Lemon
  • 30 g Tarragon
  • Coarse Sea Salt to Taste
  • Black Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  1. Cut the lemon into slices 4-5mm thick.
  2. Roll the tarragon into a ball and crush it in your hands to release the oils.
  3. Season the cavity of the fish with a generous amount of salt and pepper.
  4. Add 2-3 slices of lemon to the cavity.
  5. Stuff as much of the tarragon as you can into the fish.
  6. Season the skin of the fish really well with salt.
  7. Pop the fish into a fish basket.
  8. Brush the grill grate with a little oil.
  9. Now add the fish and cook it over the coals for 5-7 minutes each side.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 343mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 21g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Imelda

Monday 19th of April 2021

Absolutely delicious! First time I’ve cooked trout on charcoal bbq! Although I burnt it on one side (charcoal heat a bit too high, my first time to charcoal bbq on my own) the rainbow trout flesh was still moist, soft and delicious! Tarragon and lemon just gave the trout such a beautiful taste. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I will definitely add this as a family favourite!

Brian Jones

Tuesday 20th of April 2021

Excellent, glad you enjoyed it Imelda :)

Nancy

Friday 29th of June 2018

Hi, could you share where you bought the grilling frame for the fish please? It’s nifty!

Thanks, Nancy

Brian Jones

Saturday 30th of June 2018

I have no idea I am afraid Nancy, it would have been a store somewhere here in Rural Hungary... Try searching for BBQ Fish Basket or Grill Fish Basket in your local online market. I believe they are pretty common.

Chichi

Sunday 10th of June 2018

That must have taken the fun away when it was a chore instead of fun all those years ago in Hungary. I am glad you can enjoy grilling again and the trout must have tasted awesome.

Brian Jones

Monday 11th of June 2018

It certainly did, there is nothing to put you off grilling than having to do it in freezing rain in November to eat breakfast ;)

Aleka

Sunday 10th of June 2018

Oh boy, I'm crashing the party next time! This looks so tasty! Simple and fresh are the way to go. I love, love, love that you used tarragon! I think it is an underused herb. With that said, I have yet to throw it into a fish recipe so thanks for a great one!!

Brian Jones

Monday 11th of June 2018

lol, I love tarragon with fish, it has that whole aniseed flavour that I find works so well with white fish, so fennel, Noilly Prat and chervil are also all favourites of mine.

Laura

Sunday 10th of June 2018

LOL, we might end up doing the same. We have a built-in barbecue but the iron bars and the ashtray below are melting away from too much use. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the right measurement so we need to custom make them, that is why we are procrastinating. So we take chances and one of those days all the ashed will fall on our feet. I love this trout recipe, I will try it next weekend

Brian Jones

Monday 11th of June 2018

lol, enjoy :)

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