In grilled trout, when the skin crisps, and the meat flakes off the tiny delicate skeleton, tasting not a bit dry or fishy just fresh and delicious, never am I happier. This meal has become a recent favorite. Greens beans, needing nothing more than a three-minute steam and a drizzling of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon, salt and pepper, are so good right now. And this brown butter orzo "risotto," is a long-time favorite.So easy, so delicious. // alexandracooks.com
In grilled trout, when the skin crisps, and the meat flakes off the tiny delicate skeleton, tasting not a bit dry or fishy just fresh and delicious, never am I happier. This meal has become a recent favorite. Greens beans, needing nothing more than a three-minute steam and a drizzling of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon, salt and pepper, are so good right now. And this brown butter orzo "risotto," is a long-time favorite.So easy, so delicious. // alexandracooks.com

All I want when I’m old and gray is to live steps from a bakery like Tartine, a short drive from some good ethnic food, and a bike ride, perhaps, from a good fish market. Presently, I’m striking out on all three fronts.

A nice fish market, in particular, would be a most welcome addition to my current neighborhood. Discovering this past summer that places like Dockside actually exist, made me want to pack up and skip town permanently. It’s just that when fish is that fresh — literally caught off the dock — it needs so little attention to get from the fridge to the dinner table. And when fish that fresh is grilled whole, and the skin crisps, and the meat flakes off the tiny delicate skeleton, tasting not a bit dry or fishy just fresh and delicious, never am I happier.

A recent discovery — that Wegman’s sells whole rainbow trout — will likely keep me put for the time being. Farmed rainbow trout, because it is raised in an ecologically responsible way, makes it a Seafood Watch “best choice”. What’s more, whole rainbow trout is affordable. At $6.49/lb, two whole trout, which will feed three comfortably, cost $11.49. Fresh, sustainable, affordable, delectable? I know, incredible.

Grilling fish whole is a new thing for me, and if you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend it, especially if who have anxiety about cooking fish — I certainly do. You’ll have to, of course, get over the presence of beady eyes and a mouth lined with mini razor sharp teeth, and you should try hard to do so because grilling fish whole is incredibly forgiving — the skin protects it from drying out even in the thinnest spots.

This meal has become a recent favorite. Greens beans, needing nothing more than a three-minute steam and a drizzling of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon, salt and pepper, are so good right now, but feel free to replace them with your favorite steamable vegetable. And this brown butter orzo “risotto,” a Sally Schneider recipe, is a long-time favorite. It cooks in just 11 minutes and tastes amazingly creamy despite there being no cream or cheese at all — just brown butter and water. So easy, so delicious.

A couple final thoughts: There is a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app for both Android and iPhone, which I find incredibly useful. And, for those of you who like to kill time dreaming about food/cooking, check out this list of 150 classic recipes on Saveur. I want to make everything.

Whole grilled trout with green beans and orzo

This orzo “risotto” starts with brown butter:
brown butter for the orzo risotto

whole trout

Whole trout grill for about 3.5 to 4 minutes a side:
trout, grilling

grilled trout
trout meat
trout meat
trout skeleton
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Whole Grilled Trout


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  • Author: Alexandra
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: varies
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Ingredients

  • whole trout, however many you want, about 14 oz. each
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • lemon slices
  • olive oil
  • lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the grill to high. Season trout all over with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with lemon slices. Rub olive oil all over fish (alternatively, rub oil over your grill grates.)
  2. Grill for 3.5 to 4 minutes a side. Serve with lemon wedges and some good sea salt.
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
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Brown Butter Orzo “Risotto”


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  • Author: Alexandra
  • Total Time: 16 minutes
  • Yield: 4 to 6
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Description

Source: Sally Schneider’s A New Way to Cook


Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 8 oz (1 1/3 cups) orzo
  • 3 1/2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet or a medium heavy saucepan, cook the butter over moderately low heat until the solids sink that sink to the bottom are golden brown and the butter smells like roasting nuts. Add the orzo, increase the heat to moderate, and sauté, stirring constantly, until the orzo is golden and about one third of the grains are dark brown. Stir in the water and salt and bring to a boil.
  2. Cook at a low boil until the orzo is tender and most of the water has evaporated, about 11 minutes. There should be a light creamy “sauce” binding the orzo and making it slightly soupy. Add pepper to taste and serve at once.
  • Prep Time: 1 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
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Steamed Green Beans


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  • Author: Alexandra
  • Total Time: 8 minutes
  • Yield: varies
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Description

green beans kosher salt freshly cracked pepper olive oil fresh squeezed lemon juice


Ingredients

  • Fill a medium heavy saucepan or pot with about an inch of water. Insert steamer basket. Bring to a boil. Add beans. Steam for 2 to 3 minutes or until desired crunch has been achieved. Remove beans and place in a serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon to taste.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes