Whole Smoked Trout
Stuffed whole trout smoked low and slow with garlic and lemon, seasoned with a simple spice blend, and smoked for perfectly moist and tender fish every time.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 70kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole trout (1 or 2 whole trout, depending on size) cleaned
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 whole garlic cloves peeled
- 2 large lemons for cooking and serving thinly sliced
- fresh dill for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F and set up with your choice of mild wood (apple, cherry, or alder works best). Fill the water pan with 1 cup of water if your smoker has one.
- While the smoker heats up, pat the trout dry inside and out with paper towels.
- Mix together 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl.
- Brush the inside of each fish with olive oil, then season the cavity with the spice mix. I like to use my fingers to make sure it gets everywhere.
- Stuff each fish with whole peeled garlic cloves and lemon slices, arranging them evenly throughout the length of the fish.
- Place the fish skin-side down on oiled smoker grates. Insert a meat probe into the thickest part of the fish. Close the smoker and smoke the fish for 1½-2 hours until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. Note: If you're smoking a few fish, make sure to leave some space between them.
- Once done, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with some fresh lemon slices and dill if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Any smoker works. You can use an electric Masterbuilt, a Traeger pellet grill, or a Pit Boss.
- Wood choice matters. Stick with mild woods like apple, cherry, or alder. Anything stronger will overpower your fish.
- Storage. Store leftover smoked fish in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 247IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.3mg
