Fresh Trout, Risotto & Pinot Gris | Eataly Challenge

Working from home has been a new and insightful experience. That being said, my favorite day was Paul showing up with a cooler of fresh trout. He dropped it on the table and said ‘hey, do you have a recipe for this?’… let’s just say the cookbook has been fun for both of us. Eataly: Contemporary Italian Cooking has a complete section of seafood recipes including the Trout with Thyme.

I have always been hesitant to cook fish in it’s full form, skin and all. That being said, I took on this cookbook knowing new meats and cooking methods were on the table. I promised to try it all and that’s Paul’s favorite part about the whole challenge. Any time I am willing to try something new then it’s go time.

Having been caught hours before we cooked it, the trout was as fresh as you can get. I was impressed and actually excited for this recipe. Because there was no side dish recommended, we decided to cook the trout with an Asparagus and Cheese Risotto recipe that is also in the cookbook.

Paul taught me how to prepare the fish in it’s fresh state which was eye-opening and then how to properly stuff it for baking. It didn’t take as long as expected because he’s savvy with all meats and seafoods. The breadcrumbs we put on the fish had a great crunch but the recipe made more than we could use. We ended up saving the rest to be used with another recipe later in the week.

This was also the first time either of us has made risotto from scratch. Cooking up a fresh risotto takes a lot of patience and time. You have to stand over it with ladles of hot water and replenish as the rice soaks the liquid up. Though I expected it would get tired, I actually enjoyed the process and the flavors that resulted.

The texture of the breadcrumbs with the delicious fresh lemon and trout made for a winning combination. The risotto, washed down with sips of wine, was flavor-packed and added that extra heaviness to complete the experience. These dishes were relatively easy to make, low on number of ingredients, and palate-pleasing. We will definitely be bookmarking these to make again!

What better with fresh fish than a crisp white wine? The Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Gris retails at only $11 at most wine stores and is a great option for pairing with seafood dishes. The apple and pear aromas did not disappoint. We often reach to Kendall Jackson for a go-to affordable dinner wine.