Perfect Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe
on Jun 01, 2022
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Baked Steelhead Trout filet is juicy and flavorful yet couldn’t be easier to make! Top it with shallots, garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs for an impressive meal. This versatile recipe also works well with salmon.

What Is Steelhead Trout?
Steelhead trout is a delicious fish with a beautiful orange-pink color. It’s often mistaken for salmon, although steelhead trout are slightly smaller and thinner fish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- steelhead trout fillet
- unsalted butter
- olive oil
- shallot
- garlic cloves
- lemon
- Salt and pepper
- fresh dill
How to Make Baked Steelhead Trout
- Place a skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and shallot. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent, stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook for an additional minute. Mix in the juice of half a lemon.
- Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the lemon-butter sauce over the fish.
- Bake at 450° for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the dill on top and continue baking until the fish flakes easily, about 2 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness. Serve and enjoy!
What Does Steelhead Trout Taste Like?
Steelhead trout has a milder flavor than salmon. It tastes like a cross between salmon and trout, with medium flakes and a tender texture.
Is Steelhead a Salmon or a Trout?
Steelhead trout is a completely different fish but from the same fish family as salmon. It’s a common mistake because both fish have a bright orange-pink flesh that cooks to opaque.
Salmon and steelhead trout have a similar flavor and texture and can be used interchangeably in most recipes. However, salmon may need to be cooked for a few minutes longer.
Is Steelhead Trout Healthy?
Steelhead trout is filled with plenty of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it one of the healthier types of seafood.
Nutritionally, steelhead is considered healthier than salmon, containing higher amounts of essential omega-3 fatty acids (EFAs) and vitamins. A 3-oz serving of steelhead, also has about 645 IU of Vitamin D and 3.5mcg of Vitamin B-12.
Easy Baked Steelhead Trout Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds steelhead trout filet
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a 13×9 inch pan or a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place a skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and shallot. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent, stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook for an additional minute. Mix in the juice of half a lemon.
- Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the lemon-butter sauce over the fish.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the dill on top and continue baking until the fish flakes easily, about 2 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness.
- Transfer to a serving platter. Squeeze the remaining lemon on top and serve immediately.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.