Non-VegetarianAppalachian cuisine Main Course

North Georgia Mountain Trout with Cornmeal

Name: North Georgia Mountain Trout with Cornmeal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Appalachian
Ingredients: 2 whole trout; 1 cup Cornmeal; 0.5 cup flour; 1 teaspoon Salt; 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper; 0.25 cup bacon grease; 1 whole Lemon

Pan-fried mountain trout in a light cornmeal crust, a classic catch-and-cook dish from north Georgia's rivers and streams.

🇺🇸United States· Georgia

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 25 min
Servings: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Calories: 340 kcal

Equipment

•Cast-iron skillet

Nutrition

Per serving, approximate

Calories: 340 kcal
fat: 18
carbs: 14
protein: 32
calories: 340

Instructions

1
Pat the trout dry inside and out with paper towels.
2
Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
3
Coat each trout thoroughly in the cornmeal mixture. Press gently so the coating sticks.
4
Heat the bacon grease in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
5
Place the trout in the skillet. Fry for 5–7 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
6
Check that the fish flakes easily when pressed with a fork.
7
Transfer the fish to paper towels to drain briefly.
8
Serve hot with lemon wedges.

Chef's tips

Pat the trout completely dry before coating so the cornmeal sticks and turns crispy. A well-seasoned cast-iron skillet gives the best crust.

Storage

Best eaten immediately; leftovers keep 1 day refrigerated.

Reheating

Reheat in a hot skillet briefly to re-crisp; avoid the microwave.

Common mistakes to avoid

•Overcrowding the skillet, which steams the fish instead of frying it crisp.
•Using heat that is too high, which burns the cornmeal before the fish cooks through.