trota ripiena · from Umbria · Main Courses

Ingredients (serves 4)
- 4 fresh trout, cleaned and ready to cook
- ideally boned from the back
- 100 g fresh white bread, crust removed
- 100 ml milk
- 1 egg
- 80 g grated parmesan or Grana Padano
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 bunch of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- zest of half a lemon
- 50 g pine nuts or chopped walnuts
- Salt
- Pepper
- freshly grated nutmeg
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- a few lemon slices
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
Preparation
- Cut the white bread into small cubes and soak in the milk until soft, then squeeze well and place in a bowl.
- Add the egg, grated cheese, garlic, parsley, lemon zest and pine nuts.
- Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg and mix everything into a smooth stuffing.
- Rinse the trout inside and out and pat dry, then season lightly inside with salt and pepper.
- Distribute the stuffing evenly into the cavities of the trout without packing it too tightly, as the stuffing expands slightly while cooking.
- Secure the fish with kitchen string or close them with small wooden skewers.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Brush an ovenproof dish with olive oil, place the trout in it and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Dot the fish with a few small knobs of butter and top with the lemon slices and thyme.
- Bake for about 20–25 minutes until the skin is crispy and the flesh is cooked through.
- Remove the kitchen string before serving.
- Serve with braised fennel or a simple green salad.