Outdoor cooking: campfire trout and leeks

My favorite way to do this dish is in the woods, on a camp grill. Catching the trout and picking the leeks right there make it a memorable dish.

It pays homage to the beautiful natural resources we have around us. There’s nothing like listening to the stream you just caught the trout from running by as you enjoy this dish. It’s a simple dish and doesn’t require many ingredients, so it can easily be prepared in the wilderness. The perfect trout for this is about a 10- to 14-inch fish. Be sure to thoroughly clean it, because the fish is left whole for this recipe.

Directions:

1. Preheat your grill on low heat. If using a fire, ensure grate is not over direct flame; move coals aside so the fish won’t burn.

2. Take your cleaned, fresh-caught trout and season the inside with salt and pepper. Stuff with butter and leeks and then wrap it in tinfoil.

3. Place the fish on grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side. To check for doneness, fish should easily flake with a fork.

4. Once done, enjoy hot!

Ingredients: (Per 1 fish)

1 tablespoon butter

Salt and pepper to taste

1 fresh-caught trout, cleaned

4 fresh leeks

Tinfoil

Small camping grill or campfire

About the Contributor:

Gunnar Emberg, The Hungry Huntsman, was born and raised in the mountains of Pennsylvania – a state with a long tradition for hunting, and Gunnar was born into it.

After serving in the Navy and hunting in other states, he pursued a degree in wildlife biology to further his knowledge of hunting, animal movement, reading the land, and trees. He also studied archery in order to build his own arrows and tune his own bows. He made a conscious move to adopt more traditional hunting methods and ethics. He no longer uses treestands, stopped hunting for trophy animals, and stopped using scents, baits, and attractants.

He became a butcher to learn better knife skills and the art of cutting meat, and his well-rounded approach to preparing meals ties to a passion to infuse the flavors and techniques that you see on TV cooking shows, but people seldom do at home. As well as being a member of the Harvesting Nature team, Emberg is involved in the cooking/hunting community as a professional camp cook for hire. He is a freelance writer and digital creator. Follow him on Instagram at the.hungry.huntsman

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