Poached Trout with Onions and Fennel Seeds

The holidays are coming.  And it's likely that you're going to add few pounds.  No, you won't go overboard, but cornbread dressing, pumpkin pie, egg nog and tamales are things that no one should deny themselves completely.  So take the next couple weeks to make really smart decisions and get yourself to fighting weight.  Here's a recipe that fits the bill nicely.

I've been eyeing the cleaned whole trout at our local warehouse store for a while now.  But knew the other half wouldn't eat them, so what would I do with five at a time?  Mealsaver to the rescue.  Vacuum packed them all individually and threw them in the freezer.  All I have to do is take one out a day before I am ready to cook it, and voila...I'm set.  Used just that process to get one ready last week for this delicious, healthy dish.

Poached Trout with Onions and Fennel Seeds
From Saveur magazine.
Makes 2-4 servings.


5 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
1 large yellow onion, cut crosswise into ½″-thick slices, separated into rings
1 large red onion, cut crosswise into ½"-thick slices, separated into rings
1 medium carrot, thinly sliced crosswise
1 2-pound whole trout, cleaned
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups white wine
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. fennel seeds
5 sprigs flat-leaf parsley

Heat oven to 350°. Place thyme, bay leaves, onions, and carrot in a 9" × 13" baking dish. Season inside of trout with salt and pepper, and place over onions; season with salt and pepper and set aside. Bring wine, oil, and fennel seeds to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over high heat; pour over trout and onions. Scatter parsley over top, and bake until trout is just cooked through and vegetables are soft, about 40 minutes.