Grilled Trout with Pineapple Vinaigrette and Tomato Puff Pastry Tart

Our main dish was caught in one of the many small streams that drain into the Missouri River. However, this wasn’t just any fish….this was my nemisis.

The story begins about a year ago, when, never having fished around Helena before, I decided to test the waters of local streams.  I drove up and down this one before settling on a bridge access point.  I get excited when accessing small creeks from public easements, maybe it’s the lawyer geek in me appreciating how cool the legal argument for public recreational access is, or, maybe, I just like fishing a whole lot.  At first, the stream proved to be tougher than I'd expected; no strikes on a hopper in 100 yards on a meandering stream. To this day I still haven't even seen a fish rise in the first 100 yards.  My spirits were down until I dead-drifted my hopper right along some overhanging roots...and voila, fish on!

The first catch was a small brook trout.  Moving upstream, the fishing became amazing, at least one strike in every three casts.  After a while, the foliage got too thick to fish.  Putting my rod up, I hiked a bit and found a nice deep hole, where a culvert had piled up water.  I cast three times along the inside stream edge when, right next to the eddy line, a large fish slowly rose in one smooth motion to take my hopper.  Setting the hook, I stripped the monster in.  To my demise, as I was about to grab it, the fish leapt off my hook.  That was my first encounter with the elusive trout.

This year, I wanted vengeance. And, I got it, but not without missing the beast two more times.  On my next encounter, I was fishing a Madam-X, for no better reason than I’d never fished one before.  This trip was much different than my first, the water, even in mid-July was still nearly twice as high and fast as last year.  And, unlike the previous year, I had no luck from my access point up to my hole.  Even in the hole, the water was too fast for an effective drift.  To accommodate, I reached my 9’ rod and let my fly drift around in the eddy.  As it drifted up against the culvert, whack…fish on.  Once again, it was me vs. fish, and once again, I lost.  I had my archenemy all the way on the bank, only to have it slip out of my grasp as I took it off the fly. 

At last, a few weeks ago, I was showing Erin the hole.  She had already pulled a fish out and had a couple more strikes.  Being the sweet person that she is, she then gave me a shot.  I cast right up to the culvert, and lost the fly underwater.  As I went to strip in the line, there was a big fish on.  Who knew you could nymph with a parachute adams?  I brought the fish in, but as soon as Erin was about to net it, I lost it.  On the next cast, my adams stayed on the surface and the fish took it once more.  This time, I got the fish to Erin and her net.  As she had the fish in the net, the fish popped off the fly.  My nemisis was vanquished. 

Having noted that my adversary was not only attractive; it also appeared tasty, she suggested we call it a day and break for the grill.  It was a short trip, but a victorious end to a much longer fishing story and the beginning of a delicious meal!

Pineapple Vinaigrette

1/3 C Sour Cream

1/3 C Pineapple Vinegar - see below (pineapple, vinegar, sugar, reduced from 1 C)

1/4 Olive oil

1 Tbsp Fresh cilantro

1 clove Garlic (minced)

1 tsp Pepper

1/8 tsp Cumin

ONE MONTANA RAINBOW TROUT (Grilled).  Best caught around 16”, or, almost too big for the net and the stream that once held it.

1/4 C diced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp pepper

¼ tsp salt

To make the vinaigrette mix all the ingredients together and whisk with a fork until it is emulsified.   If you don’t have the vinegar which most people don’t, it is easy enough to make.  In a pan, place ½ C diced pineapple, with 1 C vinegar, and a pinch of sugar.  Reduce to 1/3 and strain off the liquid.  Now you have pineapple vinegar.

To prepare the trout, gut it and fill the body cavity with the pineapple chunks left over from making the pineapple vinegar, the diced onion, garlic and salt and pepper.  Grill the trout whole until it is flaky and done.

Tomato Tart:

2 Cups Fresh cherry tomatoes or 2 large heirlooms.  Cherry tomatoes may be halved while larger tomatoes should be thinly sliced.

1 Cup Fontina Cheese (grated)

1 Tbs Fresh thyme

1 tsp Lemon zest

1 Puff pastry sheet

1 Egg

*We used cherry tomatoes because they were fresh in the garden at this time of year.  Heirloon tomatoes also worked well and provide great color.  The taste of the tomato is essential to this dish.  Therefore, the tomatoes must be fresh.  If you wouldn’t want to eat the tomatoes raw, they are probably not fit for this dish.

Thaw the puff pastry sheet.  Be sure to set the sheet out with enough time to thaw and to check on the sheet throughout the thawing process.  As pastry sheets are packaged in a tri fold, you want to peel the pastry apart as it thaws.  If you forget about the pastry, the sides might stick together.  After thawed, the puff pastry dough can keep in the fridge until you’re ready to fire up the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Roll the puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper until the pastry sheets expands about an inch on every side.  If, like me, you do not have a rolling pin, you can make due with a full bottle of wine.  If, also like me, your bottle is less than full, be certain the bottle is tightly corked.  Line the puff pastry sheet with a butter knife to establish a “trim.” Mix the egg and brush egg mixture on the puff pastry trim. Place pastry sheet and parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Once the pastry sheet has “puffed” (not yet browned sufficiently), remove the sheet and position the toppings: cheese, tomatoes, thyme, lemon zest.

Return to oven for 3-6 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the puff pastry trim has browned.  Remove from oven.  Top with fresh cracked black pepper and serve immediately.