Hold fish with belly facing up. Using your fillet knife, cut from the anal hole forward towards where the head was or still is.
After pulling out the entrails, take an old tooth brush and clean the blood vein that runs along the spine. If that is not cleaned out it, will affect the taste.
Rinse the trout thoroughly (inside and out) and prepare to cook as you wish.
NOTE: If you like to eat the fish skin, make sure you remove all the fish scales before cooking. With the trout held firmly by the tail, scrape very firmly from the tail to the gills several times on both sides with a sharp knife . I, personally, like to have my trout scaled before cooking.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
When ready to cook, rinse the cleaned trout under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Drying will prevent the fish from steaming when you cook it . Cut a few diagonal slashes along each side of the fish.
Place a large piece of aluminum foil in a large baking dish. Brush the foil with some olive oil. Place some of the lemon slices on the bottom of the baking dish.
In the cavity of each Rainbow Trout, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and add some lemon slices. Lay the prepared trout on top of the lemon slices in the bottom of the baking dish. Lightly rub the top of the trout with some olive oil. Place additional lemon slices on top of the trout. Pour the wine around the trout.
Bring the aluminum foil up and tightly around the baking dish.
Bake approximately 30 to 35 minutes (depending on the size of your fresh trout). To test for doneness when cooking the trout, insert a fork at the thickest point of the fish. Perfectly cooked fish is nearly opaque, should be very moist, and will flake easily with a fork. Fish that looks slightly dry is overcooked. Under cooked fish will look translucent and raw. If you have a digital meat thermometer, the internal temperature in the center of the fillet should reach 140 degrees F.
When done, remove from oven, remove from the aluminum foil, and serve on individual serving plates.
Makes 2 to 3 servings.
* Use any light red or white wine of your choice. As the trout meat is very delicate, you need to use a light wine that will not overbear the trout. My husband and I grow pinot noir grapes and make wine, so this was our choice.
Baked Rainbow Trout Recipe: https://whatscookingamerica.net/bakedrainbowtrout.htm