Yield: 4 servings.
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon salt, plus extra
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 rainbow trout, boned and headed
Freshly ground black pepper
8 fresh tarragon sprigs
4 dill sprigs
2 lemons, sliced
Chopped fresh tarragon, dill, or parsley (for garnish)
Lemon wedges (for garnish)
Preheat oven to 450°. In a mixing bowl, combine spinach, panko, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
Cut four sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil into squares that are 3 inches longer than the fish. Coat one side of the foil with olive oil. Season both sides of trout with salt and pepper, and lay the fish out flat, skin side down, in the center of each square. Fill each trout with spinach mixture. Place two tarragon sprigs, a sprig of dill, and two lemon slices in the middle of each trout. Fold the two sides together. Drizzle ½ teaspoon olive oil over each fish.
Loosely fold the foil around each trout. Roll the extra foil down and crimp the ends tightly to make a packet. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meat pulls apart easily when tested with a fork.
Gently remove the fish from each packet and place on a serving platter. Pour the juices over the fish. Sprinkle with fresh tarragon, dill, or parsley. Serve with lemon wedges.
Why does this Haywood County town have some of the cleanest water in the state? It’s the result of the community’s efforts to keep the forests in its watershed pristine.
The spectacular views in North Carolina’s High Country aren’t just inspiration for writers, painters, and sculptors. Those landscapes — the rugged gray face of Grandfather Mountain, the vibrant fall leaves, the deep green meadows — are brushstrokes on Earth’s own canvas.
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Nothing lasts forever — and that’s what makes many of our cherished moments so special.
