If you are a fish lover, you must have heard about the trout. You will find it in most of the restaurants in Himachal and the hilly areas because they definitely have trout on their menu. Trout is called a cousin of salmon because it is also found in the coldest places. Salmon and trout almost look similar and have similar tastes, but still, they have some differences. For example, trout are found in the freshwater, whereas salmon is found in the saltwater. Thus it has high-fat content than trout.

The British people in India first introduced the idea of fishing; at that time, they brought the eggs of the different species and spread them into the Indian waters to breed.

Trout are found in several states of India, including Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttrakhand (UK), Jammu and Kashmir (JK), and in some other areas of the North-East. There are several breeding farms of trout fish in such areas, which the government permits. Now, Himachal Pradesh has become the major producer state of trout fish in India. In this article, we will discuss all the related information about the Kullu trout fish.

What is Kullu Trout Fish?

Kullu trout is the most well-known and traditional Pahari food of Himachal Pradesh. This trout tastes like Atlantic salmon. Salmon is one of the most expensive species of fish. Because trout fishes require cold water, the heights of Himachal Pradesh become an ideal place to breed the trout fish.

The fish is Arctic Char which is also called in local languages Kullu trout; it is similar to the rainbow trout. This dish is very easy and hassle-free to prepare. It is a delicious recipe which is made with Indian spices. Fish is fried in minimal spices to retain its natural taste. This trout fish is one of the best five dishes of the Himachal.

Ingredients to Make Kullu Trout Fish

You do not need many ingredients for the preparation of Kullu trout fish. You can find all of it at your home easily. You will need several ingredients to prepare Kullu trout fish, including-

For Marinade

• One trout
• Salt (according to taste)
• one tablespoon of dill leaves
• one tablespoon of coriander seeds (crushed)
• ¼ tablespoon of chilli flakes
• two tablespoons of lemon juice
• one tablespoon of mustard oil
• ½ tablespoon lemon rind

 For Gravy and Sauce

• ½ tablespoon mustard seeds
• two tablespoons of mustard oil
• one tablespoon coriander (chopped)
• 1½ tablespoon onions ( diced)
• two tablespoons of lemon juice
• Salt (according to taste)

How to Make Kullu Trout Fish

Preparation of Kullu trout fish is very easy as it contains a few simple steps.

#1. You have to marinate the fish in the first step- clean and wash the trout properly.

Then add it into a bowl with the salt, chilli flakes, crushed coriander seeds, lemon juice, lemon rind, dill leaves, and mustard oil. Rub this mixture on the fish and leave it for at least 10 minutes.

#2. After the margination of trout is done, you have to fry it. First, you have to heat the oil in a pan and add marinated fish to it.

Fry it on both sides for 5-10 minutes on the low flame. After this, drain the excess oil from the fish, keep it aside, and move to the next step.

#3. Now, you have to prepare the sauce spread. First, heat oil in a pan, then put the chopped onions and mustard seeds. You can also use some tomatoes if you like them.

Then saute this mixture until it changes its colour to light brown. Then turn off the fire and remove the pan aside. Then mix lemon juice, salt, and coriander leaves and stir it well to make a good mixture.

You can also add some water to make gravy of it. Pour the sauce over your trout fish and serve it with the white steam rice. You can also serve Kullu trout fish with boiled vegetables.

Benefits of Eating Kullu Trout Fish

Along with the taste, Kullu trout fish is good for health as well as it contains different kinds of nutrients, vitamins, and proteins. And it is easily digestible because it does not contain hormones and antibiotics.

The small amount of trout contains high protein with very low calories. Thus it is very helpful in building new cells and improving the existing ones.

Trout is very low in fat and cholesterol. It also has a high Omegas-3s, which is an essential fatty acid. And the study has proved that it has heart-health benefits and is also able to fight other diseases and improves brain health.

You can get many essential minerals and vitamins from the trout; it has a higher amount of B vitamins which help in human metabolism. Trout fish also have high potassium, phosphorus, nutrients, and significant amino acids. Phosphorus helps in the healthy bones, and potassium plays a major role in improving nerve health and muscle contraction.

Trout is low in mercury; thus, it is safe to consume.

Who Can Eat Kullu Trout Fish?

Everyone can eat Kullu trout fish as it has several health benefits and it has a delicious taste. Trout has a very low amount of neurotoxins (especially mercury); thus, pregnant or nursing women and children can consume it without any harm. A person can eat trout fish on a daily basis. It is also said that it is better to have regular trout fish than to eat beef regularly.

Conclusion

If you are a seafood lover or not, you must try Kullu trout fish once. If you have one bite, you will ask for more because of its natural and delicious taste. And it will also have several health benefits, which make it the best diet for the people who are health conscious. Along with the beautiful sceneries and weather of the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, you can enjoy the best cuisines of the country there.