Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe (One Pan Orzo + Balls)

This Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe is the perfect trifecta of delicious, comforting, and nourishing. I love this dish because the omega-rich steelhead trout pairs beautifully with the creamy orzo, creating a simple one-pan dish that’s both indulgent and good for you.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe

• Healthy: The steelhead trout in this dish is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s, while the orzo and veggies provide fiber and essential vitamins, giving you a balanced meal that’s as good for your body as it is delicious
• Comforting: This recipe is so delicious and nourishing – perfect for those nights when you need a little extra TLC on your plate
• Easy: Make this Steelhead Trout Recipe for a quick lunch or dinner during a busy week, with minimal cleanup

🍲 Ingredients

Steelhead Trout – Steelhead trout is packed with high-quality protein and those all-important omega-3 fatty acids that are amazing for your heart, brain, and skin health. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamins and minerals like B12, selenium, and potassium.

Pro tip: When it comes to trout and other seafood, I always look for BAP certification. This blue label is more than just a sticker – it’s the only aquaculture certification program worldwide that monitors every step of the production chain. Choosing BAP-certified seafood means you’re opting for environmentally responsible practices where animal health and welfare are prioritized. It’s an easy way to ensure the seafood you and your family enjoy is ethically and sustainably sourced.

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Orzo – Orzo is that cute, little rice-shaped pasta that’s a total chameleon in the kitchen—it soaks up flavors like a dream and adds a lovely, comforting texture to any dish. And here’s a bonus: It’s made from semolina, which means it’s a good source of protein and complex carbohydrates, giving you sustained energy to power through your day (or night).

👩‍🍳 How to Make This Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe (One Pan Orzo + Balls)

1. Add onion and garlic to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add salt, pepper, green onions and lemon zest and pulse again to combine.
2. Add cubed trout and pulse just a quick 6-8 times until the trout is just broken down into pea-sized pieces. Don’t over pulse or it will become more like a paste.
3. Add the trout mixture to a bowl with the egg and breadcrumbs and gently mix together to combine. Scoop out 1 1/2 tbsp per trout ball and use your hands to form into balls (makes about 16-18 balls). Place on a plate and when all balls are made, place in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
4. After 10 minutes remove the trout balls from the fridge. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a frying pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the trout balls and sear for 2 minutes per side for about 4-6 minutes total. Remove from the pan to a paper towel lined plate.
5. To make the orzo, keep the pan on medium heat. Add 2 tbsp butter to the pan. When melted add garlic, shallots, green onions, salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
6. Add white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the orzo and cook for another minute. Add in the chicken broth and cream, stir and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the trout balls back to the pan and keep at a simmer, stirring every few minutes, for 8-10 minutes with the lid mostly on until the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed. Set aside off of the heat. *Note: If the orzo is not quite done to your liking, add 1/4-1/2 cup more chicken broth and continue to cook until the orzo is al dente*
7. Serve the creamy orzo with a few trout balls and topped with a drizzle of olive oil, squeeze of a lemon wedge and fresh minced chives.

🪄 Tips and Tricks

• Less is more! When putting your cubed trout into the food processor, don’t overpulse it, or it will become more like a paste.
• Taste test your orzo before taking this dish off the stove. If it is not quite done to your liking, add 1/4-1/2 cup more chicken broth and continue to cook until it is al dente.

🗒 Substitutions

• For this Steelhead Trout recipe, you can substitute the trout for salmon.
• To make this recipe gluten-free, you can substitute the bread crumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs and orzo for gluten-free orzo. Just check the cooking instructions on the gluten-free orzo package, as the cooking time may vary.

🗒 Best served with

• Shaved Apple Salad
• Twist Bread (with Pesto & Parmesan)
• Tabbouleh Salad Recipe

👝 How to Store Leftovers

You can store leftovers from this Steelhead Trout Recipe in an airtight container for up to four days.

🤔 Common Questions

Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe (One Pan Orzo + Balls)

5 from 2 votes

This Easy Steelhead Trout Recipe (One Pan Orzo + Balls) is the ultimate recipe for those nights when you want something cozy and nourishing without the fuss. Everything comes together in one pan – tender steelhead trout with creamy orzo – creating a comforting meal packed with flavor and goodness, all while keeping cleanup to a minimum.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine Greek-Inspired

Servings 4

Calories 754 kcal

Ingredients

  

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For the trout balls

• 450-500 g (1 lb) trout, cubed (about 2 cups once cubed)
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the orzo

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup dried orzo pasta
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup light / 10% cream

Toppings

• olive oil
• lemon wedges
• minced fresh chives (small bunch)

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Instructions

 

• Prepare the Steelhead Trout
• Add onion and garlic to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add salt, pepper, green onions and lemon zest and pulse again to combine.
• Add cubed trout and pulse just a quick 6-8 times until the trout is just broken down into pea-sized pieces. Don't over pulse or it will become more like a paste.
• Add the trout mixture to a bowl with the egg and breadcrumbs and gently mix together to combine. Scoop out 1 1/2 tbsp per trout ball and use your hands to form into balls (makes about 16-18 balls). Place on a plate and when all balls are made, place in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
• After 10 minutes remove the trout balls from the fridge. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a frying pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the trout balls and sear for 2 minutes per side for about 4-6 minutes total. Remove from the pan to a paper towel lined plate.
• To make the orzo, keep the pan on medium heat. Add 2 tbsp butter to the pan. When melted add garlic, shallots, green onions, salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
• Add white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the orzo and cook for another minute. Add in the chicken broth and cream, stir and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the trout balls back to the pan and keep at a simmer, stirring every few minutes, for 8-10 minutes with the lid mostly on until the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed. Set aside off of the heat. *Note: If the orzo is not quite done to your liking, add 1/4-1/2 cup more chicken broth and continue to cook until the orzo is al dente*
• Serve the creamy orzo with a few trout balls and topped with a drizzle of olive oil, squeeze of a lemon wedge and fresh minced chives.

Video

Notes

• You can substitute the trout for salmon if that’s what you have on hand.
• If you like this recipe, you’ll love our Delicious Salmon Balls

Nutrition

Calories: 754kcal | Carbohydrates: 45.5g | Protein: 33.3g | Fat: 48.1g | Saturated Fat: 10.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28.7g | Cholesterol: 130.6mg | Sodium: 2169.6mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 4.8g

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