What is a Steelhead, anyways?

I've been working too much these days -- and my limited free time has been dedicated to outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest to take advantage of our summer sun. Hence, my absence from the food blog for most of August.

But you should know that I would never take a hiatus from gastronomical adventures! I was still able to make a recent nature foray into a culinary experience, and it was also -- yes -- very educational too.

My brother-in-law is a passionate, avid fisherman, and he invited us to one of his fishing expeditions. Turns out that Steelhead are great for sports-fishing, as they put up a good fight and are strong fish.





We went to the Klickitat River in Eastern Washington, where the Hood/Columbia River empties into the Klickitat. We stayed at a gorgeous cabin.



Steelhead are in the same species class as rainbow trout. However, trout are exclusive to fresh-water, and Steelhead are "anadromous" which means they have a life-cycle that includes both fresh-water and salt-water. Interestingly, the Steelhead were recently introduced into the same genus class as salmon.

So what does a Steelhead taste like? Even before I knew of the genus/species classification of these fish, I thought it tasted like a cross between trout and salmon. The flesh is light-pink which looks more like a salmon, but the flavor is milder than salmon. Taking the fish right out of the water, and grilling it the same day, it just doesn't get any fresher -- or better -- than that. Cooking (and common sense) tip: When you have a very fresh fish, try not to mask the flavors. Let the fresh fish do the talking! We kept it simple with lemons, onions, salt and pepper to accentuate the natural flavors -- you could really taste the fish. It smelled amazing too...

You might ask: "Where can I purchase a Steelhead?" We talked to a fish monger in Seattle today, and found out that Steelhead are not sold commercially, because they are considered a sport fish. So, get your fishing rod out and take a drive to the Klickitat river!

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