Camping Fish Recipes - Cooking Your Catch

Camping and fishing go together like ham and eggs. After you clean and gut your catch, try one of these simple camping fish recipes. I have a fish recipe from each category: 1) Easy, 2) Weird, 3) Artery-clogging and finally, 4) Healthy.

Easy: Tin Foil Rainbow Trout

- fresh trout, any kind

- 1 tablespoon butter

- salt and pepper

- 1 small onion, sliced

- Bacon slices (optional)

Leaving the fish whole, stuff the insides with butter, salt and pepper, and as many onions as will fit. Wrap each fish with 1-2 bacon slices if your heart desires. Place stuffed trout on buttered foil and wrap up tightly to trap the moisture. Place over white hot coals for 7-10 minutes.

Weird: Grilled Catfish in Coffee Butter

(I know you'll be skeptical, but this recipe is from the catfishinstitute.com, it is very good.)

- 1 tablespoon lemon juice

- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

- 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 2 pounds catfish fillets

Combine lemon juice, instant coffee, butter, onion powder and salt. Brush mixture thickly onto fillets. Grill on a SPAM-sprayed campfire grate for 10 minutes.

Turn and brush fish again with sauce. Grill 10 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily.

Heart-Clogging: Beer Battered Fish

- 1 1/4 c packaged biscuit mix

- 3/4 c beer

- 1 egg

- 1/4 tsp salt

- 4 fresh fish filet

- cooking oil

Beat together biscuit mix, beer, egg and salt. Pat fish to dry. Dip in batter to coat both sides. Fry in hot oil in skillet for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until done.

Healthy: Steamed Fish with Veggies

- fish fillets

- small potatoes

- 1 medium Vidalia or any Sweet onion, sliced thin

- 2 stalks of celery, chopped

- 1 medium tomato, chopped

- salt and pepper

- 1 tsp Mrs. Dash garlic and herb seasoning

- salad dressing (optional)

Place fish chunks on top of heavy-duty tin foil. Pile vegetables on fish and season with the salt and pepper. Place a salad dressing on fish and vegetables. Italian is best, but Ranch, Raspberry, or some other favorite will work also. Wrap tightly and cook over a campfire for 15 to 20 minutes.