Best Ways to Cook Fresh Columbia River Walleye

One of the best parts of fishing is bringing home your catch! If you caught fresh Columbia River Walleye, you would definitely enjoy the sweet, mild meat it can bring.

With such delicious meat, it’s only fitting to cook the fish in the best way possible. And did you know that consuming Walleye also has its health benefits? It’s rich in protein and other essential vitamins and minerals we need!

Impress your family and friends with both your fishing and cooking skills! Read on to learn the best ways to cook fresh Columbia River Walleye.

Best Ways to Cook Fresh Columbia River Walleye

Who said cooking Walleye had to be so complicated? Please make sure you properly fillet and clean your fish before using it for your favorite recipes.

Here are the four best ways to cook fresh Columbia River Walleye without further ado!

Butter Poached Walleye

Poaching is a fool-proof way to prepare fish, especially delicate species like Walleye! When poaching Walleye at a lower temperature, the fish stays moist and tender for everyone’s enjoyment.

Follow this recipe:

• One pound of skinless walleye fillets
• Two cups of chicken broth or fish stock
• One cup of dry white wine
• Five tablespoons of butter
• ½ cup of chopped onions
• ¼ cup of chopped parsley
• Five cloves of sliced garlic
• Juice from half a lemon
• Salt to taste
• Parsley for garnishing

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat
2. Add your onions and garlic, cooking for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Don’t let your butter brown!
3. Add the stock or broth and dry white wine, increasing the heat to medium. Add salt to taste.
4. Once you see bubbles forming, turn the heat back to medium-low. Add the fish and chopped parsley, with the cooking liquid covering the fish.
5. Let the fish poach for about five minutes, keeping the liquid under 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Take the fish off the heat and serve on a plate, squeezing lemon over the fish. You can either serve the fish hot or refrigerate it to help cold on salads.

Grilled Walleye

Grilled Walleye is another delicious way to cook fish, perfect for casual dinner parties. You can also be creative with the sauce and marinades, adding more flavor to the fish. Here’s a recipe to follow:

Ingredients:

• Two tablespoons of unsalted butter at room temperature
• ¼ cup of coarsely chopped, toasted pecans, divided into two
• Two teaspoons of orange juice
• One teaspoon of fresh chives
• 12 ounces of walleye fillets
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine the butter, half of your pecans, orange juice, and chives in a small bowl. Mix this well.
2. Preheat your grill. When hot, prepare a 12-inch square piece of aluminum foil, cutting 2-inch slits into it every two inches. Spray this using a nonstick spray or brush with oil. Place the foil on the grill.
3. Place the walleye fillets on the foil, sprinkling them with your desired seasonings.
4. Grill the fish for 6-9 minutes. Afterward, top the fillets with your butter mixture. Grill the fillets for another 2-3 minutes. It’s done when the fish flakes with a fork easily and reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Remove your fillets from the heat, sprinkling them with your remaining pecan pieces.
6. Serve and enjoy while it’s hot!

Pan-Seared Walleye

This is a relatively easy recipe to follow, suitable for beginner cooks! Like poaching, pan-searing is one of the easiest ways to prepare any kind of fish. Check out this recipe:

Ingredients:

• Two 4-6-ounce Walleye fillets, with or without skin
• Two tablespoons of butter or oil
• One teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning or other preferred seasonings

Directions:

1. Heat your skillet to medium heat, adding the butter or oil.
2. Season your Walleye fillets with your chosen seasoning.
3. Once the butter or oil is hot, place your fish on the pan and place a pan on top of the fish. Doing this creates steam in the pan.
4. Let the fish cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish is done cooking once the Walleye meat turns white.
5. Serve with your favorite sides (like fries, rice, or salad), and enjoy!

Honey-Fried Walleye

This is a unique take on the Walleye because you’ll be frying it with honey! Surprisingly, the sugar works well with the fish, as it strikes a balance between sweet and savory. It’s a simple twist to the classic fish and chips.

Ingredients:

• One large egg
• One teaspoon of honey
• One cup of coarsely crushed saltines or other similar crackers
• 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper
• 4-6 Walleye fillets
• Canola oil
• More honey

Directions:

1. Beat the egg and one teaspoon of honey in a shallow bowl. Combine your cracker crumbs, flour, and seasonings in a separate bowl.
2. Dip the fillets in the egg mixture and coat it with the crumb mixture.
3. Heat ¼ inches of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough, fry the fish for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the fillets flake easily with a fork.
4. Take your fillets off the heat and on a plate, drizzling them with additional honey. Serve with fries, lemon wedges, and your favorite dip!

Wrapping It Up

Even if you aren’t a world-class chef, the best ways to cook fresh Columbia River Walleye isn’t a huge challenge! Show off your skills and let your loved ones know the story of how you caught today’s dinner as they enjoy the meal.

Hopefully, these recipes helped you get an idea of how to cook your catch! If you’re still daydreaming about the day you get to fish and cook your catch, now’s the time to stop. Instead, contact us now, and let’s schedule your trip with fishing charters like us.