Baked Trout With Fennel - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 large fresh rainbow trout, head left on if desired (2-3 lb)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 lemon, cut in slices
4 fennel, sprigs up to 6 (the feathery fronds)
2 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces
Meuniere butter with fennel
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/2 small lemon, juice of
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh fennel leaves

Preparation

Wash and clean trout thoroughly, scraping skin with a dull knife.
Pat dry.
Cut off fins with scissors or sharp knife and trim tails.
Place trout in a greased oblong baking dish.
Place half the lemon slices, half the fennel sprigs and some butter inside prepared trout.
Add wine and top with remaining lemon slices, fennel sprigs and butter.
Bake at 350F until fish flakes when tested with a fork (12 to 15 minutes, depending upon size of trout.)
Baste periodically.
Meanwhile, make meuniere butter:
In a small, heavy saucepan, melt butter.
Cook slowly over low heat, shaking pan vigorously, until butter is a light brown nut color.
Add lemon juice, salt, pepper and chopped fennel and serve at once, poured over baked trout.