Salt Crusted Hawaiian Opakapaka Food

SALT CRUSTED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, trimmed to extend 3-inches in diameter around outside of the fish.
• In a medium bowl, combine the egg whites, sea salt, flour, 2 tablespoons of the parsley and 1/2 cup of water. Mix with your hands until a thick paste forms.
• Fill the cavity of the fish with the sun-dried tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts and lemon slices. Rub the exterior of the fish with the garlic, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley and freshly ground black pepper
• Put the fish on the parchment lined baking sheet. Mound the salt paste evenly over the entire fish. Press the mixture firmly down to the baking sheet, being careful to seal any cracks.
• Bake the fish until the crust is golden brown and very firm, about 18 to 20 minutes.
• Slide the parchment and fish onto serving platter or cutting board and crack the crust with a handle of a large knife. Slide a spoon under the top fillet, over the spine, and lift it to a serving platter. Turn over and repeat. Garnish with lemon slices and serve immediately.

PECAN-CRUSTED OPAKAPAKA

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt and pepper.
• Mix milk and egg.
• Mince scallions and pecans and mix with crumbs.
• All three of these mixtures should be on separate flat dishes.
• Dip each fillet in flour mixture, then in milk mixture, then in pecan mixture.
• Heat oil.
• Cook fillets 3 minutes, or until golden.
• Turn carefully and cook 3 minutes on the other side.

SALT-CRUSTED SALMON WITH COLLARD GREEN SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Mix the salt and egg whites in a medium bowl with your hands and incorporate until the mixture feels like wet sand.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups of the salt mixture into a thin layer, in the shape of the salmon, on a baking sheet. (You may need to spread the mixture diagonally on the baking sheet.)
• Arrange the lemongrass, ginger, chile, and cilantro over the bed of salt. Place the fish, skin side up, on the bed of salt and aromatics and pack the remaining salt mixture over and around the fish, molding it to the shape of the fillet, sealing the fish and aromatics inside.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The salt crust should have a warm golden color almost like sand and be rock hard. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Present the fish at the table within its salt crust, then, using a wooden spoon, strike the crust to crack it. Carefully lift pieces of the salt crust from the fish in large chunks. Peel back the skin, exposing the juicy, perfectly cooked fish. Divide the fish among plates. Discard the salt and aromatics.
• Serve with the salsa verde.
• In a food processor, pulse the collard greens, Brazil nuts, garlic, parsley and olive oil until thoroughly combined. You can use a flexible rubber spatula to scrape down the ingredients in the food processor to make sure everything mixes evenly.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the lemon zest and salt to taste (I use about 1 1/2 teaspoons). Stir in the vinegar just before serving.
• Adapted and excerpted from "Between Harlem and Heaven: Afro-Asian-American Cooking for Big Nights, Weeknights, and Every Day" by JJ Johnson and Alexander Smalls with Veronica Chambers. Copyright © 2018 by JJ Johnson and Alexander Smalls with Veronica Chambers. Reprinted with permission from Flatiron Books. All rights reserved. Photography by Beatriz da Costa.

SALT CRUSTED HAWAIIAN OPAKAPAKA

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper. On a flat surface lay out the banana leaf. Place fish on leaf laying the potatoes, tomato, cabbage, pepper, carrot, lemon, and herbs on top of fish. Pour wine over and place butter cubes on top. Carefully fold edges of banana leaf to encase the fish in a package.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix salt and egg white together. On a greased cookie sheet, spread a base of the salt 1/2-inch thick and large enough to hold the fish package. Place the fish on salt base and continue to pack the salt over the fish until entirely covered. Pack firmly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Gently crack the salt crust with a hammer or back of a knife. Fold open the banana leaf to expose fish. Be careful of escaping steam. Transfer fish with a spatula to a serving platter. Spoon the liquid remaining in the banana leaf over the fish. Serve.

BAKED OPAKAPAKA (SNAPPER) FILLETS WITH MACADAMIA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Oil a baking pan with 1 tablespoon of the butter.
• Place the fish in the pan, and sprinkle with pepper and lemon juice.
• In a small skillet heat the rest of the butter. .
• Add the ground nuts.
• Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes making sure the mixture doesn't burn.
• Spread the mixture over the fish.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until done.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

SALT-CRUSTED TUNA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, add the lemon zest, dill and olive oil and combine well. Rub the tuna with the mixture and marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place 2 cups of the salt on a baking tray. Lay 1 side of the tuna in the salt and place in a very high oven or on a grill and bake for 15 to 20 minutes for medium-rare to medium, or longer if desired. All sides should be seared and the inside of tuna should be rare.

SALT-CRUSTED POTATOES

Steps:

• Combine the salt, pepper, and herbs in a large bowl. Pour the oil into a large cast iron skillet and set over medium-high flame or charcoal grill. When the oil reaches a slight smoke, add the potatoes in a single layer and fry until they get nice and crackled on all sides. Cover the potatoes completely with the salt mixture, and cook for about 1 hour until the salt forms a cooked crust and the potatoes are tender. Break open the crust to serve.