Salt Crusted Hawaiian Opakapaka Food

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.

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.

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.

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.