Opah Belly Bacon

Chef Davin Waite makes bacon from a most versatile fish - the opah.

Watch the video on Youtube: Bacon from a Fish

Video by Sam Wells, Chef Epic.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs opah belly

• 1 tsp curing salt

• 16 oz green tea

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Brown sugar

• Mesquite charcoal, or applewood chips (for smoker)

How to Prepare

1. Cut opah into 2.5” x 1” strips. In a large bowl, mix curing salt and green tea, add opah strips, and marinate overnight.

2. Strain off liquid. You can save and reuse if you do so within 1 week. Place opah strips on baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, pepper and brown sugar to taste.

3. Prep BBQ or smoker. We like a ,mix of mesquite charcoal and applewood chips.

4. Place opah in BBQ or smoker and cook for 45 min to 1 hr over low/medium indirect heat (~120-140F).

5. Let cool on rack, then slice against the grain. Refrigerate for up to one week, pan fry to order!