Hawaiian Unicorn Fish Recipes

SEARED HAWAIIAN ONO WITH HONEY SOY GLAZE AND PINEAPPLE SALSA

Steps:

• Make marinade for the fish. Blend soy sauce, honey, sliced ginger, garlic and olive oil in a blender until smooth. Place fish and marinade in a ziplock bag or bowl for 20 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• While fish is marinating, make pineapple salsa. Cut pineapple in half, saving top half for another use. cut the bottom off, creating a stable base. With a large sharp knife, cut the skin off in vertical slices cutting downward. Cut into wedges and remove the core. Slice and dice into ½ inch cubes and place in a medium bowl. You should have about 3 cups. Toss in the rest of the ingredients. for a milder salsa, add only ½ a jalapeño. If your pineapple is ripe you will not need to add sugar. Taste and adjust.
• . Heat oil in a large heavy bottom skillet, over medium high heat. When oil is hot, place the fish in the skillet, saving the marinade. Sear the fish, on its sides, and set aside. For medium rare, a quick 2-3 minute sear on each side is all you need.
• If you like your fish cooked more, place in a warm oven until desired done-ness.
• Pour the remaining marinade into the skillet and bring to a boil for 30 seconds, until it thickens. Strain and place in a small bowl. You will have about ⅛ to ¼ cup.
• Spoon this over the fish, along with a generous amount of pineapple salsa before serving.

UNCLE GLENN'S ONAGA (STEAMED RED SNAPPER WITH SOMEN)

Steps:

• The day before cooking, submerge the garlic in the oil in a small container. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to cook, check the fish for any remaining scales and scrape off, paying special attention to the head and tail. Rinse the fish and pat dry.
• Boil the somen according to the package instructions, rinsing and draining well. While the noodles are still damp, arrange them on a serving platter and cover with plastic wrap.
• Loosely toss together the celery, carrot, scallions, onion and cilantro leaves in a small mixing bowl. Set aside at room temperature (if refrigerated, the hot oil added at the end won't sizzle). In another small bowl, mix the chung choi, ginger and cilantro stems, and stuff 1/2 cup of the mixture inside the fish cavity, including the head. Pat the remaining few tablespoons over both sides of the fish's body.
• Set a steamer rack or other metal rack inside a wok or roasting pan large enough to accomodate the fish and set on the stove, straddling two burners if needed. Have ready the wok's lid or sheets of foil large enough to cover the roasting pan tightly. Add enough water to come up to the rack (1 to 1 1/2 inches). Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
• Meanwhile, stack 2 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil large enough to hold the fish. Turn up and crimp the foil at the edges to create a boat just large enough to fit the fish. The raised edges will catch the drippings, which will make the sauce. Put the foil boat on the rack over the boiling water, then lay the stuffed fish on the foil. Cover with a lid or tightly with foil and let steam for 15 to 18 minutes (6 minutes per pound). Don't lift the lid to check on the fish, as this will cause the temperature to drop. Adjust the temperature as needed if the lid begins to clatter. Uncover and check to see if the fish is done: The eyes should be white and bulging, the mouth slightly agape and a chopstick inserted into the flesh should slide in easily. Turn off the heat.
• Using two long spatulas, gently transfer the fish to the somen platter, laying it on top of the noodles. Lift the foil boat out of the steamer, careful not to spill any sauce, and pour the sauce into a small bowl. Add the oyster sauce and scallop powder (or fish sauce) and stir. Pour the sauce over the fish, then cover the fish with the vegetable and herb garnish.
• Pour the reserved garlic oil into a small saucepan. Heat over high until the garlic turns golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and discard the garlic. Slosh the soy sauce over the garnished fish, then carefully pour on the hot garlic oil, letting it sizzle. Serve immediately.