Dad's Bacon Stuffed Fish

My Dad is a bacon lover. So when he asked for a fish recipe, this one came to mind as having natural appeal.

This is best prepared with a firm thick* white fish like halibut, sea bass or cod as we will be making a pocket inside the fish. (*If you can not find a piece of fish thick enough to make a pocket, you can use to thin filets and put the stuffing in between.)

Per each piece of fish

1 heaping Tbls of cooked and finely chopped bacon plus ½ Tbls–reserve some of the fat from cooking (yes Dad you can add more)

1 Tbls finely chopped chives–I really like garlic chives

½ clove garlic finely chopped and lightly sautéed (till just golden)

1½  Tbls pecorino cheese

Mix together;

1 heaping Tbls bacon

1 Tbls chives

½ clove garlic

1 ½ Tbls pecorino shredded

Using a sharp knife make a pocket in the side of the fish filet and stuff the mixture inside pinch the edge back together lightly salt and pepper outside

 

Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat with a little of the reserved bacon grease. Carefully lay fish filets in pan, cook till golden brown, flip over, reduce heat to medium and continue to cook till done. Remove fish from pan set aside, increase heat to medium high, and deglaze pan with a dry white wine, reduce down add remaining bacon then pour over fish.

Healthy version; substitute turkey bacon, cook in light olive oil  

Rich toasted nuts add pizzaz to mild fish

When spring starts getting busy, we don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. But we still want to eat delicious things. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity.

Just about any kind of fish will do. I do like one that is a little less oily for this recipe like cod or snapper. A variety of nuts can be used, but I really like the flavor of toasted pecans.


For each piece of fish (4 to 6 oz)
2 Tbls of chopped toasted pecans
½ Tbls mayonnaise (binding agent – egg can be used or you may grind ½ pecans in to paste and mix)
½ Tbls butter
pinch S & P

Warm a sauté pan (with lid) on medium high heat add a little olive oil.

Lay fish in pan “nice” side down, cook till golden brown, turn over and lay topping on fish.

Cover and finish cooking fish, remove fish from pan, turn heat up drop in butter and swirl around pan, cook until it begins to foam, just turning brown.

Pour over fish, if you wish you could use a white wine instead of the butter for a “less” fat version. This dish can be a little rich so I like to serve it with steamed vegetables and a nice Jasmin rice.