Tinapa Recipe

Tinapa is a viand typically cooked by Filipinos during breakfast. Similar to other fish items such as Tuyoand Daing, Tinapa is also a dried fish fare, commonly sold in wet markets, “bagsakan” or fish Ports, small variety stores and even in big Supermarkets. One can say that tinapa is actually everywhere. Tinapa recipe, strictly speaking, is created to make the shelf-life of the fish longer instead of waiting for it to get sold while the fish slowly rots. In making the tinapa, one can be sure that nothing in the produce of the sea goes to waste.

Ingredients

• 15 - 16 (about 5 pounds total weight) whole Galunggong (Scad) or Tamban (Sardinella)

• 1-quart salt

• 3 quarts water

• 2 pounds hickory wood chunks for smoking (Soak wood chunks in water two days before using them.)

InstructionsFor the Brine:

1. In a large bowl or small bucket add warm water and dissolve the salt.

2. Clean the fish and add the brine onto the fish.

3. I just use our kitchen sink for this (make sure your sink is clean and rinsed thoroughly).

4. Let it brine for 1 hour while stirring the brine every ten minutes.

5. The rule of thumb: brine the fish for ½ an hour for every half inch (thickness) of fish.

6. After an hour remove the fish from the brine, rinse it well, and set aside.

The Smoker:

1. Depending on your smoker, the best way to do this is to keep the fish away from the heat source as much as possible.

2. Place your fish on the rack and add your wood chunks to the heat source.

3. Cover the smoker and let it smoke for 1 ½ hour.

4. You will need to add wood chunks every 20 minutes to keep the smoke going.

5. Enjoy your freshly made Tinapa.

6. Serve with fresh tomatoes and onions and don’t forget the garlic flavored vinegar dipping sauce.