Bacon Panko - Food of the Future

When it comes to TV and mindless watching of it - I tend to favor shows on the Food Network and Travel Channel. I know that I make my husband crazy by watching some of these shows more than once but its like free culinary school if you pay attention!  Iron Chef, Top Chef, Chopped ... take me away!

This past weekend I was finally vindicated for my dedication to watching others cook when I spied someone on Iron Chef combing crispy cooked bacon with Panko bread crumbs in the food processor. I leaned into the TV and said -" that's amazing" - just then Alton Brown the host of the show says " Coat anything in that and I will eat it!!" Indeed. This is a great payoff!

Gots to get this at the store

I didn't waste much time - next morning in fact to fry up some bacon for breakfast - along with another 6-8 pcs for later. I did try to get them a bit overdone - not burnt but on the crisp side.

Later that eve, I collected all my ingredients together with a blind attempt to make a delicious meal using this new found Bacon Panko wonderland!

First - I mixed a few cups of Panko bread crumbs with some pre cooked crispy bacon. Twirl it all together until everything is the same size.

Mix it up

It should look something like this.

Tasty bits

Next gather up your ingredients - This time I had fresh salmon fillets that I have cut into think chunks. Make sure to remove all bones. Instead of egg wash, I used goats milk. And of course our Bacon Panko in a shallow dish.

 

Everybody get ready

Make an assembly line - First dip the fish in the goats milk and then roll into the bacon Panko mix until fully coated on both sides. The goats milk helps everything stick and has great sweet flavor. * Of course regular milk or an egg wash would work just as well if you dont have a goat handy. 

Get a nice even coat on it 

In the mean time, get some oil heated about 1/2 inch. I always test the heat by throwing in a few bread crumbs to see if they will start to brown. Let each side brown for about 3 min on each side. I find they are easiest to flip by using chop sticks.

Nice and brown

When done, let the fish rest on a paper towel to blot the oil.
At this point, you could use them just as fish nuggets with tartar sauce.

This night - I wanted a fish taco. This amazingly tasty combination is bacon Panko covered salmon, slaw mixed with scriachia, mango salsa, cilantro with a lemon wedge. So so so good!

I could eat this everyday

Ive got some left over bacon Panko in the fridge - Im going to try it on some scallops next. I predict we will start seeing bacon Panko in restaurants within the year. This stuff is the food of the future!! You heard it here first.

Salmon provided by K&S Seafood - local vendor at Lakeline Farmers Market.
Mango Salsa provided by Aunt Nita Homestyle Food - another great vendor at the farmers market.
Goats Milk provided by Swede Goat Farm - local vendor at Triangle Market in Austin.