Bacalhau Recipes

MARIA'S PORTUGUESE BACALAU

Steps:

• Soak the dried salted cod in cold water for 24 hours, changing the water several times.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the soaked cod, and boil for about 5 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove cod from water, and save water for cooking potatoes. Remove skin and bones from the cod, and flake the meat into pieces using a fork. Set fish aside in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, 1 clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon of parsley, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Pour over the fish, and toss lightly to coat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the potatoes into the fish water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain under cool water, peel and cut into 1/4 inch slices.
• While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and saute until golden and caramelized. Stir one clove of garlic into the onions. Set aside.
• Layer half of the potato slices in the bottom of a greased 8x11 inch baking dish. Cover with half of the cod, then half of the onions. Repeat layers, ending with onion.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Before serving, garnish the top with green and black olives, and hard-cooked eggs. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

BACALHAU A GOMES DE SA (SALT COD, ONIONS AND POTATOES)

Steps:

• Soak the cod in cold water to cover for 24 to 36 hours, changing the water occasionally, drain. Flake the cod into small pieces, removing any bones. Set aside. In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add 1/4 cup of the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions and the garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until slightly golden, about 6 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a medium ovenproof casserole dish with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper. Spread half of the potatoes over the bottom of the prepared dish. Sprinkle half of the salt cod over the potatoes. Place half of the onion mixture over the salt cod. Top the onion mixture with more salt cod. Place another layer of potatoes over the top of the cod. Drizzle the entire pan with the remaining 1/4 cup of oil. Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Place on a serving platter. Garnish with the sliced eggs, olives, and parsley.

BACALHAU (PORTUGUESE SALT COD STEW)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven (optional): If you plan to bake the bacalhoada, instead of simmering it on the stove, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Simmer the salt cod in milk and/or water: Put salt cod in a saucepan. Add enough milk, water, or a mixture of milk and water to just cover. Bring mixture to a simmer. Let simmer for a couple minutes. Remove the fish and set aside.
• Parboil the potatoes and slice: Parboil the potatoes for 20 minutes (you can cook them in the water you used to cook the fish if you want). Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
• Cook on the stovetop or bake: Place on stovetop on medium heat, and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Or bake, covered in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until everything is completely cooked through. Serve with sides of rice and salad, or some crusty bread.

BACALHAU PORTUGUESE AO FORNO (SALT COD WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES)

Steps:

• Soak cod in a large bowl of water in the refrigerator for 24 hours, changing soaking water 4 times to remove excess salt.
• Drain water off cod; add lemon juice and salt. Let marinate in the refrigerator, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Arrange layers of cod, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in a large baking dish. Place bay leaves on top. Drizzle olive oil over baking dish and season with salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and cod flakes easily with a fork, about 30 minutes. Add olives and parsley and continue baking until heated through, about 3 minutes more.

BAKED BACALHAU / SALTED COD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place potatoes in a large pot of water bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minutes and remove placing on towels to air dry.
• Drizzle 1/4 cup olive oil in a large heavy bottom pan Saute garlic for 30 seconds and stir in potatoes, then sliced onions and peppers.
• Mix salt pepper, parsley and paprika together.
• Season the vegetables with 3/4 of the mix.
• Season the cod with the remaining spice mix.
• Nestle the cod in between the vegetable mix.
• Drizzle with Olive oil and add white wine.
• Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes or until its all cooked through.
• Toss the mixture every once or twice so that all flavours get incorporated.
• Raise oven to 425. Toss and top with olives baking for 10 more minutes.
• Enjoy!