Basque Cod Croquettes Croquetas De Bacalao Recipes

BASQUE COD CROQUETTES / CROQUETAS DE BACALAO

Steps:

• Heat the milk.
• In a saucepan melt butter with a little olive oil, sprinkle flour and fry in butter without burning it.
• Once you've made the roux, pour the milk slowly and stir continuously with a wisker to avoid lumps.
• Once bechamel is done add desalted cod crumbled and let cook to incorporate the flavour. Pour on a plate impregnated with a little butter and let rest for 2 hours.
• Then for the croquettes and pass through flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fry a few at a time.

BACALAO A LA VIZCAINA (BASQUE STYLE CODFISH STEW)

Steps:

• Soak the salted cod in about 2 quarts of water, changing the water 3 times over the course of 8 hours. Drain and cut the fish into bite-size pieces.
• Layer the half of each ingredient in the following order: potatoes, cod fish, onions, hard-boiled eggs, capers, garlic, olives, roasted red peppers, and raisins. Place the bay leaf on top, then pour half the tomato sauce and half the olive oil. Repeat with the remaining ingredients in the same order. Pour the water and white wine on top. Do not stir.
• Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.

COD CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2-inch water to a simmer in a large nonstick skillet.
• Zest a lemon and reserve. Cut lemon and season the fish the some lemon juice and salt and add to the simmering water.
• Cover pan and cook fish 8 minutes.
• Remove and flake fish into a bowl.
• Discard water and wipe out pan, returning it to heat over medium flame and add 1/4 cup vegetable oil. To the fish, add reserved lemon zest, seafood seasoning, celery, onion, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper to fish. Add egg and 1 cup of the bread crumbs. Form 8 fish patties and toss in remaining bread crumbs to set the patties.
• Add 1/4 cup vegetable oil to the cleaned out pan and heat over medium flame.
• Cook patties in the oil for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until golden and reserve under foil or in warm oven.

SALT-COD CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Cover cod with cold water in a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 12 hours, changing water twice.
• Drain and rinse cod. Transfer to a large saucepan; cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Drain and rinse cod. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel, and roll back and forth until cod is dry and finely shredded. Shake into a small bowl; set aside.
• Cover potatoes with cold water in a clean large saucepan; season with salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes, then mash in saucepan; set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in cod. Cook until it looks dry, about 3 minutes. Stir in parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl; let cool.
• Stir eggs and reserved potatoes into cod mixture, mashing ingredients to combine. Mold about 1 tablespoon mixture into a log (slightly taper ends) about 2 inches long. Repeat with remaining cod mixture. Roll logs in breadcrumbs.
• Heat canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until it registers 360 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Working in batches to avoid crowding, fry logs, turning occasionally, until just golden brown, about 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, transfer to lined sheet to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.) If not serving immediately, keep warm in a 275 degree oven up to 30 minutes.