Poached Salt Cod Recipes

POACHED SALT COD

Steps:

• Divide cod between 2 large bowls and cover with cold water by 2 inches. Soak cod, chilled, changing water 3 times a day, up to 3 days (see note below). Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Drain cod and transfer to a 6- to 8-quart pot with water, onion, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Bring just to a simmer and remove from heat. (Cod will just flake; do not boil or it will become tough.)
• Gently transfer cod with a slotted spoon to a platter, discarding cooking liquid and seasonings. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SALT COD IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine oil and garlic in a large skillet, and turn heat to medium. Add anchovies, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly golden and anchovies are broken up, less than 5 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high, and add tomatoes, along with a little salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes liquefy.
• Add capers, olives, pepper flakes and cod. Cook about 10 minutes, stirring infrequently and gently, until cod is hot. Taste, and adjust seasoning. Garnish, and serve.

COD POACHED IN CIDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put the butter in a small skillet and turn the heat to medium. Add the onion and a sprinkling of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft but not yet beginning to brown. Turn off the heat. Transfer the onion to a flameproof ceramic or nonstick baking dish just large enough to contain the fish. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and put it over the onion. Pour the cider around all and bring to a boil on top of the stove.
• Cover with foil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish is done (a thin-bladed knife inserted into its center will meet little resistance). Garnish with parsley and serve the fish with the onion and juices spooned over it.
• Clean 2 pounds mussels (page 208) and combine them with the cider in a covered pot. Turn the heat to high and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mussels open, about 10 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, remove them from their shells; pass the cider through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Proceed as directed, using the mussel-scented cider for the liquid and adding the shelled mussels to the fish about halfway through its cooking time.
• In step 1, when the onion begins to soften, add 1 cup trimmed and chopped white, cremini, or portobello mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have given up their liquid, about 10 minutes more. Proceed as directed.

POACHED COD PIPERADE

Steps:

• Heat a straight sided large pan on HIGH for 3 minutes. Add 2 tbsp olive oil and stir fry mix. Cook on MEDIUM-HIGH heat while stirring for about 5 minutes or until vegetables soften. Add garlic and white wine. Let liquid cook until almost dry. Add tomatoes, ground pepper, thyme and the vinegar. Season with salt and cook about 10 minutes to reduce the liquid. Top the cod with the remaining olive oil and thyme and place in pan with sauce. Reduce heat to MEDIUM, cover and cook until fish is cooked through, about 7 to 8 minutes. Cod will flake easily when pierced with a fork.

OLIVE OIL-POACHED COD

Steps:

• For the poached cod: Pat the cod dry with a paper towel, sprinkle it with salt and black pepper and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
• Heat a deep medium nonstick or enamel skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coriander seeds and pink peppercorns and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Slowly add the olive oil and bring the oil to 180 degrees F. Carefully add the cod to the oil. The cod should be fully submerged; if it's not, gently flip the fillets halfway through cooking, or add more oil to the skillet. Cook until the cod is opaque, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the dressing: Combine the creme fraiche, buttermilk, vinegar, cilantro and peppercorns in a blender and puree. Add salt to taste.
• For the avocado salad: Combine the avocado, radishes, shallot and teardrop peppers in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a splash of champagne vinegar and toss gently; stir in the cilantro.
• Using a fish spatula, transfer the cod to a paper towel-lined plate. Place 1 piece of cod in the center of each of serving plates. Tuck the avocado salad next to the cod. Drizzle the salad with dressing and top with the crushed fried onions.

POACHED COD IN TOMATO BROTH

Steps:

• Bring broth, onion, 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, potatoes, basil sprigs, red-pepper flakes, and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large, deep, straight-sided skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Season cod with salt and pepper, add to broth mixture, and cover. Simmer until fish is opaque throughout and just cooked through, about 7 minutes.
• Remove and discard basil sprigs. Add sugar snaps, remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes, and lemon juice to skillet, gently stirring to combine; cook just until warmed through. Divide fish, vegetables, and broth among 4 bowls. Garnish with basil leaves, drizzle with oil, and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.