Salad With Salt Cod Olives Beans And Romesco Sauce Recipes

SALT COD, POTATO, AND STRING BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Place the salt cod in a small saucepan, and add water to cover. Bring the water to a simmer, 1 to 2 minutes, just to refresh the cod and remove any last traces of saltiness. Drain, pat the cod dry, and set aside.
• Slip the potatoes into a pot with water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until tender; then remove the potatoes and let cool slightly. Peel and cut them into 1-inch chunks, and toss into a serving bowl.
• In the meantime, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add the green beans. Boil until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes, drain, let cool, then add to the bowl with the potatoes.
• Scatter the red onion and pepper into the serving bowl. Season with the salt and peperoncino flakes, drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar, and toss well.
• Flake the cod in big chunks over the top of the bowl, and toss gently one more time, taking care not to break up the pieces of fish too much.

CATALAN SHREDDED SALT COD SALAD

Steps:

• To prepare the salt cod, rinse it well and then immerse it in a container of cold water (cut into chunks, if necessary, to fit). Refrigerate, changing the soaking water 5 or 6 times, until softened and mild (24 to 48 hours, depending on how stiff and salty it was to begin with).
• Drain the cod, place it in a large saucepan with the onion and the bay leaves, and cover with cold water. Bring just to a boil, reduce the heat to very low, and cover (taste the water at this stage and, if it seems excessively salty, then drain, cover again with fresh cold water, and bring to a boil). Simmer very gently until the fish is opaque and plumped, and falls apart into heavy flakes when prodded, about 20 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and remove the bones and skin, if necessary. Separate into large flakes and use right away, or refrigerate for up to 2 days before continuing with the recipe.
• Drain and press the cod with your fingers to extract as much water as possible. Shred the cod by hand into thin strips and transfer it to a large bowl. Add the pepper rings, onion, and tomato to the bowl and toss together gently. In another bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, pepper, and if desired, a little salt (the salt cod is usually still quite salty; taste it to determine if the vinaigrette needs any salt). Whisk the vinaigrette together until thoroughly blended. Using your hands, toss the salad with the vinaigrette until all the ingredients are coated. Transfer the salad to a platter and garnish the edges with olives and wedges of hardboiled egg. Scatter the oregano over the dish.

SALAD WITH SALT COD, OLIVES, BEANS AND ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• The night before, soak the cod in water and place it in the fridge, changing the water about 5 times. Taste the cod occasionally; it should be rich and saline but not too salty. Cut into small slivers.
• Divide the romaine among four plates. Dot with the olives and beans. Spread the cod over the salad. Sprinkle with olive oil and vinegar. Dollop the romesco sauce over the salad, either one big dollop in the center or many smaller ones around the salad for more of a Jackson Pollock effect. People should mix the salad themselves.