Bacalao Fritters Food

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.

BACALAITOS - FRIED CODFISH FRITTERS

Steps:

• Soak codfish in cold water overnight in the refrigerator.(Change the water at least 3 times ~ have also heard that it is good when soaked in milk).
• Drain, rinse with cold water several times.
• In a saucepan, cover codfish with water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Cool, remove skin and bones.
• Shred the fish.
• In a bowl make a batter by whisking together the flour, baking powder, adobo and water.
• When smooth, mix in garlic, cilantro and shredded fish.
• Check for seasoning, if necessary add some more pepper or the adobo with pepper.
• In a skillet, heat 1/4" of oil on medium heat.
• Drop the batter by spoonsful into hot oil and cook until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towel.
• Enjoy!

BACALAO FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover the bacalao with cold water by several inches. Soak, refrigerated, for 24 hours, changing the water every 6 to 8 hours. Drain for the last time and pat dry with paper towels. Use your hands to shred the bacalao finely into a large, clean bowl.
• In a separate small bowl, combine the beer with 1/2 cup of water. Whisk in the flour until no lumps remain. Stir mixture into the shredded bacalao until well combined.
• Heat the corn oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, working in batches, use a spoon to mold the fish into flattened balls about 2 inches in diameter. Carefully slip them into the oil (being careful not to overcrowd the pan). Cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm with garlic-walnut sauce (see recipe).

SALT COD FRITTERS: PASTEIS DE BACALHAU

Steps:

• Starting a day ahead, soak the dried cod in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, changing the water several times to remove the majority of the salt. Drain the cod, rinse, and put it in a large pot. Add the milk and enough water to cover by 1-inch; cooking the cod in milk keeps it really moist. Simmer gently over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cod is tender and pliable. Drain and rinse well, then flake the cod into a bowl with your hands, removing any little bits of skin and bone.
• While the cod is cooking, pour 1-inch of water in a large pot fitted with a steamer insert. Add the potatoes and simmer on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes until very tender. Drain the potatoes, peel off the skins, and mash them well with a potato masher or pass them through a ricer or sieve.
• Add the cod to the potatoes, along with the onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and eggs. Beat the mixture firmly with a wooden spoon so that it well combined and firm ¿ a spoon should stand up in it. (If you find it too dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk.) Season with a pinch of pepper and taste for salt - you may not need to add any, as the cod itself retains enough saltiness, in spite of being soaked and boiled. With lightly moistened hands or using 2 tablespoons, shape the cod mixture into egg-shaped balls ¿ you should get about 25. (The cod balls can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking or frozen in a container.)
• Heat 3-inches of oil in a deep heavy skillet or pot to 370 degrees F. Add a few of the cod balls at a time to the hot oil, turning them 3 or 4 times to get nicely browned all over. Carefully lift the cod fritters out of the pan with a slotted spoon and place on a platter lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat. Serve hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges.

BACALAITOS (CODFISH FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Drain salted cod. Boil fish in 3 cups of the water and the milk until tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove cooked fish from liquid, shred and set aside to cool. Make a batter with the flour, baking powder and remaining water. Add cod, onions, peppers, garlic and cilantro. Deep fry spoonfuls of the batter in oil heated to 350 degrees until golden.

BACALAO

Steps:

• Soak the cod overnight in cold water, changing the water a couple of times.
• Remove the fish from the water and clean away any bone or skin.
• In a small saucepan put in the cleaned fish, chopped onion, garlic, celery, bay leaf and white wine, and cover with cold water.
• Bring the saucepan to a boil and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
• In a separate pan, place the potato and cover with cold water, simmer until the potato is soft, and drain placing through a potato ricer or mash them lightly.
• Heat the cream together with the butter in a separate pan until the butter has melted.
• Remove the fish from the liquid and place it in a small food processor.
• Add the cream and melted butter to the food processor and pulse lightly.
• Combine the mixture in the food processor with the potato, add the truffle oil and mix well using a rubber spatula or spoon.
• Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. (Do not mix the potato together with the fish using the food processor or the mixture will become starchy.).
• At ZuZu, Bacalao is served in a clay baking dish after running it under the broiler to brown it slightly.