Bacalao Salado Salt Cod Salad Food

SALT COD SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse the fish under cold running tap water and remove any skin or fish bones that are visible if necessary.
• Steam the salt cod for 6 to 8 minutes. I used my KitchenAid Cook Processor for that. If you don't have a steamer, you can use a pasta pan. Place the fish in the pasta basket, add some water to the pan, put a lid on it and then place the pan over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes.
• The salt cod should be flakey and cooked through in the end. Remove it from the steamer (or pasta basket) and then tear it into bite-size bits. Transfer the to a large mixing bowl.
• Chop the tomato into 4 bits and deseed it under cold running tap water. Let the tomato drain a bit on a clean kitchen towel and then chop it up finely. Then add the diced tomato to the salt cod in the bowl.
• Stir the fish and tomatoes carefully. Chop the fresh herbs finely and add them as well. Season the salad with a pinch of pepper and salt as well.
• Add the caper berries (or capers) and the lemon juice.
• Drizzle the salad with a good glug of the olive oil.
• Stir the salad gently. Then check the seasoning and add extra pepper, salt or lemon juice to taste if necessary. Place the cod salad in the fridge for another 30 minutes. Serve cold.

BACALAO SALADO (SALT COD SALAD)

Steps:

• 1. Bacalao Preparation: Soak Bacalao in water for 30 minutes. Drain and repeat up to 2 more times, soaking for 2 hours the second time around. Taste a small piece of fish after second soak to check for saltiness. If it is still salty soak another hour in clean water (drain fish and refill water for 3rd soaking.) Taste again. Soak and drain for an hour until you've reached the desired level of saltiness.
• 2. Once rinsing is done and the fish is soft and tastes to your liking, place fish between a couple of clean dish towels. Press out excess water. Place pressed fish in large bowl and debone if needed. Flake or shred with a fork. Set aside.
• 3. Building The Salad: Place prepared salad ingredients (as instructed in the Ingredients section above) into bowl with flaked or shredded fish. (Excluding the garlic, olive oil, shoyu (soy sauce) and lemon juice.)
• 4. In a separate small bowl, whisk together lemon juice or vinegar, olive oil, garlic, shoyu (soy sauce) and freshly cracked black pepper. Pour vinaigrette over salad ingredients and toss to coat well. Taste and adjust accordingly. Serve and enjoy!

BACALAO CON PAPAS (SALT COD WITH POTATOES)

Steps:

• Rinse 1/2 pound salt cod under cold water to remove the outer layer of salt. Tear it into large strips (about 1- to 2-inches wide), place in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for 1 hour, drain the water and tear the cod into large bite-size pieces. Cover again with cold water and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain, cover again with cold water and soak for the final 30 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all the excess water from the cod with your hands; the cod should be very dry before using.
• Heat the oil and butter to a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the bay leaf and oregano and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the onion, garlic, black pepper and half of the parsley. Stir to evenly combine and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat all the ingredients. Continue to stir until the tomato paste begins to caramelize and turn a dark red, almost brown color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook, scraping the caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Next, add the salt cod, stirring to coat the cod completely in the sauce and cook until the cod absorbs most of the sauce, 1 to 2 minutes. Finally, add the potatoes, piquillo peppers, olives and tomato sauce. Stir together, cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer the sauce until the potatoes are fork tender but still hold their shape, about 20 minutes.
• To serve, stir in the lemon juice and taste for salt -- typically all the salt needed in this recipe comes from the salt cod. Plate with cooked white rice or grilled bread and garnish with the remaining chopped parsley.

SALT COD, ONIONS AND POTATOES: BACALHAU A GOMES DE SA

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 lightly golden, about 6 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• 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.

BACCALA SALAD

Steps:

• Soak cod for 2 to 3 days, refrigerated, changing water regularly. In large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil, add cod and cook until fish breaks off easily. Strain and cool. After it cools, remove skin and bones, if there are any, and break into bite size pieces. In medium saute pan heat oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Cool.
• In a bowl, add cod, pour oil and garlic over, add lemon juice, peppers, olives, capers, parsley and salt and pepper, to taste. Place in serving platter and serve at room temperature.

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 (SALT COD) WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Prepare Bacalhau.
• Soak fish in water for at least 24 hours and preferably 48 hours, changing the water 3 to 4 times per day.
• Drain the fish, rinse well and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover.
• Bring to a boil.
• Taste the water; if it is too salty, drain the fish, add fresh water and bring to a boil again.
• Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Drain and let cool.
• Remove any skin and bones and separate the fish into coarse flakes.
• Prepare the stew.
• In a heavy skillet, heat the olive oil and cook the onion slowly until it is golden.
• Stir in the Bacalhau and heat for two minutes.
• Add chickpeas, parsley, vinegar, garlic, piri-piri, salt and pepper and cook for another two minutes or until the mixture is completely warmed through.
• Serve garnished with the hard boiled eggs and olives.