Baccalà Alla Livornese Food

SALT COD WITH TOMATOES AND CAPERS (BACCALà ALLA VESUVIANA)

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine cod with water to cover by 2 inches. Cover and refrigerate, changing water 3 times a day, 1 to 3 days (see cooks' note, below). Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In small bowl, combine capers with water to cover by 1 inch. Cover and refrigerate 1 day, changing water 3 times.
• Drain and rinse capers, then squeeze dry. Drain cod and pat dry, then cut into 4- by 2-inch pieces.
• In heavy 6- to 8-quart pot over moderate heat, heat 3 tablespoons oil until hot but not smoking. Add onion and sauté until softened and golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add red pepper flakes, capers, tomatoes and juice, and salt. Using wooden spoon, gently crush tomatoes. Bring to simmer, then carefully add cod. Add parsley and 1/4 cup mint and gently spoon some of sauce over cod. Simmer, uncovered, until cod is tender and heated through, about 5 minutes.
• Using slotted spatula, transfer cod to serving platter. Remove pot from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Spoon sauce over fish, then sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon mint and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BACCALà ALLA LIVORNESE

Steps:

• 1. Cod should be soaked for 3 days in cold water (keep in the fridge and change water twice a day)prior to using. When making the stew, start by removing the skin, and the bones, from your cod. Cut into large chunks and dust with flour.
• 2. Heat oil in your favorite stewing pot, add garlic clove split in two. When it starts sizzling, add the pieces of cod. Add the rosemary sprigs. Season with pepper (don't add salt at this point as the cod is very salty). Lightly brown fish on both sides. Remove cod and reserve.
• 3. Add the tomatoes, and make sure you scrape off all the bits of fish that stuck to the bottom of the pot and they blend in with the tomatoes. Crush tomatoes with a wooden spoon to obtain a nice sauce, cover and and leave to simmer for 5 min.
• 4. Add the cod, cover and allow to cook for another 5 mins. The cod will "soak up" all the flavor from the sauce! Check sauce for salt (it probably won't be necessary to add any)before serving, and garnish with the chopped parsley. Watch a video of how I prepare this dish by clicking on the "video" icon underneath the picture on this page.

FLORENTINE STYLE BACCALà

Steps:

• PREPARATION:.
• Heat the oil in a pan and add the garlic. When it's lightly browned, add the fish, shifting it about gently lest it stick. When one side's browned, turn it gently and brown the other. Add a pinch of freshly ground pepper (salt shouldn't be necessary) and sprinkle with a little bit of wine.
• When the wine has evaporated, add the tomatoes and continue cooking for a few minutes, till the sauce is cooked; sprinkle with the minced parsley and serve hot. Serves four.
• Baccalà alla fiorentina is often served with plain boiled chick peas.
• If you add a shredded hot pepper to the tomato sauce, you will have baccalà alla Livornese.