Salt Cod Mousse Food

SALT CODFISH MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the cod in a dish and add cold water to cover. Let stand 12 hours, changing the water often.
• Peel the potatoes and cut into large cubes. Put in a saucepan with water to cover and simmer about 20 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain.
• Meanwhile, drain the cod and transfer it to a large saucepan. Cover with water and add the onions, bay leaf and parsley sprigs. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes or until the fish is cooked and flaky. Drain well, and discard onions and bay leaf. Carefully remove the bones and skin if necessary.
• In another saucepan blend the milk and cream. Warm over low heat. Warm the oil in yet another saucepan.
• Combine the potatoes and garlic in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at low speed. Add the cod and beat at medium-high speed.
• Alternately add the milk mixture and the warm oil until they are all used. Beat in the nutmeg, cayenne and white pepper. Add salt only if needed.
• Scatter chopped truffles over the dish for color and flavor. Serve warm with toasted French bread.

SALT COD MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place half the cod in a food processor with garlic and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Process, stopping machine to stir down sides once or twice, until as smooth as possible. Add remaining cod, and repeat.
• Through feed tube, add small amounts of olive oil alternating with small amounts of cream. Continue until mixture becomes smooth, creamy and light. (You may not need all the oil and cream.) Add pepper, some lemon juice and nutmeg. Blend, and taste; mixture may need salt and lemon juice. (To this point, you can prepare dish several hours ahead, or even a day; cover, and refrigerate until ready to eat.)
• Just before serving, heat brandade very gently in a nonstick saucepan or in a 300-degree oven, covered. Serve with bread, toast or crackers.

HOW TO PREPARE SALT COD

Steps:

• Rinse the salt cod thoroughly under cool running water.
• Place salt cod in a large container of cold water and soak it up to 24 hours prior to preparing the dish, changing the water several times during soaking.
• Rinse the cod again and measure the fillet at the thickest point.
• Place the soaked fish in a saucepan and add cold water to cover, then add the white vinegar, diced carrot, ribs of celery, quartered onion, any spices desired, half a bay leaf, and dried parsley or a few sprigs fresh parsley.
• DON'T add any salt!
• Bring the cold water to boiling then immediately lower the temperature and simmer the cod gently for 10 minutes per inch (remember measuring the thickest point of the fillet?) of thickness.
• When the time is up the cod is now ready to remove the skin and bones, and you can flake it and use it in any recipe calling for cooked cod.
• Note: 1 pound of unprepared salt cod will equal about 2 cups of cooked, flaked fish.

SALT COD CHOWDER

Steps:

• Freshen salt cod by soaking it overnight in cold water to cover.
• Drain, place in a stewing pot, and cover with fresh water.
• Bring to simmer with low heat.
• Check to see if the fish is still too salty - if so, drain, add fresh cold water, and bring to simmer again, and drain.
• Fry salt pork in stewing pot until crisp; remove fried pork scraps and reserve for garnish.
• Cook onion in pork fat until tender.
• Add potatoes, carrots, water, salt, and pepper and cook covered for about ten minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Add corn or hominy, heated milk, and freshened salt cod.
• Bring chowder to a simmering temperature, but do not boil.
• Garnish with the pork scraps.
• Serve hot, with freshly baked home made bread or rolls and butter.

SALT COD IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain the salt cod and pick out any stray bones or pieces of skin, then cut it into chunks. Combine the oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the anchovies and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is lightly golden and the anchovies broken up. Raise the heat to medium high and add the tomatoes along with a little salt and some pepper. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture gets saucy, about 15 minutes.
• Add the capers, olives, pepper flakes, and cod. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and gently, until the cod is hot. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then garnish and serve.
• Fried Salt Cod in Tomato Sauce
• More work, but better: After poaching the salt cod, cut it into chunks. Drain well on paper towels, then dredge in flour and fry on both sides in at least 1/4 inch of hot olive oil. Add to the tomato sauce as directed.