Best Portuguese Bacalhau Recipes

BACALHAU PORTUGUESE AO FORNO (SALT COD WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES)

Steps:

• Soak cod in a large bowl of water in the refrigerator for 24 hours, changing soaking water 4 times to remove excess salt.
• Drain water off cod; add lemon juice and salt. Let marinate in the refrigerator, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Arrange layers of cod, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in a large baking dish. Place bay leaves on top. Drizzle olive oil over baking dish and season with salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and cod flakes easily with a fork, about 30 minutes. Add olives and parsley and continue baking until heated through, about 3 minutes more.

PORTUGUESE BACALHAU à BRáS (SALT COD AND POTATOES)

Steps:

• Note: Soak Cod fish in water overnight.
• Next day change water and place Cod in a pot with enough water to cover it. Boil for about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool. Once Cod has cooled, flake it.
• Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to non stick pan and fry potatoes in batches each time using another tbsp of olive oil if necessary.
• Place paper towel on the bottom of a glass dish safe for the oven and keep fries warm in the oven.
• Once you are done with the potatoes add 1 tbsp of olive oil to pan and add the bay leaf. Simmer for about 2-3 minutes. remove bay leafs from pan (discard).
• add garlic, onions (pepper flakes if using) to the pan and saute until onions begin to soften.
• add the parsley and let saute a bit.
• add flaked Cod and keep tossing until Cod gets warm.
• add the eggs, keep stirring so not to let the eggs stick to pan. this mixture will start to look like scrambled eggs.
• Once you are done with your Cod and eggs mixture.
• Combine fries with Cod mixture.
• add olives if using.
• taste, add salt and black pepper if needed.
• when serving squeeze lemon juice from a slice of lemon ontop.
• add dash of tabsco sauce if using.
• Enjoy.

BOLINOS DE BACALHAU (PORTUGUESE COD CAKES)

Steps:

• A day or two before making the fish cakes, put the cod to soak in cold water. Change the water four or five times during this period.
• Drain the cod and rinse it well under cold running water. Cover with fresh water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until cod is soft.
• While the cod is simmering, cook the potatoes in their skins, then peel and mash with butter and milk.
• When the cod is ready, drain it thoroughly and remove the skin and bones. Shred the cod with a couple of forks. Add the creamed potatoes, parsley, mint, pepper, egg yolks, and the port. Mix thoroughly. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the cod mixture.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer or heavy deep pot to 375 degrees F.
• Take a lump of the mixture, about the size of a small egg, and mold it in your hand to make a torpedo shape. Deep fry, in small batches, until crisp and brown all over. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

BACALHAU A GOMES DE SA (PORTUGUESE SALTED COD CASSEROLE)

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 sauté 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. Sauté until slightly golden, about 6 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• 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, paprika and parsley.
• Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

BAKED COD FISH PORTUGUESE STYLE (BACALHAU)

Steps:

• Arrange in an earthen baking dish the cod fish, layered with tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes, sliced onion, boiled eggs, green olives. Dribble over the top olive oil and a few drops of hot sauce. Last layer should be cod fish. Put it in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. When cod fish on top is browned, it should be ready to serve. Serve in the baking dish. NOTE: Bacalhau is actually dried cod fish, and when the Brazilians and Portugueses prepare the dish above, they use the salted dried cod fish and go to a lot of trouble soaking and preparing the fish described on the Seafood & Fish chapter. This "modern" version is much easier.

BACALHAU - PORTUGUESE CODFISH CAKES

Steps:

• Rinse the cod several times in cold water. Place it in a large stainless steel bowl and soak for 18-24 hours in plenty of cold water.
• Change the water several times.
• Drain the cod and place it in a saucepan and just cover it with fresh water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
• Drain, debone, and flake the cod.
• In a large bowl, beat together the olive oil and bread crumbs.
• Mix very well and then add the cod and the remaining ingredients, except the eggs.
• Mix until well blended and then form into 6 patties, 1/2" by 3 1/2".
• Pan fry in a little olive oil until golden brown on both sides.
• Keep warm in the oven while you poach the eggs.
• Serve each fish cake topped with a poached egg.