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Salt cod — often known as bacalao (Spanish) or bacalhao (Portuguese) — is beloved all over the world. You will discover it in lots of conventional dishes from the Caribbean to Portugal, the place it’s stated there’s a salt cod recipe for each day of the yr.
Though salt cod (salted cod) is fashionable in recipes for Lent and Easter, you possibly can get pleasure from it year-round.
Its reputation dates again to the sixteenth century when recent cod was preserved in salt for lengthy ocean voyages. In trendy instances, the method of drying and salting cod not solely preserves the fish, it intensifies its flavour.
So, if you happen to’ve seen a slab of dried fish in your grocery store and puzzled what you could possibly make with it, you’ll discover a number of inspiration on this assortment of salt cod recipes from all over the world.
🌟 Professional Tip: As a result of dried salt cod must be rehydrated, it does take some pre-planning. If you happen to’ve by no means cooked with salt cod, scroll right down to the top of the recipes for directions on learn how to put together it for cooking.
This assortment was initially printed in 2019 however was expanded with new salt cod recipes and directions in 2025!
1. Basque Bacalao a la Vizcaína by A Style for Journey
Bacalao a la Vizcaina is a scrumptious Spanish salt cod stew that hails from the Basque area of Spain. It’s additionally fashionable in conventional Guatemalan delicacies and in lots of components of Mexico.
Though it’s most frequently ready for Lent and on Christmas Eve, you possibly can get pleasure from its scrumptious mixture of savoury spices, tomatoes, olives and potatoes any time of yr.
2. Brazilian Baked Cod in Cheese Sauce (Bacalhau Quatro Queijos) by Simple and Delish
This quick and simple Baked Cod in Cheese Sauce or bacalhau quatro queijos is a 30-minute dish produced from cod fish fillets smothered in a creamy cheese sauce. It’s topped with a vibrant vegetable salsa for a splash of color!
3. Caribbean Saltfish Fried Rice by That Woman Cooks Wholesome
Kiss goodbye to boring fried rice and say hey to this Caribbean Saltfish Fried Rice. Salted cod items seasoned and cooked in a medley of brown rice and greens.
4. Italian Salt Cod (Baccalà) and Porcini Tagliatelle by the Pasta Venture
This traditional tagliatelle with baccalà and porcini recipe hails from Abruzzo, Central Italy, bringing collectively the fragile salt cod and earthy porcini mushrooms in a dish that’s each comforting and refined.
Infused with fragrant cloves, zesty lemon, heat nutmeg, and a splash of white wine, each chunk is layered with depth and richness. ✨
5. Fanesca – Ecuadorian Soup
For a satisfying meal that includes salt cod do this recipe for fanesca soup from Ecuador. It’s historically made throughout Lent to capitalize on an abundance of spring greens and salt cod.
With rice, beans and greens, this Ecuadorian soup is a hearty filling soup that may function a meal by itself!
6. Greek Bakaliaros – Beer Battered Cod by Kopiaste
Scrumptious bakaliaros – cod in batter – “μπακαλιάρος” in Greek is a conventional meals loved on March twenty fifth throughout Lent.
It’s made with salted cod, fried in a beer batter, and infrequently served with a skordalia dip. You gained’t have the ability to withstand consuming multiple of those tasty bites!
7. Catalan Salt Cod Salad – Esqueixada de Bacalao
This refreshing appetizer salad Esqueixada de Bacalao is likely one of the most fashionable tapas dishes in Barcelona and all through the Catalonia area of Spain.
Only one chunk of this salad made with delicate salted cod, recent tomato, onion, peppers, Spanish olive oil and black olives, and also you’ll be transported to sunny Barcelona.
Excessive in protein and low in saturated fat, it’s the right instance of what to eat on the Mediterranean Weight loss program.
8. Italian Baccalà – Battered Salt Cod by Christina’s Cucina
Like fish and chips?
Then you definitely’ll love baccalà, an Italian-style battered salt cod recipe. It includes a very gentle batter which makes it very interesting to youngsters and adults alike!
9. Jamaican Saltfish Fritters by That Woman Cooks Wholesome
This Jamaican saltfish fritters recipe will immediately transport you to the Caribbean. So flavoursome, crispy and more-ish.
They make the right snack or appetizer!
10. Jamaican Cabbage and Saltfish by That Woman Cooks Wholesome
Cabbage and Saltfish is a Caribbean steady that’s tasty but really easy to tug collectively and whip up inside half-hour.
This versatile Jamaican dish options flaked cod fish steamed with onion, garlic, tomatoes and steamed cabbage
11. Norwegian Salt Cod Stew – Bacalao by The Forked Spoon
For a scrumptious northern recipe, this Norwegian Salt Cod Stew, or Bacalao from the Spanish phrase for cod, is made with salt cod, olive oil, stewed tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and potatoes.
It’s a hearty dish excellent for warming up on a cold evening or as a weekend dinner with family and friends.
12. Nova Scotia Fish Muffins by Bacon is Magic
This conventional Nova Scotia recipe for salt cod truffles from Canada is sort of easy, straightforward to make and simple on the price range. It’s additionally very versatile.
Though it historically options salt cod with mashed potatoes, egg, onion and celery (elective), it can be made with leftover salmon, cod or tilapia.
13. Saltfish Souse from Grenada
A well-liked solution to put together saltfish in Trinidad and Grenada is in saltfish souse, a flavourful mixture of salt cod, shredded greens reminiscent of carrot, peppers, onions and scallions, usually loved for breakfast.
Saltfish souse is the right complement to conventional Grenadian meals reminiscent of bakes and provisions.
Get a recipe for saltfish souse from Saveur.
14. Spanish Salt Cod Stuffed Piquillo Peppers by Caroline’s Cooking
These salt cod stuffed piquillo peppers are Spanish consolation meals in tapas kind – the potato and salt cod filling is clean and full of flavour.
They make an amazing appetizer or function a part of a tapas meal.
15. Baccala Mantecato (Italian Whipped Salt Cod Unfold) by Mangia with Michele
Baccalà Mantecato is a creamy, whipped salt cod unfold from Venice, made by emulsifying poached cod with olive oil till irresistibly clean.
Historically served on crispy polenta or crostini, this elegant dish is ideal for gatherings and vacation feasts.
Bonus Recipe: Mexican Veracruz-Type Cod (Bacalao a la Veracruzana) by Muy Bueno
Bacalao a la Veracruzana is a Mexican dish that includes salted cod simmered in tomato sauce with inexperienced olives, capers, garlic, potatoes, bell peppers and pickled banana peppers.
This traditional Veracruz-style recipe blends Spanish and Gulf of Mexico flavours, making a savoury, tangy, and barely spicy dish excellent for particular events reminiscent of Lent. But it surely’s straightforward sufficient to make for Fish Fridays.
Find out how to Use Salt Cod – Buying, Step by Step Preparation and Suggestions
There are just a few keys to success when making salted cod recipes. I’ve made some errors alongside the way in which that I’m sharing with you so that you get it proper the primary time.
For some recipes it’s doable to make use of salt cod that’s been conveniently pre-soaked and able to use. This salted cod (bacalao) comes rigorously desalted and vacuum-sealed to protect its delicate texture and gentle flavour. It saves hours of soaking and rinsing—simply open the bag and use it within the recipe.
Nonetheless, in case your recipe requires items of salted cod, or you possibly can’t discover pre-soaked salt cod, comply with these step-by-step directions to preapre it from dried:
Shopping for Salted Cod
- Soak the salt cod prematurely. It’s greatest to start the method 4 days prematurely.
- Begin your salt cod buying early. The bottom line is selecting salt cod is to buy a chunk of fish that isn’t too skinny. You don’t wish to purchase solely the tail. As an alternative, search for a center piece of the filet. Store early as the best sizes disappear shortly and you could be left with filets of salt cod as giant as yoga mats.
- Storage. Dried salted cod could be saved for as much as 2 months.
Soaking Salted Cod
As a way to put together salt cod for cooking in a recipe, it must be rehydrated and the vast majority of the salt eliminated.. While you’re able to get began with the method of soaking:
- Place the salt cod in an oblong glass Pyrex dish and canopy it with cool water. Use one gallon of water for two kilos (900 grams) of fish.
- Place it within the fridge and permit it to soak within the water for twenty-four hours.
- Drain off the salty water, add extra recent cool water and return to the fridge.
- Repeat this course of each day for two to 4 days however not longer. You shouldn’t plan to take away all of the salt, some salt ought to stay with the intention to protect the scrumptious distinctive bacalao flavour. Style the cod at Day 3 for saltiness. Change the water 4 instances through the soaking interval.
Making ready for Cooking
- Most salt cod has been deboned and had the pores and skin eliminated.
- Nonetheless, even with salt cod that’s been deboned, you might want to examine it rigorously earlier than getting ready as some bones could stay. The bones are straightforward to take away as soon as the salt cod has softened in water.
- When you’ve completed soaking the salt cod, drain it and dry it throughly.
- Use entire or shred it into smaller items in keeping with the recipe.
Storage
- On the subject of storage, soaked bacalao salt fish is like recent fish. It may be refrigerated for as much as two days.
Extra Worldwide Fish and Seafood Recipes to Strive
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