Bacalhau - Portugal's National Dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound of salted cod, soaked in water for 24 hours, changing the water several times
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into thin slices
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon of paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup of white wine
- 1/4 cup of heavy cream
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup of grated cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Drain the cod and flake it into small pieces, removing any bones and skin. Set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the potato slices for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain and mash them with the milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic for about 10 minutes, or until soft and golden. Stir in the paprika, nutmeg, bay leaves, and wine and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaves.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and cheese together. Set aside.
- To assemble the dish, spread half of the mashed potatoes over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cod over the potatoes. Pour half of the onion sauce over the cod. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, cod, and onion sauce. Drizzle the egg mixture over the top and sprinkle with parsley and cilantro.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
- Enjoy your Bacalhau!