Bolinho De Bacalhau Salt Cod Fritters Recipes

BOLINHO DE BACALHAU (SALT-COD FRITTERS)

Steps:

• The day before cooking, prepare the salt cod by rinsing under cold water. Place the fillets in a bowl and fill with cold water. Refrigerate, changing water occasionally, about 24 hours. The fish should be soft when ready.
• Place the potatoes in a pot and fill with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are soft. Drain, mash and set aside.
• Drain the fillets and shred into a bowl. Add the potatoes, onion, egg yolks, garlic, parsley and olive oil. Work the mixture until it is blended. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour oil into a saucepan about 3 inches deep. Place over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, shape the fish mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Test the oil by dropping in a little batter; if it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready. Carefully drop a few balls in; do not crowd. Fry until golden, about 2 minutes, then remove and drain. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve hot.

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.

PORTUGUESE-STYLE SALT COD FRITTERS WITH LEMON AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Starting a day ahead, soak the dried cod in cold water for 18 to 24 hours, changing the water several times to remove the majority of the salt. Drain the cod, rinse, and put it in a large pot. Add the milk, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and enough water to cover the cod by 1 inch; cooking the cod in milk keeps it very moist. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, or until the cod is tender and pliable. Drain (discard the milk) and rinse the fish well, then flake it into a bowl, removing any little bits of skin and bone.
• While the cod is cooking, put the potatoes in a pot with water to cover, bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain the potatoes, peel, and mash them well into a bowl with a potato masher, or pass them through a ricer or sieve.
• Add the cod to the bowl with the potatoes, along with the onion, minced garlic, parsley, cilantro, and eggs. Beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until it's really well combined and stiff; a spoon should stand up in it. (if it's too dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk.) Season with a pinch of pepper and taste for salt - you probably won't need to add any, as the cod itself is still salty in spit of having been soaked and boiled.
• With lightly moistened hands or using two tablespoons, shape the cod mixture into egg-shaped balls - you should get about 25. (The cod balls can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day before cooking, or frozen in a tightly covered container for several weeks.)
• Heat about 1 inch of oil in a deep, heavy skillet or pot to 370°F on a deep-fry thermometer. Add a few of the fritters to the oil and cook, turning them three or four times to get them nicely browned all over. Carefully lift them our of the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on a platter lined with paper towels. Keep going to cook all of the fritters. Taste one and, if needed, sprinkle with salt while the fritters are still hot. Serve hot or at room temperature with a pile of olives and lemon wedges.