Sicilian Salt Cod Stew Recipes

SICILIAN SALT COD STEW

Steps:

• Rinse salt cod in a sieve under cold running water for 3 minutes. Place the cod in a 2 1/2-quart souffle dish with a tight-fitting lid. Add 4 cups water. Cover with lid and cook in a 650- to 700-watt oven at 100 for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover and rinse the dish in a sieve under cold running water for 3 minutes. Return the fish to the souffle dish and repeat the cooking and rinsing two more times, for a total of three times.
• Prick each potato several times with the point of a knife. Put a double sheet of paper toweling suitable for microwave use on the bottom of the oven. Place potatoes on paper at opposite ends. Cook at 100 percent power in a 650- to 700-watt microwave oven for 11 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool and peel as remaining cooking is done.
• Combine oil and garlic in a 2 1/2-quart souffle dish. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 2 minutes.
• Remove from oven and stir in tomatoes, olives, white wine, bay leaf, thyme, sugar and pepper. Place pieces of reserved fish in the mixture so that they are covered by the sauce. Cover with lid and cook at 100 percent power for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Add raisins and pine nuts so that they are just under the surface but do not stir them in. Re-cover with lid and cook at 100 percent power for 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Gently stir together. Slice potatoes across, 1/4-inch thick. Divide potatoes among four large wide bowls. Spoon fish stew over potatoes and serve.

SALT COD (BACALHAU, BACALAO, MORUE, BACCALà) STEW

Steps:

• Soak the salt cod in lots of cold water for at least 24 hours, changing the water every 4-6 hours to remove the salt. Salt cod varies in its saltiness, and some may need as much as 48 hours to soak. Do not skimp on the soaking, because I don't know how to remove the salt later in the recipe!
• When you are ready to cook the stew, soften the onion and garlic in the olive oil.
• When soft, add the tinned tomatoes, fresh cherry tomatoes and herbes de provence.
• Drain the salt cod, rinsing well, and squeezing out all the water.
• Add the cod to the saucepan with the tomato mixture, and stir well.
• Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes until the fish is nearly cooked.
• Add the courgettes (zucchini), chilli flakes, fennel seeds, chopped capers and black pepper.
• Turn up the heat and boil until the courgettes (zucchini) are cooked and the liquid has mostly evaporated, leaving a stew -like consistency. This took me about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the shredded basil leaves, then serve the fish stew immediately with mashed potatoes or polenta.