Portuguese codfish fritters (Pasteis de bacalhau) - famous appetizer made with dried and salted cod

salt cod

🥗Healthier: fresh cod

💰Cheaper: canned tuna

Fresh cod is lower in sodium and canned tuna is often more affordable.

potatoes

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: mashed potatoes

Sweet potatoes add nutrients and flavor, while mashed potatoes can be used for cost savings.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is often less expensive.

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: panko

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Panko provides a lighter texture, while crushed crackers can be more economical.

Soak the dried and salted cod in cold water for 1 to 2 days, changing the water every 8 hours.

Put the potatoes in cold water and boil on medium heat for about 20 minutes until tender.

Remove the potatoes from the water and let them cool down.

Use a food mill to mash the cooled potatoes.

Put the cod in a pot and boil for about 10 minutes on medium heat until it starts to flake.

Remove the cod from the pot, try to remove excess water, and let it cool down.

Remove the skin and bones from the cod and flake the fish.

Chop the onion and garlic finely.

Chop the parsley finely and set it aside.

In a frying pan, heat olive oil and cook the chopped onion and garlic for about 10 minutes on medium heat.

Add the flaked cod to the pan and cook all together for about 5 minutes.

In a big bowl, mix the cod and onion mixture with the mashed potatoes.

Add eggs one by one to the mixture and mix well.

Finally, add the chopped parsley, pepper, and nutmeg, and mix all ingredients together.

Put vegetable oil in a pan for deep frying and turn on the heat.

Add two tablespoons of olive oil to the mixture and use them to shape the cod mixture into fritters.

Carefully place the fritters into the hot oil and cook for about 3 minutes, turning them occasionally to get golden brown all over.

Remove the cooked fritters and place them on a paper towel to soak up excess oil.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens