Fish Cakes Portuguese Style Recipes

CAPTAIN DUARTE'S SALT COD CAKES

Steps:

• Place the salt cod into a bowl and cover with cold water. Refrigerate for 8 hours. Pour off the water and replace with fresh water every 2 hours. After the fish has soaked for 8 hours, rinse in cold water, and cut into 3-inch sections.
• Place the cod and potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are tender and the cod flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Place the potatoes and cod into a mixing bowl. Season with the seafood seasoning, pepper, and parsley; roughly mash with a potato masher. Stir in the eggs and onion until evenly combined. There should still be pieces of cod and potato in the mixture. Form into golf ball-sized pieces, and roll in the flour. Press between your palms to flatten slightly.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the cod cakes in batches until golden and crispy on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

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 BAKED FISH

Steps:

• In a skillet heat the olive oil. Add the onions, leeks, and garlic, and saute over medium heat till transparent (about 5 minutes).
• Add peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings. Cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350.
• In a baking pan pour about 1/3 of the sauce.
• Put the fish fillets on top of the sauce. Top with the sliced green pepper.
• Pour the wine over this and then top with lemon slices.
• Pour the rest of the tomato sauce over all and then top with minced parsley.
• Bake this for about 25 minutes, or until the fish is done and the sauce is bubbly. Serve with pasta or potatoes. This is great!

MARIA'S PORTUGUESE BACALAU

Steps:

• Soak the dried salted cod in cold water for 24 hours, changing the water several times.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the soaked cod, and boil for about 5 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove cod from water, and save water for cooking potatoes. Remove skin and bones from the cod, and flake the meat into pieces using a fork. Set fish aside in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, 1 clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon of parsley, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Pour over the fish, and toss lightly to coat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the potatoes into the fish water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain under cool water, peel and cut into 1/4 inch slices.
• While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and saute until golden and caramelized. Stir one clove of garlic into the onions. Set aside.
• Layer half of the potato slices in the bottom of a greased 8x11 inch baking dish. Cover with half of the cod, then half of the onions. Repeat layers, ending with onion.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Before serving, garnish the top with green and black olives, and hard-cooked eggs. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

PORTUGUESE COD FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Rinse the salt off of the cod fish. Cover cod with cold water and soak for 24 hours, changing water two or three times. Drain off water. In a saucepan, cover cod with cold water; bring just to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until tender. Drain, and when cool enough to handle, remove any skin and bones, then shred.
• In a saucepan, boil the peeled potatoes in salted water with 2 garlic cloves and hot pepper flakes just until tender. Drain and mash.
• In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients until well mixed using a hand mixer on low. Start with using 4 eggs, but if the mixture is too dry, add another egg, one at a time (see picture).
• Heat frying pan and add a bit of oil. Form a small patty and cook on medium heat. When bottom has colour, flip and finish cooking.
• Taste the cake, and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. If the patty doesn't hold together, you may need to add an additional egg.
• Continue making the cakes, stirring the mixture often, adding oil as needed. Drain the cakes on paper towels.
• Cakes can be served hot or at room temperature.
• Note: The pimento paste is available in the international section of a store.

COD FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot of water, bring the water to a boil. Let the potatoes cook until they are almost tender.
• Add the fish to the pot and let the fish and potatoes cook until they are both soft. Drain well and transfer the potatoes and fish to a large mixing bowl.
• Add butter, onion, parsley, and egg to the bowl; mash the mixture together. Mold the mixture into patties.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Fry the patties on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.