I know you’re probably tired of looking for different lent recipes, let alone healthy ones! I know……
I’ve decided to share one of my mom’s favorite recipes, Bacalhau Ao Ze do Pipo, a traditional Portuguese recipe, with a twist!
I know you will love it so much, you will create your own!
First let’s talk about Bacalao, which a lot of my friends haven’t heard of … It’s cod fish, preserved in sea salt. When the Portuguese came to Brazil, fish and seafood were a huge part of their diet, so salted cod was the only way they would preserve the fish to be eaten on the ship and hoping to have it later imported to the new world, Brazil!
Well, there’s no way you can eat Bacalao as is, meaning, the way they sell it in stores, so there are a couple ways to turn it into the most delicious ingredients for baked dishes, pot pies, stews, empanadas, the sky is the limit!
Best Way To Remove Salt From Bacalao
- My favorite way is to place it in a glass bowl early in the AM and immerse it in water, changing it 3 or four times, depending on how much salt you like in your food.
- My mom used to boil it twice, to remove the salt, but I prefer the soft texture, so I won’t cook it until it’s ready to go on my dish.
- Another way is how my grandma used to do, she would immerse it in milk, which removes the salt, you would only need to do it once, overnight, again, depending on your tastebuds and how much or little you love salt.
After you get the salt out of the way, that’s when the magic begins!
Wait, I know you are asking, where do I find bacalao? It is found where the grocery stores have the fish, not frozen section. I shop at three grocery stores, all of them have the bacalao.
Bacalao Ao Ze Do Pipo
The traditional recipe calls for mashed potatoes, I have decide to use yucca instead, since I am not eating starchy vegetables. Feel free to use potatoes, if you have no dietary restriction.
Great recipe for Lent season. Note that preparation is needed to remove the salt from the fish!
Best Ways To Remove Salt From Bacalao
My favorite way is to place it in a glass bowl early in the AM and immerse it in water, changing it 3 or four times, depending on how much salt you like in your food.
My mom used to boil it twice, to remove the salt, but I prefer the soft texture, so I won't cook it until it's ready to go on my dish.
Another way is how my grandma used to do, she would immerse it in milk, which removes the salt, you would only need to do it once, overnight, again, depending on your tastebuds and how much or little you love salt.
- 1 pound of salted cod called bacalao
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 tbsp of EVOO
- 1/2 cup of olives black or green
- 2 pounds of yucca 1 package frozen or fresh
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 hard boiled eggs sliced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
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Preheat the oven at 375F
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Mix unsalted cod with diced onions and olives and place it in a glass dish and bake it for 15 minutes and reserve.
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Cook the yucca in boiling water until it is soft.
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Remove the water and use a mixer to mix the yucca, milk, salt, pepper until you have the mashed potato consistency and reserve it.
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Place the Mixture on top of the baked cod and bake it until golden or until you see the cod boiling in the oven, you don't want to burn it. Bake it for approximately 20 minutes.
Step By Step
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
For Mashed Yucca Step by Step recipe, check it out here.
Step 4
Step 4
Enjoy!
Can’t wait to hear what you think about the recipe! Will be sharing another delicious bacalao recipe next week, stay tuned! As usual, give us a Trendy Shout!
Interesting. We’re trying to expose the kids to more and more food from other cultures, this looks enough outside of their comfort zone to be really worthwhile.
Ohhhh yum! This look so good! I love yucca, but have never cooked with it. It’s time!
I’ve never heard of bacalao but am always looking for great new fish recipes. Fish is something I’ve been trying to experiment more with in the kitchen.
I have heard of Bacalao because my grandfather is Portuguese, but I have NEVER had it. I am glad you walked me through the steps because I am curious to try it!
I’m not a fan of Bacalao (or any other seafood) but my husband loves it. His grandma used to make Bacalao all the time. I would love to make it for him one day but truly never knew how. This will come in handy and I’ll give it a try – for him! Thanks! Pinned 🙂
Thi s sounds so good! I’ve never heard of this meal before until this post. Would love to try it!
I have never heard of this before, this is a new recipe for me to try! We love trying new things and always get in a rut of eating the same foods over and over. So finding new ideas is great.
I’ve never heard of this before. It does sound tasty. I’ll have to give it a try.
Great recipe. In my country we eat bacalao for lent and around Christmas.
This looks interesting. I’ve never had anything like this before. I’d love to give it a try too!
This looks really delicious and very easy to make. I am going to have to give this a try.
I have never tried Bacalao before. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this weekend. It looks delicious.
I haven’t had Bacalao in years. I’ll have to pick some up to try this recipe.
I have never heard of this before, but it looks and sounds pretty good! I think I will have to add it on my menu. Cod is a favorite fish
Ooh Bacalao is delicious. I have yet to try frying it. I usually soak it and then boil it and make it in sauce. Mayeb I will try this recipe. Sounds good.
I love trying new things, I’m very salt sensitive so I’d have to do a lot of soaking. I know I spend more time rinsing sauerkraut than the average person! Does it come in a jar?
Ah I didn’t know about bacaloa. I guess it would take a few different methods to figure out what your preferences are for it. This is a an awesome recipe that uses it!
We always enjoy eating plenty of fresh, wild caught fish. Although I am familiar with cod, this is the first I’m hearing of bacalao, but I plan to keep an eye out for it.
I have never heard of this dish! I need to check out more international cooking, its obvious that I have a lot to learn!
My husband would like this dish. He grew up in a town that had a very high Portuguese population, I bet he’s had it before.
I have never tried this before, but it looks really good! I will have to give this one a try!
I’ve never tried Bacalao, but this sounds like an interesting dish! I’d like to give it a try. It seems relatively simple to make too.
This recipe looks right up my husband’s alley! Its one of those that doesn’t look as good as it tastes I bet!
You know, we normally give stuff up for lent but have never added extra fish dishes to our menu. This dish looks delicious!
Oh wow I have never heard of this before. It sounds yummy! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Growing up, Fridays in Lent meant either pancakes for dinner or pizza. Nice to have a more grown-up option when you’re not eating meat.
I had never heard of Bacalao until this post! Thanks for sharing because I’m always looking for new recipes to create on Meatless Fridays during Lent.
I have never heard of this dish but it sounds delicious. I will over for dinner one night.
I love Bacalao. I have yet to make it fried though. Sounds delicious.