We’re in the middle of Lent so I know many Italians and other Catholics celebrating the Easter season are enjoying lots of seafood on Fridays.
I have two favorite seafood types: swordfish, which I really enjoy but limit eating due to the mercury content, and cod. Cod, known as baccala’ in Italian, is a white fish that is tender, meaty and very versatile. The flavor by itself is very subtle, and, for lack of a better word, isn’t very fishy at all. It absorbs flavors wonderfully, is delicate and not at all heavy. I prefer using the loin portion whenever possible. It’s thicker, meatier and doesn’t flake as easily as the tail end piece. Like most seafood, cod cooks very quickly, making it a great option for week-night dinners. One way I really enjoy it is eating it simply fried, because we know everything tastes better fried! Just dredge in some semolina flour, fry it up and enjoy it with a squirt of fresh lemon. It’s a great appetizer, or light first course next to a green salad. But one more substantial way of eating it is by preparing it the Neapolitan way. Saucy, and little salty, and all too delicious, preparing it this way will serve as a full meal in itself. A few words of advice on cooking this dish: Be judicious with the added salt, both the capers and olives add lots of sodium so you may end up not needing extra salt. And be gentle when cooking this fish, keep the heat on medium and when stirring, use a light hand with the wooden spoon. Cod is delicate and falls apart easily. Baccala’ alla Napolitana Neopolitan-style cod Serves 4 – 6 Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes Hot pepper flakes, amount to taste 1 teaspoon dry oregano 1 cup plain water 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed ½ cup black olives, rinsed, pitted and halved 1 ½ lbs cod loins, cut into 4 – 5 inch servings Salt to taste – see note above Instructions
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Hi there, thanks for visiting my blog! Here you will find recipes, short stories, tales, rants and whatever else is on my mind with regards to food, Italy, travel and along those lines. Drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you! Archives
December 2021
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