If your looking for a lite hor d'oeuvre or are on a diet, this recipe is not for you. =) This is another one of my favorite Portuguese hor d'oeuvre. This is a very common starter throughout all of Portugal and is by far the one that is mostly requested at restaurants.
When I was younger my mother would always make this and shrimp cakes around the Holidays. You can't have a holiday party without having so yummy starter to go with your favorite cocktail.
This takes awhile to make so I recommended making bigger batches. The recipe below is enough for 6 to 8 servings.
FYI! If you make a large batch you do not have to fry them all, you can place formed fitters on cookie sheet place in freezer allow to firm. Remove them from cookie sheet place in bags in freezer to use at a later date. It is important to allow frozen fritters to come to room temp before placing in fryer.
WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED:
1/2 pound of dried salted cod (make sure to soak for 24 hours changing the water at least 2 times)
2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
1 small yellow onion minced
1 large garlic clove mined
4 teaspoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of minced parsley (I like to use more because I love the color and taste of parsley in the fritter)
1 egg
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper
Vegetable oil for deep frying.
WHAT TO DO:
In a stock pot bring cod and potatoes to a boil until both are fork tender.
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil.
Drain cod and potatoes and set aside to allow everything to cool.
Once cod is cool, Use a fork to part fish a part. (Make sure to remove all bones.)
Take potatoes and put through a food mill (you can also use a potato masher).
Take cod and potatoes and combine together add egg, ground pepper, parsley, and cayenne. Mix together until it forms a paste like mixture.
Heat deep fryer to 325 and no higher or else your fritter are going to exploded.
Take mixture and shaped into "dumping shape using 2 spoons or if you like you may also shape into ball with your hands.
Once oil is hot add cod balls into oil.
Do not over crowd fryer. Fritters should flip on own in oil.
Fry until golden brown (about5 Minutes).
Serve hot or at room temp.
Mmmmm....I Love these but have never made them myself. Where do you think I can find salted cod??
ReplyDeleteHave you done a Google search to see if you have any Portuguese markets around you? If not I would check out your local supermarket some major chains (like Stop and Shop) carry it. If not I would stock up when you go to visit your family.
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