The salted dried bacalhau is a staple part of the Portuguese diet, however it is one of the most difficult ingredients for non Portuguese to come to grips with. The best way to introduce bacalhau into your home is to start with a recipe that is simple and has a less salty taste than many of the other dishes and I have found that bacalhau com natas or cod fish in a cream sauce, is about the best dish to introduce bacalhau into your cooking repertoire.
This dish is delicious,creamy and a firm favourite with children making it the best bacalhau recipe to get started with!
Ingredients
- 4 cod steaks
- 8 large potatoes cut into cubes
- flour, butter and milk to create a rue for the sauce
- 2 large onions
- 2 large pots of cream
- grated cheese to top the dish
Method
If you are using the traditional dried cod then you will need to soak it in water for a couple of days, changing the water two or three times before. Unsalted cod can be used for this dish also though if you do not fancy this.
Boil the rinsed cod in water for 10 minutes then allow to cool.
Fry the cubes of potato until they are soft and then also set aside.
Chop and fry the onions until they are soft.
Now make a basic rue for your sauce by melting some butter in a pan then adding flour to create a paste. Let this cook out and then gradually add the cream to the mixture until it is a creamy sauce consistency.
Break the cod into bite sized pieces and remove any skin or bones then layer the cod along the bottom of a cooking dish.
Pour over the fired onions and potatoes and then cover with the creamy sauce before then sprinkling with cheese over the top.
Bake in an oven at 180ºC for around 20 minutes or until the cheese has gone golden on top.
Enjoy!