Portugal is known for their pastries, they make a "pastel" from basically anything. We already covered pasteis de nata before, so after I tried the famous pastel de bacalhau do casa portuguesa, I decided why not write my opinion in a blogpost.
I had these delicacies before, since it's available almost everywhere. The name translates to codfish cake, which are these delicious fish cakes made with cod, potatoes, onion, butter, and parsley. Portuguese cousin uses it in many recipes, and its popularity is reasoned by historical events.
"As cod was fished in such far away (and cold) waters, it was pickled in salt to withstand the long journey back home. The British Navy provided protection to the Portuguese fishing fleets in exchange for salt, an extremely valuable asset at the time, and that Portugal produced in large quantities."
"Portugal is most famous for eating cod. It is considered a delicacy and an important part of the country's cuisine. The bacalhau is the most preferred type of cod, and in dried and salted form."
I passed Casa Portuguesa a couple of times before and I was always intrigued by the posters and the bright interior.
Today, I finally decided to go in and I was surprised because I didn't expect they would only sell one type of food, at least that's what I saw on the counters. I decided to go for a takeaway although the interior was fabulous.
In my opinion, it was delicious, the cheese twist was special, and it was really nice that it felt like it just got out of the oven. Compared to other places I tried it, you can taste the quality difference, so the price difference is reasonable.
Here is a recipe that I found on https://easyportugueserecipes.com for those who want to try these delicacies but they are not visiting Portugal any near in the future.
Ingredients: 2 cups milk 4 potatoes, chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound salted cod (If you can’t find this locally, you can always buy some easily here on Amazon) 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped 2 eggs Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying 2 lemons sliced thinly 1/2 cup black olives for garnish
Directions: 1) Soak the dried cod in cold water for a day, changing the water 3-4 times. 2) Drain the cod, rinse, and put it in a large pot. Add the milk and enough water to cover an inch. 3) Simmer gently over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cod is tender. 4) Drain and rinse the cod well, removing any little bits of skin and bone. 5) While the cod is cooking, pour 1-inch of water in a large pot. 6) Add the potatoes and simmer on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes until very tender. 7) Drain the potatoes, peel off the skins, and mash them well with a potato masher. 8) In a bowl, add the cod to the potatoes, along with the onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and eggs. 9) Beat the mixture firmly with a spoon until it is a smooth and even consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 10) Shape the cod mixture into medium sized cylinder shaped pieces. 11) Pour the oil in a deep heavy skillet or pot and place it on high heat. 12) Add the pieces one by one, turning them over until they are golden brown. 13) Once done remove the pieces and place them on a plate with paper towels to dry. 14) Serve while hot with the sliced lemons for extra flavor.
