To start the week off, we will start with likely the most popular dish served in Portuguese cuisine, Bacalhau com Natas. This dish has more variations than anybody can count, and this version happens to be my favorite way to enjoy this cod fish delight, as it also happens to be the favorite of many Portuguese food lovers around the world. It is made with “natas”, or heavy cream, and can be very simple to make with this easy and traditional recipe.
Ingredients:
500g of Frozen cod fish
2 onions, peeled and sliced thin
1 3/4 cups milk
4 tablespoons Portuguese olive oil
500 g of potatoes, peeled and sliced
3 tablespoons of regular flour
1/4 cups of water
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1/2 tablespoon of pepper
3 tablespoons shredded cheese
1/2 cup of double cream
Directions:
1) Defrost, drain the cod,
2) Remove bones and skin and pull the cod into small shreds, set aside.
3) In a heavy skillet over low heat, saute the onion in olive oil until soft and golden.
4) Stir-fry the potatoes in the oil in a second heavy skillet over low heat about 3 minutes, add the water, turn the heat to its lowest, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes.
5) When the onions are softly golden, mix in the cod and 1/2 cup milk, cover and cook over lowest heat, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.
6) While the cod cooks, prepare a white sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan over moderate heat and blend in the flour, add the remaining milk and heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Blend in the pepper and reserve.
7) When the cod has only 10 minutes more to cook, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. When the cod is done, mix in the potatoes, white sauce, and cream.
8) Transfer to a baking casserole dish and cover it with the shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 15 min. Then lower to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it bake for another 20 to 25 minutes.
9) Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes and then it is ready to serve.