Bacalhau a' Lucia

my family and I are very blessed to be able to spend some great quality time with our parents & particularly enjoy sharing & learning recipes from our mom.
On this day she decided to get a little creative in making a meal with the old stand-by and always a favorite bacalhau (salt cod).
They say there are over 365 Portuguese recipes for bacalhau, now we have 366.

THE BASICS,
SALT COD, "BACALHAU", soak in waer over-night changing water a few times to draw out the salt & rehydrate the fish. Boil the bacalhau for 15-20 minutes.
POTATOES, peel & boil 2-3 potatoes & make simple mashed potatoes

1 onion, peeled & sliced into circles
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
garlic, (to taste)
salt (to taste)
In a skillet,
caramelize the onions with some olive oil and garlic, add the chopped tomatoes & stew for about 10 minutes.



place the mashed potatoes in a nice traditional clay pot making a crater in the middle and fill with the "tomatada".


In the mean time steam up some broccoli or other vegetable of choice, adding some sliced chourico adds to the flavor.


place the cooked bacalhau around the parameter,
add broccoli to the serving dish, along with some lemon wedges & olives.
Great presentation, looks ready to serve.






Bacalhau with Portuguese mashed potatoes, broccoli with chourico and tomatada (tomatoes & onions)

Traditional Portuguese Christmas Eve Dinner

Bacalhau or "salt cod" has been a major staple & favorite meal throughout Portugal since the 14th century when Portuguese fishermen would make the three month voyage in small ships to fish off the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. There are many variations of Portuguese "Bacalhau" recipes, It is said that there are 365 recipes, one can have a different bacalhau meal every day of the year. It is no wonder that Bacalhau is known to the Portuguese as "meu amigo bacalhau", (my dear friend, bacalhau).

It is no wonder that this simple dish is the favorite to have on this day of celebration.
The bacalhau is boiled along with potatoes and cabbage and boiled eggs. The cabbage in Portugal is a dark green, thick leafed "couve galega" that is grown through-out Portugal and can be seen in almost everyone's backyard. This is the cabbage that would likely be used on Christmas day meal, although any cabbage or broccoli rabe can be used as well.

The bacalhau (salt cod) is bought dried & preserved in salt & must be soaked in water for 24 hrs prior to cooking. The water should be changed several time to extract the salt & rehydrate the fish. Simply boil or steam all the ingredients fish potatoes & cabbage in a large pot for about 20 minutes. The bacalhau should be cut into portions before soaking. In a separate skillet heat 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil & brown sliced onion rings in hot oil. To serve, drain the bacalhau, potatoes, cabbage and eggs, peal the & slice the eggs & pour the olive oil & onion mixture over them, add Portuguese olives & serve with a crusty bread.