Baccala Mantecato
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Venetian
Serves: 25 slices
Ingredients
  • 1 pound of dried salted cod, baccala
  • 1 russet potato, about 6 to 8 ounces, with skin on & scrubbed well
  • 1 quart of whole milk
  • 1 small onion, left whole
  • 1 celery stalk, cut into 3 or 4 pieces
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ to ¾ cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground white pepper
  • Long loaf of Italian bread
  • Olive oil for frying
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled
  • ½ cup freshly chopped Italian parsley leaves
Instructions
  1. Four days before you would like to prepare the Baccala Mantecato, remove the baccala from any packaging and rinse well with cold water. Place in a glass or ceramic container, large enough to hold the baccala with an ample amount of fresh cold water. Refrigerate, changing the water twice a day for 4 days. When changing the water, rinse the baccala well before refilling the container with fresh water.
  2. Drain the baccala and examine for bones or skin. Remove the bones with a kitchen tweezer and peel away the skin, discard. Fill a medium sized saucepan with the onion, celery, bay leaf, 1 clove of garlic, and the cod. Pour the milk over the cod and add enough fresh water to cover the fish completely. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the cod can be easily pierced with a fork. The cod should be tender, but not completely falling to pieces. Remove the cod using a slotted spoon to a place; reserve the cooking liquid.
  3. At the same time place the potato into a pot of cold water and bring to a boil over medium/high heat, reduce the heat to a strong simmer. Cook until the potato is fork tender, remove to a plate to cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, peel the potato and mash gently using a fork.
  4. Take two of the cloves of garlic and about a tablespoon of freshly ground white pepper and mash into a smooth paste with either a mortal & pestle or the tines of a small fork; reserve.
  5. Place the warm baccala in the work bowl of a standing mixer along with the mashed garlic. Using the paddle attachment on medium speed, break up the cod. Once the cod seems to be uniformly broken, it may seem somewhat stringy, begin to drizzle in the olive oil while the mixer is running. Continue to run the mixer while dribbling in the olive oil, the amount of olive oil will depend upon the consistency of the fish. The mixture should start to appear emulsified. Add the coarsely mashed russet potato, combine thoroughly. Begin to add some of the reserved poaching liquid, about ¼ cup at a time, being careful and not adding it too quickly. To achieve a creamy consistency, you will need to add at least 1/ 2 cup of the poaching liquid and possibly up to 1 cup; do so carefully as the liquid may be quite salty. Beat on medium high speed until a smooth spread has been formed. Taste for seasoning and add additional white pepper and perhaps some salt. Set aside.
  6. Slice the bread on the diagonal into ¾ inch slices. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, once the oil is hot place the bread slices into the oil watching carefully. Turn when golden to toast the opposite side, remove to a paper towel lined plate. Pierce the garlic clove with a fork and gently rub the fried bread slices with the garlic on the side in which the baccala will be spread.
  7. Spread some of the Baccala Mantecato over the fried bread and garnish with some chopped parsley.
Recipe by LaBellaSorella at http://labellasorella.com/2016/12/baccala-mantecato-creamed-codfish/