How to desalt and cook salt cod easily for a flavorful, tender, and savory fish fillet. This incredible cured fish is high in protein and low in fat, making it an excellent choice for any meal!
If you have a very large cod fillet, you can first cut it into 2 or several pieces. It's easiest to do so with scissors.
Carefully rinse the fish with fresh water. Make sure you cover it with water.Repeat this procedure 2-3 times if you feel like there’s too much salt left.
Soak the fish in some more fresh water and keep it in the fridge for 12-24 hours, in an airtight container. Make sure to change the water every few hours.
Cook the Salt Cod
Either cook the whole piece once you've soaked it long enough or take a small piece and boil it and then taste it. If it's too salty, just keep soaking the fish for a few more hours before cooking the whole fish.
Once you've soaked the fish, rinse off any excess salt.
Place the cod in a pot with lots of water. Add a squeeze of lemon, if using.
Bring it to a gentle boil and cook for about 10-12 minutes. Don’t boil it vigorously, though, because the fish could become tough and rubbery.
Skim off any foam that's formed on top.
Once cooked, remove the fish bones using a fork and a spoon.
How to Store
Refrigerate any leftovers. It can be stored in the fridge for about 3 days.When the cooked fish has cooled completely, you can put it in a freezer bag and freeze it for about 2 months. To thaw, just put it in the refrigerator overnight. Once it has thawed, do not refreeze it.
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Notes
How to serve:Once prepared, you can serve it with Buljol salad, which is a delicious Caribbean salad dish! You could also serve it over brown rice or Fluffy Perfect Jasmine Rice. The cooked cod goes great with salads, stews, and for making fritters. You can also fry or bake it into dishes like casseroles, croquettes, potato gratin, etc.Read the blog post for more tips.