As you might remember from my post, simply called salt cod, I’ve been on a mission to find this fish for years. I have spotted it on a few websites, but the shipping was always horrendous, so I never followed through with an online order.
My daughter who lives in London assured me that she could purchase salt cod at a Portuguese Market. So just before coming home for a summer visit a couple years ago, she did just that. I repeat the word, SUMMER. I picked her up at the airport in the city. Then we went out to lunch and did some shopping…. all the while forgetting about the salt cod in her suitcase. Well, that was a lesson learned. Do not ever leave salt cod in a hot car!
But now I finally have my hands on some salt cod after years of searching, thanks to Whole Foods. This recipe is an attempt to duplicate a dish my mother made years ago. I’m not sure about the specifics of it, but I think I remembered all of the major components. So here’s my version:
Salt Cod and Poached Egg with White Sauce and Capers
Serves 4
1/2 stick butter
1 onion, sliced
3 small red potatoes, cut into 3/4″ cubes
10 – 12 ounces pre-soaked salt cod, cut into pieces
1/4 cup half and half
4 poached eggs
White sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 3/4 cups half and half
Capers
Heat the butter in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the onion and potatoes, and sauté them for about 10 minutes. They should be nicely caramelized.
Push the pieces of cod under the potatoes and onions, then pour the half and half over the top. Make sure the mixture is boiling, then cover the skillet and turn down the heat to the lowest position. Cook for 20 minutes without disturbing it.
After cooking, the mixture will look like this:
To make the white sauce, melt 1/2 stick butter in a pan over medium heat. When it has completely melted, add the flour and whisk them both together well. Then pour in the half and half, whisking all the while, and continue mixing until it thickens. See white sauce if you’ve never made one.
f you like, season the sauce with black or white pepper, but don’t add salt. Remove from the stove but leave the whisk in the white sauce.
To prepare the individual servings, divide the salt cod and potato mixture between four bowls and gently add the poached egg. Give the white sauce a whisk, add a generous amount, then top with some capers.
Visually enticing, but can’t say I would eat fish at breakfast time.
Fortunately there are no rules!
Agree – a chacun son gout!
I would so eat this! Thank you for the recipe.
Thanks!
My husband is a fisherman…I can’t wait to share this post with him. Thanks for sharing. BTW…your blog header of the girl holding the wine glass…MAJOR love for this♥
A friend of my daughter designed that for some note cards for me years ago. She graciously gave me the artwork when I started my blog! She’s very talented!
Mimi, what a generous gift she gave to you for your blog!
I know. I still have the little black dog, too!
Sent from my iPad
Never thought of this for breakfast, but why not? Looks good!
Thanks! I think! It’s not that fishy!
OMG…Baccalà for breakfast?? incredible…but it “sounds” delicious….
It really is!!!
I know exactly how that cod would have smelled iafter being in a hot car. This is a delicious take on bacalhau, never had it for breakfast before, not even in Portugal! Thanks, Tracey
Yeah… the salt doesn’t keep the cod from getting hot and rotting!!!
It’s relatively easy to find salt cod (bacala) here and we traditionally serve it on Christmas Eve, although I’ll serve it at other times, as well. Never would think of it as a breakfast food but, then again, why not? Your dish sure looks tasty.
Oh you’re so lucky. But I know you have a lot of ethnic markets there… Lucky!
What a deliciously original brekkie idea – hot and tasty :D
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you!
Looks lovely! I have fish for breakfast whenever I can (weekends normally), especially smoked fish. I’ll give the salt cod a try if I can find it round here….
Smoked salmon and eggs is my favorite, bit this is a close second…
I was scrolling through my “reader” and, for a minute, thought it was a picture of a dessert topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips. I guess I still had brownies on my mind. :)
Regardless, this recipe looks so good!
Darn those brownies!!!