Salt Cod in Garlic Sauce

Name: Salt Cod in Garlic Sauce (Bacalao al Pil-Pil)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 4 (4-by-4–inch) skin-on boneless salt cod filerts (about 1 1/2 lbs.); 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Serves
serves 4

MATT TAYLOR-GROSS

By SAVEUR Editors

Published on May 7, 2007

Make sure to use skin-on salt cod; the natural gelatin in the skin is vital to emulsifying the sauce.

Ingredients

4 (4-by-4–inch) skin-on boneless salt cod filerts (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

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Instructions

Step 1

Put salt cod filets into a large bowl. Cover cod with water, refrigerate, and soak, changing water 6–8 times, for 48–72 hours. Remove cod from water; pat dry.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced garlic; cook, stirring, until garlic is light golden brown, 4–5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic to a plate; set aside.

Step 3

Reduce heat under skillet to very low; let cool for 5 minutes. Add cod filets, skin side up, and cook until just hot, spooning the hot oil over them, 8–10 minutes. Carefully transfer all but a few tablespoons of the oil to a small pot over very low heat. Flip cod filets; arrange toward center of skillet. Allow cod to cook gently until bubbles of gelatin begin to form in oil.

Step 4

Gently rock skillet back and forth every 1–2 minutes while whisking oil in skillet constantly to form an emulsion. As more gelatin forms in skillet, slowly drizzle in reserved oil a few tablespoons at a time, while whisking constantly, to make a smooth sauce, about 20 minutes in all. Garnish with reserved garlic.

Put salt cod filets into a large bowl. Cover cod with water, refrigerate, and soak, changing water 6–8 times, for 48–72 hours. Remove cod from water; pat dry.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced garlic; cook, stirring, until garlic is light golden brown, 4–5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic to a plate; set aside.
Reduce heat under skillet to very low; let cool for 5 minutes. Add cod filets, skin side up, and cook until just hot, spooning the hot oil over them, 8–10 minutes. Carefully transfer all but a few tablespoons of the oil to a small pot over very low heat. Flip cod filets; arrange toward center of skillet. Allow cod to cook gently until bubbles of gelatin begin to form in oil.
Gently rock skillet back and forth every 1–2 minutes while whisking oil in skillet constantly to form an emulsion. As more gelatin forms in skillet, slowly drizzle in reserved oil a few tablespoons at a time, while whisking constantly, to make a smooth sauce, about 20 minutes in all. Garnish with reserved garlic.