I’m inviting you to Portugal today, and my table is a little bow to Portuguese cuisine. We’ve got Portuguese croquettes with potato and cod — but I didn’t fry them (sorry, I really can’t stand deep frying), so they were baked in the oven instead.
Ingredients:
- 300 g salted cod (or fresh cod, if preferred)
- 3 medium potatoes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 egg
- 2–3 tbsp breadcrumbs (plus extra for coating)
- Olive oil spray or a drizzle for baking
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare the cod
- If using salted cod, soak it in cold water for 24 hours, changing the water a few times.
- Boil the fish until tender, then drain and flake into small pieces.
- Cook the potatoes
- Peel and boil until soft. Mash until smooth.
- Make the mixture
- In a pan, sauté onion and garlic in a little olive oil until fragrant.
- In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, flaked cod, onion-garlic mixture, parsley, egg, and breadcrumbs.
- Season with salt and pepper. The mixture should be firm enough to shape into croquettes (add more breadcrumbs if needed).
- Shape the croquettes
- Form small oval or round croquettes. Roll them lightly in breadcrumbs for a crispier finish.
- Bake
- Place croquettes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Spray or drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake at 200°C (390°F) for 20–25 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden and crispy.
- Serve
- Enjoy warm with a side of tomato salad, olives, or a simple garlic aioli.
