When my friend Kankana from Sunshine & Smile asked me to write a guest post for her site I almost jumped out of my seat! Probably you guys do not know this (not even you Kankana), but she has been the first person to comment on my blog! Since then we have exchanged lots of comments on our respective blogs. Besides being a great cook, she also is one of the most talented food photographers I know. She’s always been good, but in the last few weeks she’s gotten even better. If you haven’t visited her site yet, please do so. You will drool looking at all the fantastic food she cooks and you will be captured by her photographic skills. The choice of what to write for her was easy. I know she likes fish and Italian food… so, what’s better than my nonna’s recipe for baccalà fritters? Baccalà (salted cod) is widely used in Italian cooking and this specific recipe is my favourite way of cooking it. Whenever I make it, I think of my grandmother who used to cook it for us. It is a really easy dish to prepare and it is so flavoursome and hearty. You can have it both as a main dish with a simple salad on the side, or as an appetizer. So, Kankana… this is for you! I hope you like it and THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity to be a guest over at your beautiful site!
Ingredients (for 4 persons)
500 gms baccalà fillets
300 gms flour
Water, lukewarm
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 pinch bicarbonate
½ clove garlic, finely chopped
½ tbsp parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Vegetable oil for frying
Start by washing the baccalà fillets. Put them in a bowl and cover them with cold water. Soak for 24 hours, changing the water as often as possible so that the fish rehydrates and it loses the excess salt.
When the baccalà is ready to be cooked, take it out of the water and pat it dry with some kitchen paper. Remove the skin and chop it finely. Keep it aside.
Now prepare the batter. Put the flour, chopped garlic, chopped parsley (optional), extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and bicarbonate in a bowl. Add the lukewarm water little by little while whisking until you get a smooth batter. The batter has to be like a pancake batter in consistency.
Then add the chopped baccalà and mix well.
Put some vegetable oil in a frying pan. When it is hot, ladle spoonfuls of baccalà batter into it and shallow fry them in batches.
When ready, put the fritters on a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb the excess oil. Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon.
Thank you so much again Kankana! Everyone, please pass by her beautiful blog Sunshine & Smile and check out all her delicious recipes and amazing pictures.
Also you can follow Kankana on Twitter, Facebook and Foodbuzz!
As you have already guessed, I am taking a short break from my series of posts dedicated to my Foodbuzz 24×24 Christmas in July event. But don’t worry… I will continue posting all the remaining recipes from the 8th of August onwards.
Manu .. Thank you sweetie so much for doing this. This looks so delicious. (((hugs)))
And i really didn’t know I was the first one to comment on your blog .. and you are my first guest.. how cool is that 🙂 You said such sweet things about me (blush blush!!)
Manu and Kankana, what a fantastic team! I’ll be over at Kankana’s site soon….Manu, I love fish and Italian too. I’m excited to read over at Kankana’s. Great guest post!
Love it! I am a huge fish fan so this recipe is a keeper and will be trying soon, thanks!
These baccala fritters look so good and slightly different from my version, so I really have to try them. I’m sure the pinch of bicarbonate makes a great difference.
Hi Manu, lovely guest post. I’ve only recently discovered Kankana’s blog but already a big fan – heading there now to say hi! Gorgeous fritters from your Nonna. You’ve obviously inherited her cooking talents.
This is another must-try recipe for me.
Hi! manu & kankana ok my word.. what an enticing photo! delicious fitters! I like to read your site, u both r very good cook. Must check out your guest post~ Thanks.
Those look very good. I love all the ingredients in this one.
What a fabulous guest post!! This looks so delicious!! Heading over to Sunshine and Smile now!! 🙂
Those are the lightest bacalao fritters I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous! mmmmmm I can just taste that slightly salty-fried yumminess!
This sounds wonderful. I love baccalà and can imagine how delicious these must be!
Hi Manu, First time here… thru Kankana’s blog…
You have a very beautiful space!
Thank you so much Krithi and welcome here! <3
Congrats to you and Kankana on this awesome post. I loved your pictures and l loved your intro in the post 😀 Congrats again 🙂
Those fritters sound delicious! I never cooked baccala’, but this sounds like a great starter recipe for someone afraid of baccala’!
this fritters look delicious will check out your guest post
Lovely guest post.
Looks delicious!
Oooh! Those look awesome! I’ll have to try that with one of our local fish. Heading over to see your guest post now 🙂 Buzzed!
I am so glad I found you on her blog, because your food is amazing!
Ohh thank you so much Marina! And welcome to Manu’s Menu! <3
Just discovered your beautiful blog! Your recipe made me realize that I did not eat balacca for a long time. I live in HK and my husband is Chinese. Whenever we go to Macao I bring back some balacca but I cook it with onions and potatoes (portuguese style). I will try your way!
Will now read your post on gnocchi with cocoa. I am curious. My grand mother (Italian) would be very surprised to hear that! Ha ha!
Ho Christine! Welcome to Manu’s Menu! I know… cocoa gnocchi are a very unusual recipe… my grandma too would have been quite surprised by it! hehehe 🙂
Beautiful plate of food, Manu! I have never eaten (or even heard of baccala), but it looks and sounds yummy… Thanks for the recipe! Will go visit Sunshine and Smile now 🙂
I love when two great bloggers get together. It’s so fun. Great guest post and wonderful recipe.
Hi, I came over from Kankana’s blog to say I liked your post and I think your step-by-step photos are great! Could I use another type of fish if I don’t find baccala fillets in the shops or would that be a different recipe altogether??
Those fritters look gorgeously-delicious, Manu! They look fresh and perfectly fried. Thank you for sharing another one of your wonderful recipes. Have a great weekend!
~ ray ~
I just made your baccala frittelle and they were absolutely divine. My son and husband gobbled them up. Thanks for the wonderful recipe! I have a few baccala recipes in my repertoire and this is a new favourite.