Codfish Casserole
Category: Main Dishes
Serves: 6
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Salted Cod (desalted) | 2 kg |
| Potatoes | 450 g |
| Tomato Sauce | 700 g |
| Lemon Zest | 1 |
| Breadcrumbs | 100 g |
| Thyme | 6 sprigs |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | As needed |
| Basil | 6 leaves |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Garlic | 1 clove |
| Salt | As needed |
| Black Pepper | As needed |
| Pink Pepper | As needed |
| White Pepper | As needed |
| Green Pepper | As needed |
Instructions
To prepare the Codfish Casserole, start by making the tomato sauce. Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and gently infuse it with basil leaves. Once the oil is fragrant, add the tomato sauce, and simmer until the flavors have melded together. Remove the garlic clove once the sauce has cooked. Set it aside for later use.
Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly. In a separate bowl, prepare the breadcrumb mixture by adding breadcrumbs and grating the lemon zest into it. Stir in the thyme leaves and mix everything together well, creating a fragrant herbed breadcrumb blend.
Next, grease a baking dish that measures approximately 30×20 cm. Begin by layering the bottom with a thin spread of the tomato sauce you just made. Add a layer of the breadcrumb and herb mixture on top, ensuring it is evenly distributed. Follow with another layer of sauce, then finish off with one last layer of breadcrumbs and sauce.
Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F). Place the dish in the oven and bake for 60 minutes. The casserole should be golden and bubbling when done.
Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow the Codfish Casserole to cool slightly before serving. The final result is a warm, comforting dish with rich, savory layers of cod, tomato sauce, and herbed breadcrumbs.
This recipe combines the delicate flavor of salted cod, the creamy texture of potatoes, and the aromatic blend of basil, thyme, and lemon zest, offering a truly Mediterranean experience that will surely impress at any meal gathering. Enjoy this traditional Italian secondo piatto as a hearty main dish, perfect for family dinners or special occasions!
