Chamorro-style Bacalao (Salt Cod) Stew
After a month’s worth of poultry recipes, I’m ready for a change and heading back to my roots and to the sea.
For some time, I’ve wanted to make this stew that my mother would prepare on occasion. It’s a classic, and very simple, Chamorro recipe for bacalao (a.k.a. salt cod); coconut milk, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Other versions call for peas but always being one to stir the pot I replace the peas with fava beans; they’re in season, they add color, texture, another layer of flavor to the dish, and they like peas, don’t take very long to cook.
Also, most recipes for bacalao call for soaking the salted cod in milk but milk was a rare commodity during the Spanish colonial days, so water was used instead, and still is to this day.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb bacalao or salt cod
- Water (enough to cover the bacalao and soak overnight)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium to large Spanish onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 3 – 6 Roma tomatoes peeled and diced
- 1 13 oz can organic coconut milk
- 2 cups water
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups peeled fava beans
DIRECTIONS
Preparation:
- Soak the bacalao overnight
- After the bacalao has been soaked twice, drain and cut into 1-inch pieces; set aside.
- Peel the Roma tomatoes, dice; set aside.
- Prep the fava beans
- Remove the individual beans from the pods, rinse.
- Remove the edible fava beans from their outer shell (see photo above); set aside.
- Peel the onion, dice; set aside.
- Peel the garlic cloves, finely chop; set aside.
Cooking:
- Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, add the onions, cook until translucent (about 2 minutes)
- Add the garlic, cook until aromatic (about 1 minute)
- Add the diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and water, stir, cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the bacalao pieces, stirring occasionally, cook for 15 minutes.
- Taste for seasoning
- You will def not need salt but you may want a pinch or two of black pepper.
- Add the fava beans, cook for 2 minutes.
- Your Chamorro-style bacalao stew with coconut milk, tomatoes, and fava beans is ready.
- Serve as is or over rice.
ENJOY!
Chamorro-style Bacalao (Salt Cod) Stew
