Author Notes
This recipe, from chef Marc Forgione, is a twist on a classic Italian dip, tonnato—traditionally made with tuna, here made with salt cod, also known as bacalao. This dip is a great way to highlight the best vegetables that the farmers' market has to offer, whatever the season. In the spring, serve with asparagus and snap peas; in the summer, green beans and gem lettuces; in the fall, spicy radishes and carrots; in winter, bitter greens like radicchio and cauliflower are delicious. And don't forget crackers or toasted crusty bread for a little crunch. —Food52
Continue After Advertisement
Ingredients
- For the salt cod:
-
2 pounds
salt cod
-
1
bay leaf
-
2
sprigs tarragon
-
2
sprigs thyme
-
Peel from 1 lemon
-
Olive oil
-
1
onion, cut in half
-
1
rib celery, cut into 3 pieces
- For the tonnato sauce:
-
1/2 cup
prepared salt cod
-
1 teaspoon
garlic
-
1 tablespoon
capers
-
1/2 cup
mayonnaise
-
1 teaspoon
lemon juice
-
1/4 teaspoon
sherry vinegar
-
1/4 teaspoon
Tabasco
-
Black pepper
Directions
- For the salt cod:
-
Place the cod in a large container and completely cover with cold water. Soak for 3 days, changing the water three times a day.
-
Preheat oven to 250°F.
-
Make a sachet with the bay leaf, thyme, tarragon, and lemon peel.
-
Remove skin and bones from the fish. Place the cleaned rehydrated cod in a non-reactive pot with the sachet, the onion, and the celery. Pour in olive oil until it covers the cod. Bring oil up to 120°F and then place in the oven for 45 minutes. Strain, discard everything except the fish.
- For the tonnato sauce:
-
Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl.
-
Place cod, garlic, capers, mayonnaise, and lemon juice in a blender. Puree everything until smooth, then pour into a bowl over the ice bath to cool it down. Whisk until cold, then whisk in the sherry vinegar and the Tabasco.
-
Transfer to a small chilled bowl. Drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil and a fresh crack of black pepper.
See what other Food52ers are saying.