| Bacalhau |
Articles about Bacalhau |
Information AboutBacalhau |
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| portuguese cuisine | |
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| macanese cuisine | |
| dried fish | |
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''This page is about the Portuguese dish called Bacalhau. For the semi-legendary island of Bacalhau, see Bacalao .'' Bacalhau means Codfish in Portuguese . It almost always refers to dry, salted codfish; the fresh fish is rarely consumed in Portugal . Bacalhau is common in Portugal and Brazil, but it is considered a delicacy and often only eaten in special occasions. It is typically served in Portuguese and Brazilian homes on Christmas Eve and Holy Week (specially on the Good Friday ) . The codfish to produce a Bacalhau dish usually comes from Norway (''Bacalhau da Noruega'') or Newfoundland (''Bacalhau da Terra Nova''). Contrary to popular belief, it used to be very affordable, but with the dismantling of Portuguese ''bacalhoeiro'' fleet, it became more expensive, especially near Christmastime. Dry, salted codfish has been produced for at least 500 years, since the time of the European discoveries. Originally, there was a need to preserve the codfish; this method preserves many nutrients and, as it is said, makes the codfish tastier. The Portuguese tried to use this method of drying and salting in several fishes of the Portuguese coast, but the ideal fish came from near the North Pole. With the discovery of Newfoundland in 1497, the Portuguese started fishing in that region. Thus, along with the codfish of Norway, Bacalhau was made part of the Portuguese cuisine and often nicknamed "Fiel amigo" (faithful friend). BACALHAU DISHES There are numerous Bacalhau recipe variations, depending on region and tradition. It is said there are more than 365 ways to cook bacalhau, one for every day of the year; others say there are 1001 ways. But it is the main Bacalhau recipes that are the most notable, and these have even gained fame in Southeast Asia. Many Asian tourists head to Macau just to eat Bacalhau, an area where seafood is also very popular. Bacalhau is often served with Potatoes . Green (Vinho Verde) or mature wines (Alentejo Wine, Dão Wine or Douro Wine) are served alongside. Some Bacalhau dishes:
Some Regional Bacalhau dishes include:
BACALHAU CAKES Besides the dishes listed above, there are the Bolinhos de Bacalhau (name in the North of Portugal and in Brazil) or Pastéis de Bacalhau (name in the South): literally "Codfish cakes", made up of Potato es, Eggs , Parsley , and some minor ingredients with dry salted codfish. The Bolinhos or Pastéis de Bacalhau are fried and served before meals. Another similar delicacy is the "Pataniscas de Bacalhau" ("Iscas de Bacalhau" in northern Portuguese ), which is often only serverd in traditional ''Tavernas'' (taberns) and often preferred by older people. "Bolinhos de bacalhau" in Brazil are usually served in bars as an appetizer consumed with Beer . SEE ALSO Portuguese Cuisine |
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