Cod Brandade

Author

Jeremy Flowers, from "The Art of Blending" by Lior Lev Sercarz

Servings

10 as an appetizer

Category

Appetizer

Ingredients

• 1 12-ounce skinless cod fillet, pin bones removed
• ¼ cup Escabeche N.25 spice blend
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• ½ pound Yukon Gold potatoes
• 3 garlic cloves plus 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup coarsely chopped onion
• 6 thyme sprigs
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 lemon, halved
• 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons chopped chives
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Toasted baguette slices, for serving

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix ¼ cup Escabeche spice blend and 2 tablespoons salt. Set aside 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of this mixture. Spread the remaining mixture all over both sides of the fish, place the fish in a non-reactive metal tray or glass baking pan and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 5 hours.
2. In a saucepan, cover the potatoes, garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon of the reserved Escabeche/salt with water by one inch. Bring to boil, lower the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender. Drain, reserving the garlic, and peel the potatoes. In a bowl, mash the potato and garlic together with a fork.
3. Place wine, 3 cups water, onion, chopped garlic, thyme, halved lemon and 1 tablespoon of the Escabeche/salt mixture in a pot large enough to hold the fish. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Rinse the cured cod. Bring the poaching liquid to a boil, add the fish, turn off the heat and let cook for 5 minutes.
4. Remove the fish from the poaching liquid and add to the potatoes. Flake the fish apart with a fork and stir into the potatoes. Stir in the lemon zest, parsley, chives and remaining 1 teaspoon of Escabeche/salt mixture. Stir in the olive oil and season to taste with pepper. Spoon the brandade over the toasts and serve.