Christmas is just not the same without Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana. Whenever my parents could find salt cod, we would enjoy it during the holiday season. I really didn’t know the full name of this dish until I was older. We knew it simply as baccala mantecato.
For this recipe, you will need dried cod, heavy cream, extra virgin olive oil, bay leaves, black pepper.
Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana
For many years after we moved to the US, mamma couldn’t make the dishes we normally ate and enjoyed. We missed the familiar Italian tastes and aromas, especially during the holidays.
Our recipes not only had unusual names but they also had ingredients that were unavailable and unknown in our small mid-western town.
Baccala needs to soak in water
In 1957 that all changed. Married friends of my parents moved from our tiny town in Italy to Chicago and best of all they were due to visit. My parents were ecstatic. They would see familiar faces and converse in Italian with them. It was six long years since they saw or spoke to an Italian — other than their children.
Now Remigio and Antonietta were coming, and they would be spending several days with us. Mamma loved to cook . . . . she wasn’t happy unless she was feeding someone. The heartier the appetite, the better she liked it.
No one ever left our house hungry — if they did, it was not for my mamma’s lack of trying to feed them.
Christmas Bouquet for the Dining Room Table
Un bel tavolo
Mamma was like a butterfly flitting everywhere getting things ready. The glasses and dishes were sparkling. The table linens could have stood up by themselves for all the starch mamma soaked into them and she applied the iron with a vengeance until there wasn’t a wrinkle to be seen. It was important to her to have un bel tavolo { a nice prepared table}.
The day finally arrived.
It was November, but you’d think it was Christmas. Remigio and Antonietta brought my parents boxes and sacks of Italian goodies.
Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana served on Polenta Crostini
My parents were speechless with the generosity of such overwhelming abundance. There was baccala; there was calamari, biscotti, and panettone. They had Italian cafe, cheeses, unsalted butter, Italian meats, polenta.
They had Italian wines, but the hit with my papa was the grappa {a potent Italian brandy}. He loved grappa in his coffee, and it had been so many years since he’d had that luxury. Heavens! You’d think he’d won the lottery.
Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana served with Polenta Crostini
That Christmas mamma made her baccala mantecato and we relished the dishes that were such a part of our Christmas when we lived in Italy.
Does it seem to you that the older we become the more we want to capture those special moments with family? Those days where the only things that mattered were that you had a warm house, good food on the table, and most of all love for each other.
May this year bring you everything you wish for.
Tutti a tavola è pronto!
Alla prossima — We will feature polenta crostini in our next post.
Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried salt cod
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 cup extra Virgin olive oil { you may need more}
- 2 bay leaves
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the codfish by soaking in a pan filled with cold water and changing the water every few hours. Do this for at least 24 hours - it may take longer depending how dried the cod is. Cut the cod into pieces and place in a pan and cover again with cold water and add the bay leaves and 1/2 cup cream.
- Cover and bring to a boil with the lid slightly ajar. Cook at a steady boil for 20 minutes skimming any foam that comes to the top.
- Once the cod is soft but still holds it shape remove from the water. Discard the bay leaves.
- If the cod has skin and bones, now is the time remove them. Cut the cod into small pieces and put in a mixing bowl with the paddle or if you have an immersion had blender use it.*
- Add the garlic and start the electric mixer at low speed to break up the fish. At medium speed start adding the olive oil. Keep mixing and add the remaining 1/4 cup cream.
- You may need extra olive oil depending on the cod. The baccala should be a light color and have a whipped, mousse-like texture.
- Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Salt if required. Garnish with Italian parsley.
- Serve on grilled slices of polenta, fresh slices of baguette, crostini, crudites, or crackers.
Notes
- *The immersion blender works like a charm. It breaks up the baccala and easily blends in the olive oil, garlic and cream.
Nutrition
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This looks completely new to me, but I would love to try it sometime!
I have never heard about this recipe but am very intrigued. I must be honest unlike my mom who loved dry fish very much I have not much experience of cooking or eating it. Sounds interesting. Wish I could try some.
I have never had this recipe before but it sounds delicious! What a fun and tasty holiday tradition.
I haven’t had this before, but sounds like a delicious spread to enjoy during the holidays. I love fish and think it wold be wonderful opportunity to try it!
Wow, never heard of this before but looks fabulous. Gonna send to sis to add to our holiday menu. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Marisa. I love baccala mantecato. I overdosed on it as a child when my family and I went back to Italy (from Australia) in the mid 1960s and they served it on the ship nearly every day. That’s nearly 25 days of the dish for both the inward and outward journey! By the way, I was born in Trieste too (we both follow Jovina, so I saw your post recently). I’ve lived most of my life in Sydney, Australia but been back many times. I blog at ‘The Good the Bad and the Italian’ – occasional recipes, but mostly reminiscences, opinion, retro anecdotes and folk tales of everything Italian. Mmmmm, I feel a post about baccala and ship journeys coming up.
Thank you for stopping by — I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures.
This really looks delicious and easy enough that I think I can make it! lol
Ciao Marisa, my baccalà-twin!
I loved the memories of your family, so heartwarming. My father is from Chicago, Winnetka actually, but is now living in California.
A presto,
Eleonora
Ciao Elenora – Thank you for stopping by I’m looking forward to reading more about you and your dishes.
Alla prossima
I wish you lived closer to me. 🙂 We could cook together. I don’t think I could make this without you. 🙂
Have a great day rock star!
k
Marisa,
I have never seen baccala prepared in this way. Even tho I do not care for fish, I might be able to eat this!! It really looks yummy. And serving it on polenta crostini or crackers (or a fresh baguette) makes it all the better!
Have a great day!
I think you’d like it — it doesn’t have that fishy taste or texture. Take care with all of that stuff on the roads.
Hi Marisa, this looks so good, I will have to try it for sure instead of the usual baccala recipes. Beautiful flowers! Have a great day.
This is a great recipe — even the “little guys” loved it. The flowers are beautiful — my daughter bought those for me 🙂 I thought this would be a great way to preserve them.