The fish that fed the world, traveled from my Aunt’s kitchen to mine, with a few changes along the way.
My Aunt Mary made cod cakes frequently, with a flavor that still tickles the memory after all these years. An old New England standby, these were extremely economical, although usually a bit on the bland side. She made them a lot; the salt cod could be kept on hand ready for service, so it was a back of the refrigerator staple of the time, still is for many folks, as its continued presence in the local supermarkets suggest. They were also a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
The salt-preserved fish that fed cuisines around the globe
Salt cod has a place is almost every cuisine in the world! The abundant fishing beds of the north Atlantic provided this air-dried and salt cured staple that ensured an easily perishable bounty that circled the globe.
By any other name
The French enjoy the popular brandade, a whipped olive oil, salt cod, and potato creation spread on crackers or toast. The Portugese boast hundreds of recipes for “bacalhau” including a tasty stew made with potatoes and olives and eggs, and Greek cuisine has many “bakaliaros” family traditions. Italians love many variations of their ” baccala” often with tomatoes as an enhancement. In Mexico, you might feast on a dish of salt cod and tomatillo sauce, and Asian cuisines also boast their own recipes from this easily transported commodity.
Stewed, fried, flaked, pureed, and breaded, you’ll also find this humble ingredient in dishes from Norway to Africa, the Caribbean to Brazil, and of course Canada and the United States. All this from the beautiful and once bountiful Atlantic cod, that is now controlled but seriously vulnerable from overfishing.
Enter the salt cod cake
In New England, salt cod pretty much means one thing – Cod Cakes, almost always using mashed potatoes.
This is one of those recipes that bring me back to my childhood. Aunt Mary said her mother, my paternal grandmother, taught her how to make these, and she didn’t really have a recipe. My grandmother lived with us for many years and I don’t remember her ever cooking a thing, let alone a recipe that you had to mess with for two days! So this is the closest thing I have to one of her recipes save her gingerbread “receipt,” as she called it. Yes, you need to plan ahead a day for this, but most supermarkets in New England carry the salt cod still. You probably have noticed the little wooden boxes and wondered about it if it wasn’t part of your family weeknight repertoire. If you are not sure, ask your fish monger.
And now, the twists
I’ve changed this recipe up a bit, of course. Aunt Mary used water for the initial poaching liquid, and I’ve swapped milk or even plant milks. She added only pepper to the poach, so I’ve enhanced that with a few other herbs. I’m sure she didn’t use panko breadcrumbs since they were not available when I was a kid. To freshen them up, I added the fresh parsley and the lemon juice. A bit of quick mustard sauce tops it all off.
Aunt Mary’s Salt Cod Cakes
An even quicker method is to use fresh cod. Quite frankly, I think it tastes better, and it certainly is quicker and my preferred method. There was a time when the salt cod was considerably cheaper than the fresh, but that is no longer the case. The last time I made these, I was amazed that the fresh and salted were about the same price per pound.
Experiment! Make the traditional salt cod cakes, then perhaps try the fresh. Add the herbs you like the best, and make it your own.
But no matter the changes, remember they are still my Aunt Mary’s Cod Cakes!
First, the salt cod:
- 1 lb. salt cod
- 2 cups milk or plant milk
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 anise pods
- Dozen black peppercorns, crushed
- Few sprigs of thyme
- 1 small onion, sliced, skins and all
You can find salt cod packed in a wooden crate or wrapped separately in the meat or fish section, often where you find the smoked salmon and other salted fish.
When you unwrap it, it should smell faintly of salt and the sea, with no fishy odor. It will feel strange. Hard and dry, a little rubbery, and quite unappetizing. This is where one must have some culinary faith.
Place it in a strainer and rinse under water for 10 minutes to remove the initial layer of salt. Place it in a deep container and cover completely with water, and tuck in the refrigerator. You will want it to soak for 24 hours at least, refreshing the water at least three or four times. I know, it is a little like babysitting tofu, but give it a try!
After the soaking and rinsing ritual, rinse again. It will have a much more pliable texture by this stage.
Fill a large, deep skillet with a couple of cups of milk, the bay leaves, anise pods, peppercorns, thyme, and onions. Bring just to a simmer for 10 minutes or so to infuse the flavors. Place the prepared cod into its warm little bath, and add more milk if needed, just to cover. Keep at a simmer for 10 minutes, but do not boil. Then cover and set aside to poach off the heat for a half hour.
Drain, and flake the fish, removing any odd pieces of skin or bones, or discolored bits. The transformation will be remarkable. It will feel like flaked fresh fish! You can use the cod in many dishes at this stage, the cod cakes, in soups or stews, or the famous French dish brandade, a potato, salt cod, olive oil, and garlic spread.
Now, the cakes:
- 2 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely grated
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tbsp. whole grain mustard
- 2 tsp. ground anise seed
- 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp. fresh parsley
- Panko breadcrumbs or regular dried breadcrumbs
- Lemon juice
Place the potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until tender. Drain and put through a ricer or mash well, and add the butter. Cool. Or, use left-over mashed potatoes. Place in a large bowl and add the cooled flaked cod, the grated onion, the eggs, and the seasonings. Blend together.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper. I find a handy ice-cream scoop works great to form the patties. Place some breadcrumbs in one hand, release the cake from the scoop on top of your bread-crumbed hand, sprinkle the top with more crumbs to coat both sides, pressing the crumbs in gently. After forming, place on the cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least a half hour, longer is fine. Don’t skip this step, it helps the cakes not fall apart in the pan. This makes 12 to 15 cakes depending on the size of your scoop. Make them smaller and you’ve got a great party appetizer.
When it’s time to cook, heat a cast iron or heavy frying pan and add canola or other flavorless oil over medium high. When hot, add the cakes, brown on the first side for a few minutes, turn, and brow the second side. You will need to do this in batches, keeping the first batch warm with a tent of aluminum foil.
Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice and Marvelous Mustard Sauce, below. This makes a bountiful 16 cakes, and they reheat nicely in a hot oven!
Salt Cod and Shrimp Cakes: Add a half pound of chopped shrimp to the cod mix. A delightful flavor and texture.
Marvelous Mustard Sauce:
Mix together ¼ cup grainy mustard and ½ cup crème fraiche, or dairy free sour cream. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a bit of minced parsley if you have it, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Capers are great in this as well.
© Copyright 2021– or current year, The New Vintage Kitchen. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to The New Vintage Kitchen, with active link and direction to this original post.
The New Vintage Kitchen does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.
Supporter of: Slow Food Fair Trade USA Northeast Organic Farmers Association EcoWatch No Kid Hungry Hunger Free Vermont Kiss the Ground
Yum yum! These look delicious!
Thanks Julie! Worth the effort!
I love cod cakes (fresh or salted cod) and have tried several recipes but none written as thoroughly and carefully as this one. For a simple dish, it’s actually kind of tricky, and your details are fantastic. Thank you!
Thanks Jennifer! They are a bit tricky, but not difficult, you just need to get all that salt out and rehydrated them!
I love salt cod. My mother used to make amazing things with it. After I started my blog, I had some shipped to me, since I don’t live in Vermont, and played with it. I love the cakes you made here! I might have to order more…
Have fun Mimi! I know your experiments will turn out beautifully, and flavorful!
I love the back story! And of course, the pretty presentation. I learned something new as well, which is always fascinating.
Thanks! There’s always a story isn’t there!
I had these when I was a kid but not since. 🙂
They have certainly fallen out of the limelight! I saw them a few years ago on a local menu as an appetizer and I was pretty surprised!
My experience with salt cod so far didn’t make me a fan. Reading about the changes you’ve made to the traditional recipe, I can definitely see how that might change. The use of milk instead of water for soaking, the additional herbs and flavors – all must make a huge difference. I think I’m now ready to give salt cod another try. Thanks! 🙂
Give it another try Ronit, I’m sure with your expertise, you will create a masterpiece!
Your post definitely made me want to give it a try again. 🙂
Your meals always look so yummy.
Oh, thank you so much! I always try to please!
Please mail four to me as soon as possible; the finished cakes, not the salt cods. 😂
Well, the salt cods would travel easier, but I’ll see what I can do!
when we were kids our mum used to buy cod which was bright orange and so salty! then she’d poach it in milk to get rid of the salt. ah the memories…
Food memories are such a treasure Sherry! I’m glad you have fond memories of these!
I have fond childhood memories of these fish cakes I use baramundi here as cod is hard to find expensive and imported but it is a good substitute…Your looks delicious, Dorothy 🙂
Thanks Carol! There are so many people with memories of these little cakes!
My favorites! Mom would make these for me though using a much simpler recipe. Didn’t matter how simple; I loved them and still do!
It’s a great memory Nancy!
Wonderfully delectable post — love cod cakes, though never made my own. Enjoyed the history and family connection. Thanks for the step by step recipe!
Thank you so much! These little gems have been almost forgotten for the most part, but so many of us have memories!
The recipe takes some time, although most of it is not hands on, but it is worth it.
These cakes sound great and I bet they’re wonderful with that mustard sauce! 🙂
Thank you Nancy! The mustard sauce really adds some zip to them!
I swear I am going to move in with you!
Ah! Thanks! There’s always room for friends!
I would love this dish for dinner.
Well, tomorrow you could prepare it for Friday! Or, just use fresh cod!
Hi Dorothy, these look great! I’ll probably make them with fresh cod, as good quality salted cod is hard to find here (i.e. not smelling fishy). I may cook the cod sous vide, LOL, or poach it by turning off the heat immediately when adding the fish. I’m curious to try this, as I can’t remember having tried fish with aniseed.
I hope you enjoy them Stefan! The anise pod in the poaching liquid adds just a subtle hint. I don’t have a sous vide setup, but I love watching all your informative demonstrations!
P.S. I prefer it with fresh cod, but we do get a nice salted cod here so every now and then I like to revisit my Aunt’s kitchen!
Looks really good! Yes, my favorite is baccalà alla vicentina with polenta! Back home in Italy was always my winter favorite meal 😉😋
There are so many incredible dishes around the world that use this humble ingredient, and they are most often comfort foods!
Oh my gosh, this looks delicious. I didn’t know a thing about salt cod until I read this. We love tuna cakes, and this is a fancy cousin of them. Thanks for the recipe.
Tuna or any fish cake is a hit at our house! The salt cod has the added ingredient of very old memories!
We are having cod and chips tonight for dinner ~ Hubby is the chef! Great minds think alike as I see this post here 🙂
Always! I can’t tell you how often I plan something for dinner and I open WP and find one of my friends making something similar! Blogger Synchronicity Christy!
These look and are cooked just like my “Salmon patties,” a recipe from an old Aunt and a favourite with me. Hey – it is seafood, so I love it. I also like the addition of the mustard sauce so might try that next time.
I am not sure if I can source salted cod readily here. It sounds a little like the way it is prepared/stored for use in lutefisk – a traditional norwegian dish? Would that be right, Dorothy?
I believe the lutefisk is similar but also uses a pickling of some sort? We don’t get that here, so I’ll hope that one of my Scandinavian friends (or those in Minnesota!) can chime in here!
It’s wonderful to have these recipes and techniques from our Aunts!
Family recipes are often the most loved of all. I have never made Lutefisk, but I believe it is popular in the mid west.
I think it is a Minnesota staple!
Aha! Possibly!
I am so hungry. These are so perfect! Your recipe will inspire my mackerel and salmon cakes! Thanks Dorothy for the yummy old England share. ❤️❤️💞❤️💞❤️🍮🍮
Thank you! New England classics are often filled with comfort.
I agree, fresh fish is always better! Next time I see fresh cod, I will think of our recipe. Looks so good!
I love a good fishcake, especially with poached eggs. I too prefer the fresh to salted but I never prepared it myself. Hake is another traditional local fish to use.
Yes, these would be delicious with hake, which I’ve been seeing a lot the last couple of weeks.
Yummy 😋😋
They are indeed!
I love fishcakes and these are quite similar. Thanks for the recipe, Dorothy.
You are welcome!!
Thanks for your comment on my Faroe salmon post. Your photos are wonderful!
Thank you so much! I do enjoy taking those shots.
Dorothy, I’m going to try this fabulous recipe using some left over tinned Salmon. Wish me luck!
xoxoxo
Good luck, this will be absolutely delicious!
These look quite tasty, Dorothy. It’s funny how our tastes change over the years. I didn’t used to care for fish, and now it’s what I usually order when we eat out.
Thanks Pete! How wonderful that you love the treasures of the sea now!
😍
This is yummy yummy
Thank you! It brings back lots of memories for me.