Serve it over a bed of white rice with a few slices of avocado.

A favorite for Lent!

Whatever was for dinner the previous night became tomorrows lunch for us kids.

Rimmed grey plate with heaping portion of Puerto Rican Cod Fish. White rice and sliced avocado are on the plate as well. Another plate is to the upper right and a dutch oven filled with the stewed codfish is upper center. A blue casserole dish is heaped with white rice and is above the plate to the left. A pink and blue patterened linen is under the plate and rice dish.

Marta Rivera

Not good talk, either.

They labeled me a jibara(a hick or country girl).

The fact that Id never even visited Puerto Rico at that point was irrelevant to my classmates.

A dutch oven filled with Puerto Rican Stewed Fish is on a white wooden table with a green and pink linen underneath. White rice is in a casserole dish in the upper left corner.

Marta Rivera

I swore Id only bring PB&Js to lunch in the future.

What Is Bacalao Guisado?

The only salt in this dish comes from rehydrated, flaked codfish.

Horizontal view of rimmed grey plate with heaping portion of Puerto Rican Cod Fish. White rice and sliced avocado are on the plate along with a fork. Another plate is to the upper right and a dutch oven is partially in view in the upper center. A blue casserole dish is heaped with white rice and is above the plate to the left. A pink and blue patterened linen is under the plate and rice dish.

Marta Rivera

Salted Cod Stew is one of Puerto Ricos most popular foods and often served during Lent.

What Is Salted Cod?

Cod is a round fish with firm, white flesh that flakes easily.

A close up view of a heaping pot of lenten cod. A blue casserole dish with white rice is behind it. A plate with avocado is in the upper right corner.

Marta Rivera

Where Can You Find Salted Cod?

Salted cod seems to be common in most of the larger grocers these days.

Look for it in the refrigerated section of your supermarkets fish section.

Overhead view of a rimmed plate with Puerto Rican Stewed Fish on the left side and sliced avocado and white rice on the right. A fork is on the plate to the right as well. Above the plate is small plate in partial view with sliced avocado on it. Above the avocado is a dutch oven with Lenten Cod recipe in partial view. To the left of the dutch oven is another rimmed plate with stewed codfish and white rice. A bright patterened linen is underneath the plate and white rice is in a blue casserole dish in partial view.

Marta Rivera

Because its not a fresh fish, its usually found in bags or boxes near the canned crab meat.

When cooked as is, its sodium content will make your dishes inedible.

I prefer the fast soak methodone hour versus eight hours.

Three fillets of salt cod are at the bottom of a dutch oven. A scalloped plate has a bay leaf and ground spices to the left of the pot.

Marta Rivera

Can You Make Bacalao Guisado With Fresh or Unsalted Cod?

Bacalao Guisado is traditionally made with salted cod, but fresh cod can be used.

Its the salted cod itself that seasons the stew.

A dutch oven has water and chunks of salt cod simmering inside.

Marta Rivera

What Is Recao?

Recao, sometimes called Mexican coriander, is both the name of the herb and the paste.

it’s possible for you to make it yourself or buy it at the store.

A dutch oven holds diced green peppers, sliced onion and garlic. On the counter next to the pot is a small glass bowl of tomato sauce and a scallopped plate with ground oregano, ground black pepper and a bay leaf.

Marta Rivera

Ways to Adapt This Recipe

Most white fish can be used in this recipe.

you’re free to also switch up the ingredients.

What to Serve With Bacalao Guisado

Riceis the most common accompaniment to this dish.

A dutch oven with ingredients for Puerto Rican Stewed Fish. Sliced onions, diced green pepper, tomato sauce and recao herb base is inside. A scallopped plate with a bay leaf, dried oregano and black pepper are held above the dutch oven.

Marta Rivera

A few slices of avocado or a green salad would also go well with this dish.

Can You Make Bacalao Ahead of Time?

The beauty of this dish is that it grows more flavorful as it sits.

A dutch oven with a red soup inside. Chopped potatoes, bay leaf, sliced onions and chopped scallions are visible in the stew.

Marta Rivera

you’re able to prepare the Bacalao Guisado the evening before you plan to serve it.

Reheat it in a covered dish on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s warmed through.

This comes in handy if youre planning to use the old school, longer soaking time.

A dutch over with flaked cod on top of a stew of potatoes, bay leaf and a red broth.

Marta Rivera

Can You Freeze Bacalao?

Add the stew to freezer-safe containers and cover the fish in the liquid to protect it from freezer burn.

Rinse the fillets again, and add them to a pan.

Cover with 3-4 inches of fresh cold water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Once small bubbles begin to kiss the surface of the hot water, start a timer.

Simmer the fillets for 15 minutes to remove the excess salt.

If the water boils, turn the heat down so as not to overcook the fish.

The extracted salt will form clumps on the surface of the water.

This is an indication to you that the salt is being removed.

Once the 15 minutes is up, drain away this saltwater.

Give the fillets another rinse in cold water to remove any remaining salt and stop the soaking process.

Remove any pin bones that may remain while flaking the meat with forks or your hands.

The fish is now ready to use.

Change the water after about 4 hours of soaking.

Pick through the fillets for any remaining bones before flaking with a fork or your hands.

The fish is now ready to use.

In a 4-quart Dutch oven or deep frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.

Stir the recao, tomato sauce, and 1 cup water into pan and reduce the heat to medium.

Cook the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the potatoes to the base and reduce the heat to medium-low.

The mixture should hardly bubble, but still steam.

You dont want the potatoes to becometootender or theyll turn to mush as the dish sits.

Cover the pot after folding in the bacalao and allow it to heat through for 5 minutes.

Because the fish is already cooked, you only need to warm it through.

Spoon the finished Bacalao Guisado over warm rice and serve with slices of avocado.

Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.