Puerto Rican Bacalaitos (Crunchy Cod Fritters)

Tip: Read directions completely before preparing

Ingredients:

1/4 lb bacalao (cod) filet
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon. baking powder
1/3 teaspoon. salt
3/4 cup bacalao (cod) broth
1teaspoon black pepper
3 cloves garlic

2 cilantro leaves (culantro)

1 envelope of Sazon seasoning (con Culantro Y Achiote)

1 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

Make sure you get the soft bacalao (dried codfish) that has been deboned. Sometimes it comes in a wooden box or in plastics bags. Many grocers now carry bacalao.

To prepare the bacalao and remove the salt, rinse the bacalao and tear into smaller pieces.  Add 6 cups of water and bacalao (cod) to a 5 1/2 quart pot, bring to boil, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or so. Discard water and add fresh water and repeat process, for another 20 minutes. Let it cool in the water and save the water. Remove the bacalao (cod) and drain in a metal drainer and wait for it to cool down (save the broth). Once cool to the touch, tear the pieces into smaller little tiny pieces and set it aside. If you hold it between your fingers it separates itself.

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, sazon and pepper. In a mortar, crush the garlic and cilantro leaves. Add 3/4  cup broth to the mortar to remove garlic and cilantro and pour into the large bowl with dry ingredients and whisk. The mixture should look like pancake batter. Add the drained bacalao (cod) and whisk again. Batter should have the consistency of thin pancake batter. If too thick just add a bit more broth and whisk. If you put too much broth add more flour.

Begin heating the oil in a frying pan to 350 degree.

Ladle the batter into hot oil. They should be fried over high heat, turning only once, until golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels before serving. If they are getting too brown too fast lower heat a bit.

Any extra fish or batter may be refrigerated for a few days or frozen for later use.  Enjoy!

Servings: 10 Bacalaitos (Cod Fritters)

Tip: Bacalaitos are salt cod fritters, a traditional Puerto Rican snack.