Season 10 - Dinner / S10D20
Puerto Rican Bacalaitos (Codfish Fritters) with Salad
Story
Don Luis was humming an old salsa tune while sprinkling dry cod into a bowl, his apron dusted with flour. “This one,” he said with a smile, “was a treat after church every Sunday growing up.” The sound of oil sizzling and the smell of garlic and culantro took him back to the island, where food carts near the beach served piping-hot bacalaitos with a side of crunchy greens. As the fritters bubbled to golden perfection, he tossed a salad of crisp lettuce, tomato, and a citrusy dressing. “Fry with love, mijo,” he chuckled. “That’s the secret ingredient.” The dogs sat near his feet, tails wagging, hoping a piece might fall. Spoiler: it didn’t. 😄 Time + Nutrition + Cost
Ingredients
- For the Bacalaitos 🐟
- 8 oz salted codfish (bacalao), soaked overnight 🧊
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 🌾
- 1 tsp baking powder 🧪
- 0.5 tsp adobo seasoning or salt 🧂
- 0.25 tsp black pepper 🌶️
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder 🧄
- 0.25 tsp paprika 🌶️
- 0.25 cup finely chopped cilantro or culantro 🌿
- 0.5 cup water (adjust for batter consistency) 💧
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola) 🛢️
- For the Salad 🥗
- 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce 🥬
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 🍅
- 0.5 cucumber, thinly sliced 🥒
- 0.25 red onion, sliced thin 🧅
- Juice of 1 lemon 🍋
- 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- Salt and pepper to taste ✨
Instructions
- 1Prep the Cod: Rinse soaked cod, boil for 10 minutes, drain, and shred into small flakes.
- 2Make the Batter: In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, seasonings, and herbs. Slowly add water until a pancake-like batter forms. Fold in the shredded cod.
- 3Fry the Bacalaitos: Heat 1 inch of oil in a pan over medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of batter and flatten slightly. Fry until golden and crispy (about 2–3 minutes per side). Drain on paper towels.
- 4Assemble the Salad: Toss lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- 5Serve: Plate 2–3 bacalaitos with a heap of fresh salad and enjoy immediately while hot and crunchy! 😋
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
Read our mission →