Salt cod brandade
"Brandade de morue" is a classic of French bistro cuisine, especially in the south. It is a puréed mixture of salt cod and olive oil with (or sometimes without) potatoes. Here is a simplified version.
102 K 4.1/5 (13 reviews)
1 hour 35 min.
Easy
4 people
7 IngredientsLast modified on: March 2nd 2014
1 ¾ cup salt-cod
1 1⁄3 cup 
1⁄3 cup 
½ cup 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 55 min.
Cooking: 40 min.
All in all: 1 hour 35 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 10 min.
The day before, desalt 1 ¾ cup salt-cod by soaking in several changes of cold water.
On the day, cook the cod by placing in cold water and bringing this up to a gentle simmer. A good way to be sure it is properly cooked is to measure the temperature in the centre. As soon as the fish reaches 140°F (60°C), it is cooked.
Set aside.
On the day, cook the cod by placing in cold water and bringing this up to a gentle simmer. A good way to be sure it is properly cooked is to measure the temperature in the centre. As soon as the fish reaches 140°F (60°C), it is cooked.
Set aside.
Stage 2 - 25 min.
Put the potatoes straight into the cooking water from the cod and boil until soft.
Set aside.
Set aside.
Stage 4 - 2 min.
Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a frying pan on medium heat. When hot, add the shallot, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 or 2 minutes without colouring.
Stage 5 - 10 min.
Break the cod into flakes, discarding the skin and bones.
Peel the potatoes and chop into small pieces.
Peel the potatoes and chop into small pieces.
Stage 6 - 2 min.
Put the cod and shallots into a food-processor bowl.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
Add the potatoes and blend (using the blender blade) while adding the olive oil in a thin stream, until the mixture becomes a thick purée.
Stage 8 - 3 min.
Add the parsley at the end.
Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
Stage 9 - 5 min.
Spread the brandade purée in a gratin dish. You can comb the top with a fork to make it more attractive.
Stage 10 - 25 min.
Bake for about 30 minutes until nicely browned.
Stage 11
Your brandade is ready. You can serve it with a mixed green salad or just corn salad and a good french dressing (vinaigrette).
Stage 12
Another way of cooking/serving: as pan-fried fish cakes.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan on high heat. Arrange tart/dessert rings in the pan.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan on high heat. Arrange tart/dessert rings in the pan.
Stage 13
Fill the rings with the brandade purée, pressing the mixture down gently.
Leave the bottom to brown before removing the rings...
Leave the bottom to brown before removing the rings...
Stage 14
...then turn the cakes over to brown on the other side.
Serve one fish cake per person, with salad (for example, like the earlier version).
Serve one fish cake per person, with salad (for example, like the earlier version).
Remarks
Translator's note: cod in French is "le cabillaud" when fresh, "la morue" when dried and salted.
If many people do not realise that it is one and the same fish, they all seem to have their own favourite tips for desalting their "morue": some suggest leaving the fish all day in the toilet cistern, which should be flushed at regular intervals...
If many people do not realise that it is one and the same fish, they all seem to have their own favourite tips for desalting their "morue": some suggest leaving the fish all day in the toilet cistern, which should be flushed at regular intervals...
Keeping: A few days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 80 RDI=30 % | 70 RDI=7 % | 80 RDI=10 % | 1,310 RDI=70 % | 5,500 RDI: 70 % |
| Per 100 g | 9 RDI=4 % | 8 RDI=1 % | 9 RDI=1 % | 150 RDI=8 % | 650 RDI: 8 % |
| Per person | 20 RDI=8 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 330 RDI=20 % | 1,380 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 people : 5.15 €
- Per person : 1.30 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Salt-cod
Like these other recipes: Icelandic-style fish and vegetable pie, ... See them all 1
Potatoes
Like these other recipes: Creamy "terre et mer" pots, Hearty potato and ham gratin, Sorrel soup, Boiling potatoes in their skins, Potato and broccoli gratin, ... See them all 84
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Aperitif rolls, Thaï rice with small vegetables, Salmon and leek fondue tart, Coq au vin, Sorrel pesto, ... See them all 535
Shallot
Like these other recipes: Chicken pie, How to prepare cockles, Leek and tuna loaf, Turban of sole with langoustines, Zucchini and tomato remoulade, ... See them all 204
Other recipes you may also like
Citrus crunch
These are fine crumbs of candied citrus peel. It can be used to sprinkle a dessert or other preparation to add both crunch and the flavour of the chosen citrus fruit. It is easy to prepare well in advance, and will keep in an airtight jar. This recipe is given for clementines, but can be made with all citrus fruits: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit... February 2nd 2016246 K3.7 1 hour 20 min.
Coconut paste
Similar to marzipan or walnut paste, coconut paste can be used in a variety of cake or sweet recipes, but you can enjoy munching it just as it is. October 13th 2010305 K 14.2 15 min.
Toffee apple upside-down cake
With a flavour reminiscent of the French classic tart tatin, this cake is made with a ring of tart apples arranged on a layer of caramel, then covered with the batter. After baking, the cake is turned out while still hot so that the caramelized apples are on the top with the moist cake underneath. December 4th 201662 K5 1 hour 50 min.
Sausages with baked beans, French style
What could be more basic than sausages and beans? This is a rustic French version using dried white haricot beans (or "mogettes") that are first boiled fast, then left to cook slowly with tomatoes and smoked sausages. The long cooking allows the smoky flavour of the sausages to gradually spread down into the beans - simply delicious! March 2nd 2022151 K4.6 1 hour 4 min.
Breton leek and mushroom tart
This is a "tart" with a difference: the case is not made with pastry, but with a double layer of lightly buttered Breton galettes (buckwheat pancakes). The filling is made with shallots, sautéed mushrooms, leeks and cream. You might have noticed that this recipe includes the key elements of Brittany's cuisine: buckwheat pancakes, butter and shallots. May 10th 202364 K4.3 1 hour 15 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-10-12)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.