Meatless Friday: Codfish a la Vizcaína

For Meatless Friday, Maria Morera Johnson shares her mom's recipe for a family favorite dish. Download our printable recipe card!

My Cuban Mother’s Adaptation of My Basque Grandmother’s Codfish a la Vizcaína 

I don’t have an identity problem because I didn’t realize until I was an adult and cooking regularly for my family that what I thought was traditional Cuban cuisine was actually my mother cooking like her mother, who was Basque. So my cooking has a bit of the Old-World charm without me knowing it. 

One of my favorite meals to prepare is Codfish a la Vizcaína, or Codfish Basque-Style. It’s tender, sweet and savory, and oh so good. 

Codfish a la Vizcaína

Makes 2 servings  

Ingredients:

• 2 codfish fillets, or any flaky white fish (I buy them already prepared for cooking) 
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• 1 medium onion, sliced to your taste 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 jar of roasted red bell peppers (or ½ cup chopped fresh red bell peppers) 
• 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (or a 6 oz can of crushed tomatoes) 
• 1/2 cup fish or vegetable broth (you can use a little more and let it cook down) 
• 1 bay leaf 
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 
• Optional sliced potatoes (if you're not serving this over rice)
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions: 

In a large skillet, add the olive oil and sauté the onions over medium heat. Add the cod fillets to brown on both sides. Remove the fillets, lower the heat to medium low and add all the remaining ingredients. I dump them and stir them around to makes sure it’s all evenly spread, and then I add the fillets, nestling them in the sauce. You can spoon sauce over the fillets.

Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, depending on the cut and size of the fillets. Uncover and let the liquid cook down to your desired thickness. I like it more like a gravy, but many prefer a more stew-like meal, especially if potatoes are used instead of rice. You may serve the fillets whole or break them up in the stew. Serve over white rice and enjoy! 

Did you try this recipe? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Maria Morera Johnson
Images: copyright 2024 Maria Morera Johnson, all rights reserved.