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Kokt torsk
Poached cod with potatoes
Kokt torsk: Norwegian poached cod with boiled potatoes, carrots and melted butter
From January to April, when the spawning skrei cod arrive at the Lofoten Islands, Norwegian homes eat kokt torsk at least once a week: thick cod loins poached in well-salted water, served plainly with boiled potatoes, carrots and a little melted butter. It is clean, gentle food, and the whole plate comes to around 430 kcal with about 40 g of protein, almost all from the cod. The common mistake is boiling the fish: the water should barely tremble, which Norwegians say makes it "smile", or the flakes tighten and turn woolly. Cook it until it is opaque and the flakes separate at a light press, about 60–63 °C in the thickest part. Chef's tip: salt the poaching water as heavily as the sea, about 60 g to a litre; it seasons the cod all the way through in the few minutes it cooks.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the cod
- 1 ¾ lb cod loinin 4 thick pieces, skin on or off
- 3 litre water
- 6 ½ oz coarse saltfor the poaching water
To serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 1 ¾ lb waxy potatoes in a pan of cold water with 1 tsp salt, bring to the boil and simmer until a knife slides in easily. Add 14 oz carrots for the last 10 minutes.
20 minStep 2: Meanwhile, bring 3 litre water to the boil in a wide pan with 6 ½ oz coarse salt and 2 bay leaves. Taste it: it should be as salty as the sea.
Step 3: Turn the heat right down so the water barely trembles. Lower in 1 ¾ lb cod loin and poach without letting it bubble, until the fish is opaque and the flakes part when pressed gently.
7 minStep 4: Lift the cod out with a slotted spoon and drain it on a warm plate for a moment so it doesn't water down the plate.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 40 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kokt torsk take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of bay leaves?
- Leave it out, or a pinch of dried thyme (it's a background flavour).
- What can I use instead of waxy potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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