Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless salt cod
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 large thyme sprig
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 peppercorns
  • 2 allspice berries
  • 1 clove
  • 1 pound potatoes, peeled, cut in 1-inch cubes
  • 6 large garlic cloves, peeled
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • Pinch cayenne
  • Grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup crème fraîche, plus 2 tablespoons
  • 3 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1/2 cup coarse dry bread crumbs

Instruction

  • Rinse salt cod well and rub off any salt. Soak in 2 quarts cold water. Drain and change water every few hours (an overnight soak without changing is fine). Total soaking time should be at least 8 hours.
  • In a medium saucepan, heat milk plus 1 cup water over medium-high heat. Add soaked salt cod, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, allspice berries and clove. Adjust heat to maintain a bare simmer. Cook until fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes. Remove fish and hold at room temperature.
  • Meanwhile, in another pot, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Add garlic cloves and a good pinch of salt. Drain potatoes when they are soft, about 15 minutes, reserving cooking liquid and garlic.
  • Put cooked garlic cloves in a small saucepan and crush with a fork. Add olive oil and heat over a medium flame until quite warm to the touch. Set aside.
  • Put potatoes in a large mixing bowl. With your fingers, flake cooked salt cod on top. With a potato masher, roughly blend potatoes and fish. Drizzle in warm garlic oil and mash again. Add cayenne, nutmeg to taste and lemon zest. Stir in ½ cup crème fraîche and beat well to combine. Beat in about ½ cup cooking liquid to lighten mixture so it has the texture of soft mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning — it will probably need salt and pepper.
  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a low-sided 1-quart baking dish or pie pan. Transfer brandade mixture to dish and smooth with a spatula. Paint the top with 2 tablespoons crème fraîche, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Dot top with remaining butter. (May be prepared up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before baking.) Bake until golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes.