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Polenta con Ragu di Baccala (Polenta with Salt Cod)

Photo: Polenta con Ragu di Baccala (Polenta with Salt Cod)

TOTAL TIME: 4 hr 10 min
Prep: 2 hr
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 2 hr 10 min
 
YIELD: 6 servings
LEVEL:

ingredients

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Spanish onion, chopped in 1/4-inch dice
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 baccala or staccafisso, boned and skin removed
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium red onion, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups basic tomato sauce, recipe follows
  • 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
  • 2 tablespoons hot chili flakes
  • 2 cups polenta, quick cook-style
      • STEAMED FENNEL DRESSED LIKE A SALAD:
      • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
      • Salt and freshly ground pepper
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        Directions

        Steam fennel 25 to 30 minutes until fennel is tender yet firm. Allow the fennel to chill completely then toss with olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and roughly chopped fennel fronds. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
        Soak the baccala for 3 days in cool water, changing water daily. Cut into 1-inch cubes. In a 4-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil until smoking. Add the onion and garlic and cook over medium-high heat until softened and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the baccala and stir until well mixed with the onions. Add the wine, tomato sauce, fennel seeds and hot chilis and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 1 hour or until reduced by 1/3.

        Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil 2 (10-inch) cake pans. Make the polenta according to the package directions, and while still hot, pour into cake pans to fill halfway with polenta and allow to cool (about 15 minutes). Divide baccala over the polenta among 2 pans and place in the oven to bake for 45 minutes. Remove, allow to rest for 10 minutes, cut into wedges like a cake and serve with steamed fennel dressed- like a salad.

        In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. Yield: 4 cups

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