Cod, Potato, and Chard Cream

The cod, potato, and chard cream is a dish that combines the delicate flavors of fish with the richness of earthy vegetables. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 300 g of soaked cod
• 400 g of potatoes
• 200 g of cleaned chard
• 1 white onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 500 ml of vegetable broth
• 100 ml of fresh cream
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Start by desalting the cod, if you haven’t done so already, by changing the water several times over 24 hours. Once desalted, dry it and cut it into pieces.
2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes.
3. In a large pot, gently fry the finely chopped onion and garlic cloves in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until they become translucent.
4. Add the pieces of cod and let them flavor for a few minutes, then remove the garlic.
5. Add the potatoes and chard, cover everything with the vegetable broth, and cook on medium-low heat until the potatoes are tender.
6. Remove the pot from the heat and, using an immersion blender, blend all the ingredients until you get a smooth and homogeneous cream. If you desire a finer texture, you can strain the cream through a sieve.
7. Put the cream back on the heat, season with salt and pepper, and incorporate the fresh cream to achieve the desired density.
8. Serve the cod cream hot, decorating with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and, if you wish, chopped chives or chard leaves for a touch of color.

Curiosity

The cod cream is a traditional preparation of Northern Italy, often linked to Venetian cuisine. In some variants, a pinch of nutmeg is also added to enrich the flavor of the cream further. Cod, already appreciated during the Middle Ages, became popular in Italy thanks to Venetian merchants who imported large quantities from the North Seas.