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Italian cod fritters

Polpette di Merluzzo (Italian Cod Fritters)

Silvana Nava
Italian Cod Fritters (polpette di merluzzo) are a quick and delicious way to enjoy fish in a fun, new form.
You can make them using fresh cod fillets from your fishmonger or even frozen fillets, which are handy to keep in the freezer for whenever you need them.
Besides the cod, you only need a few simple ingredients you likely already have at home: eggs, chopped parsley, bread, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Fish and Seafood, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 216 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cod Balls

  • 500 g cod fillets - 1.1 pound
  • 2 eggs
  • 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano - ½ cup of grated
  • 100 g bread - ~3 slices
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoon parsley - chopped
  • ½ lemon - the zest
  • salt - to taste

For the Breading

  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs

For Frying

  • 1 liter vegetable oil - 4 cups of peanut oil or another vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • To start making the cod fritters, first remove any bones from the cod fillets using a pair of tweezers. Then, cut the fillets into smaller pieces. Rinse the pieces under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels to remove any moisture.
  • Cut the cod fillets into smaller chunks and place them in a blender.
  • Add the bread, making sure to remove any hard crust. Blend everything together until you get a smooth mixture without any large pieces.
  • Transfer the blended cod mixture to a bowl. Add the minced garlic and chopped parsley to give it extra flavor. Then, mix in the eggs and grated Parmigiano cheese. Season the mixture with a pinch of salt. Stir everything together well.
  • Add the grated zest of about half of an organic lemon. This will give the fritters a fresh, zesty flavor.
  • Mix again and let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes to help the flavors blend.
  • While the mixture is resting, prepare the coating. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and breadcrumbs. This will be used to coat the fritters before frying.
  • Form medium-sized balls or patties from the cod mixture. Roll each one in the flour and breadcrumb mixture, making sure they are evenly coated.
  • Place them on a floured plate once they are ready. Heat the oil in a frying pan and, when it’s hot enough, fry the fritters a few at a time. Cook them until they turn golden brown.
  • Use a slotted spoon to remove the fritters from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain off any excess grease.
  • Once all the fritters are fried, transfer them to a se

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 216kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 23gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 328mgPotassium: 436mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 292IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cod fritters, Italian cod fritters recipe
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