The recipe I’m sharing right now, cod with asparagus and preserved lemons, may be very applicable for this time of yr. Cod is a sort of fish lengthy related to Lent in Spain. Lent is now over, and chances are you’ll not know that despite the fact that Easter Sunday has handed as effectively, we’re nonetheless within the Easter season, which can final till the feast of the Pentecost, the Sunday about fifty days later.
Iglesia de Santa María del Mar, St Mary of the Sea Church, Valencia
What chances are you’ll know is that we’re additionally within the season of asparagus, one of many first spring time greens, so cod with asparagus ought to be on the menu.
By now you additionally know that cod is one in every of my favourite sort of fish, so it’s not stunning that every so often I’ll share a brand new recipe that features it. Like most of my recipes, that is a simple one, and so long as the fish will not be overcooked, it’s virtually a no-fail recipe. The addition of preserved lemons and accompaniment of couscous reveal the Moroccan affect on this dish.
Paso of Our Woman of the Sea
Paso “The Scourging” ready on the church of Santa Maria del Mar
Iglesia de Santa María del Mar
Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus the Nazarean on Palm Sunday
The blessing of the palms outdoors the previous Grao Market
We, too, had our palms —bay leaf and olive branches
I’m so completely happy to accompany this recipe with photographs of the Semana Santa Marinera de Valencia, Valencia’s Maritime Holy Week processions, which after a few many years, I used to be in a position to expertise firsthand this yr.
Valencia’s Maritime Holy Week
Palm Sunday began on the church of Santa María del Mar, Saint Mary of the Sea, with the gathering of the cofrades of the Cristo de la Palma, the members of the Christ of the Palm brotherhood. With solemn procession music blaring from the bands, the members of the brotherhood adopted the picture of the Christ of the Palm via the streets of the maritime neighborhood of Valencia, alongside the harbor and into the slender streets that make up this former fishermen neighborhood.
The Christ of the Palm processing on Palm Sunday (Grao de Valencia)
Fountain at Santa María del Mar
Romans participate, too (at Our Woman of the Rosary Church)
Our Woman of the Sea Church
Our Woman of the Sea, ready to course of via the streets
On the identical time, one other procession began close by, at Our Woman of the Angels parish, and one other one at Our Woman of the Rosary Parish, every one in every of them composed of their very own brotherhoods.
The air was solemn however festive, because it was Palm Sunday. Quite a few extra processions had been taking place for the reason that Friday earlier than and would proceed all through the next week, culminating on Easter Sunday. The pasos —the floats carrying the sculptures of various scenes of Jesus’ life and keenness— processing via the streets various relying on the day of the week and the solemmnity of that day, and the general ensemble represented the eagerness of Jesus that led to his demise and resurrection on Easter Sunday. I wasn’t in Valencia on Easter Sunday, however I can think about the processions have been completely happy and festive.
The heartfelt celebrations of Holy Week in Spain are one thing to see, and despite the fact that they’re celebrated barely in another way within the completely different areas of Spain, the sensation and devotion of the brothers within the brotherhoods and of the spectators lining the streets is similar. Valencia‘s Maritime Holy Week has been declared a Feast of Nationwide Curiosity by the Spanish authorities and I used to be completely happy to be there and sharing within the second with my household and with the hundreds of different devouts.
There’s a piece on this weblog the place you’ll be able to study extra in regards to the particulars and idiosyncrasies of LENT AND HOLY WEEK IN SPAIN, and you may entry it by clicking right here. I’m additionally including a few movies I took, which may give you a greater thought of the sounds and sights of the Palm Sunday processions in Valencia, even when there’s no substitute for being there.
To search out out extra about VALENCIA’S MARITIME HOLY WEEK, click on right here.
As you’ll be able to think about, I loved scrumptious recent fish whereas in Valencia, and never simply on the plate, but additionally by purchasing at fishmongers (sweet for my eyes!) and even visiting a fish public sale in Gandía. Each time I make fish, like this scrumptious, flaky cod with asparagus and preserved lemons, I’m reminded of the place I come from.
A number of clips of the Palm Sunday processions from Maritime Holy Week in Valencia:
Under is a playlist of 9 clips, with a short pause between them (hold watching till the bells toll!)
COD WITH ASPARAGUS AND PRESERVED LEMONS
Bacalao con espárragos y limones confitados
Servings: 5
- 2 Lbs recent cod
- 4 Tbs flour
- 1 Lb asparagus
- 1 preserved lemon (click on for the recipe)
- 4 Tbs further virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbs butter
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 cups beef or hen inventory
- Sea salt and recent floor pepper to style
- 1 Tbs minced flat leaf parsley
For the couscous:
- 1 cup couscous
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbs minced parsley
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Rinse the cod and pat dry with paper towels. Minimize the filets into 3-inch items. Season the items on either side with freshly floor pepper and a few salt.
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Minimize the asparagus into 2-inch items.
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Place the flour in a shallow bowl.
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Warmth 2 Tbs olive oil in a big skillet. Working in batches, coat the cod in flour. When oil is sizzling, add the items of cod and sear till golden, about 1 minute per facet. Switch the cod to a plate.
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In the identical skillet, add the remaining olive oil and the butter. When it begins foaming, add the asparagus and prepare dinner, stirring every so often, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and prepare dinner for 1 minute. Add the preserved lemons and stir. Then add the inventory. Convey to a boil and prepare dinner for about 2 minutes.
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Return the cod items and any collected juices to the pan and prepare with the asparagus. Prepare dinner on low warmth for about 2 minutes, till the sauce is barely lowered and the cod is warmed via.
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Sprinkle with recent minced garlic and serve over couscous.
Make the couscous
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In a stockpot, add 1 1/4 cups water, 2 Tbs olive oil, 1 minced garlic and 1/2 Tbs minced parsley. Convey to a boil and add 1 cup couscous. Cowl and take away the pan from the warmth supply. The couscous will soak up all of the liquid. Earlier than serving fluff it with a fork.
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Serve the fish and asparagus over a number of spoonfuls of couscous.
