Bacalaitos (Salted Cod Fritters)

Rinse cod under cold water to remove some of the salt. Boil cod in a large pot for 15 minutes, change water and boil for another 15 minutes. Drain the cod and set aside until it is cool enought to handle. Shred the cod using your fingers. Make sure that there are no bones and remove any skin; set aside.

In a mortar and pestle, mash together garlic cloves and sofrito. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and garlic; mash together in a bowl. Add water a little at a time, whisking together until well combined and smooth. Fold in shredded cod.

Heat oil in a deep skillet to 375 degrees.

Ladle batter into oil, making sure not to crowd the fritters or they may stick together. Fry until they are a nice golden color, turning once. Use a slotted spoon to remove any batter bits that are floating in the oil.

Drain on plate lined with paper towels.

Note: see the related blog post for sofrito.