For all that are not Vegan or Vegetarian

The first to fish  cod were the Vikings, who, in the absence of salt, left the fish to dry in the open air on boats. Salt was something that, in the Middle Ages, the Portuguese had and used as a bargaining chip with the Nordic countries: they imported cod, exported salt.

The “Norwegian cod” label goes back here. The first reports to indicate a relationship between cod fishing and the salting method date from the 14th century and, during the voyages of the Portuguese discoveries(Descobrimentos), in the 15th century, the need to preserve the fish for long periods of time became imperative.

 At the turn of the 15th to the 16th century, we became pioneers in setting up large fishing boats and headed for the seas of New foundland, today a province of Canada, and of Greenland, on board the three-masted sailboats called lugres.

In 1506, there was already a tax on cod that entered the ports located between the Douro and the Minho.

During the sixteenth, seventeenth and first half of the eighteenth centuries, cod was not as widely used as it was afterwards. It was food for the wealthy classes, the Royal Family, the aristocracy and so .

Portugal and England, in the middle of the 14th century, established a precious agreement. It was 1386 when the Windsor Treaty was signed by these two European nations, consolidating a  close political, military and commercial alliance.

They sign  the first trade and fisheries treaty between these two countries.

At a time when the acclaimed Port Wine was beginning to gain prominence, the English, one of the nationalities that most appreciated (and appreciates) this elixir, from the Portuguese Douro, had every interest in reaching a commercial consensus with the Portuguese.

 Of course, the bargaining chip would be a few barrels of wine.

 So  the Port wine route was expanded by the English – who popularized it all over the world – and salted cod was more available  to  the Portuguese diet.

 The 1386 alliance is considered to be the oldest in the world and still remains in force.

Over time, the introduction of cod in marking festive seasons has become the rule. Christmas is just one of them.

And Now you can also Enjoy a Great BACALHAU

You can find many recipes on internet  so good luck

500g of potato straw
2 onions cut in half moon slices
3 chopped garlic cloves
3 bay leaves
1dl of olive oil
10 eggs
Black olives q.s.
Chopped parsley q.s.
Refined salt q.s.
Pepper

1. In a pan with boiling water, place the cod to cook for 10 minutes.
Once cooked, place the cod on a plate and let it cool.
Clean the cod from bones and skins and shred it.2. In a large saucepan, bring the oil and onions to the heat.
Let it cook well without burning.
In the middle of the sauté, add the chopped garlic and bay leaves.
Let it sauté.3. In the meantime, break the eggs and season with salt and pepper.
Beat them a little.4. After the braised onion, add the cod and let it fry a little.
Add the potato and mix well.
Let it warm up a little and add the eggs.
Keep the heat low so that it does not burn on the bottom and so that the eggs are not too ironed.
Wrap everything and add the chopped parsley and some olives.
Leave the fire on for 30 to 45 seconds.