Bacalaíto facts for kids
A bacalaíto is a yummy, crispy fried snack from Puerto Rico. It's made from salted codfish and is often eaten as part of a meal. You can find bacalaítos at beaches, food stands called cuchifritos, and at fun festivals. They are crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy inside.
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What is a Bacalaíto?
In Puerto Rico, you can find many different kinds of bacalaítos all over the island. To make them, salted codfish is first soaked in water overnight. This helps remove most of the salt. Sometimes, the cod is boiled a few times instead.
How Bacalaítos are Made
After soaking or boiling, the cod is drained and shredded into a big bowl. Then, other ingredients are added. These include flour, a special mix of herbs and spices called sofrito or recaíto, and fresh herbs like oregano, sage, and thyme. Spices like pepper, cumin, and annatto are also mixed in.
The shredded cod is then mixed well with the batter until every piece is covered. A little water, with a splash of milk or beer, is added to make the batter just right. Finally, the mixture is deep-fried until it looks like a golden pancake.
Different Kinds of Bacalaítos
Some people like to add egg or baking powder to their bacalaíto batter. You can even find "crabalaítos," which are made with crab meat instead of cod.
Bacalaítos in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, bacalaítos are also a popular snack eaten with meals. Dominicans often add a small amount of cornstarch and sugar to their batter. They also include onion, milk, water, cilantro, parsley, and eggs.
See also
In Spanish: Bacalaíto para niños
