Brandade

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A dish made primarily from salt cod and potatoes that is often blended with olive oil and typically served warm
2. A culinary preparation consisting of shredded salted cod mixed with mashed potatoes and seasoned with olive oil, often served as a spread
3. A savory mixture of desalted cod and potatoes, combined with olive oil, garlic, and sometimes cream, enjoyed as a delicious spread or dip

Etymology: Brandade is a Provençal dish, and its name comes from the verb that describes how it is made. In Occitan, the language of southern France, "brandar" means "to stir," and "brandada" refers to the stirred mixture, a pounding and whisking of the flaked cod until it turns smooth and creamy. The name passed into French as "brandade," and the same root gives Spanish its cognate "brandada." The dish's character follows from that action. Salt cod must be soaked to remove its salt, then beaten with olive oil until it emulsifies into a spread, and potato is often added to lighten the texture. Nothing in the name refers to the cod or the potato themselves, only to the stirring that binds them together.

Synonyms: cod dish, fish puree, spread, paste, casserole