Another traditional dish from Kefalonia, the Bakaliaropita or bacalao-pie made by Voula Bayioti, Captains Table restaurant in Argostoli.

Ingredients:

For the dough…

Four all-purpose 4cups

Olive oil 1/2cups

Salt 1tsp

Water warm as much as it takes

For the filling…

Olive oil 1cups

Onions white 2 chopped

Garlic 3 cloves chopped

Tomatoes 2 chopped

Tomato paste 1tbsp diluted in 1/3cups white wine

Parsley fresh chopped 1cups

Spearmint leaves 2tbsp

Oregano dry 1tbsp

Black pepper to taste

Bacalao soaked deboned and shredded 1kilo (about 2 pounds)

Arborio rice or Caroline 1tbsp per portion (the pan in the video makes 12 portions)

Olive oil for the pan and top of pie

Method

Soak the salted cod in water for 24 hours (change water every 8 hours)

Make the dough…

Mix the olive oil and the salt in the flour and start adding warm water until you have soft but not sticky dough to your hands. Allow dough to rest for 30 minutes.

Pour olive oil in a pot and add the onions and garlic. Cook until soften.

Add the chopped tomato, the tomato paste diluted in wine and cook together for 8-10 minutes

Add chopped parsley and spearmint leaves, oregano and black pepper

Add the Arborio rice and let simmer for about 10 minutes

Debone and shred the bacalao. Mix in the pot and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Allow cooling, it shouldn’t have any juices by now.

Divide the dough to 2 equal pieces.

On a floured surface roll the first dough to a phyllo about 5mm thick and spread it in an oiled baking pan to cover the whole pan.

Spread the filling over the bottom phyllo dough and repeat with the other dough to make a cover.

Tack in the sides of the top phyllo dough, sprinkle with olive oil and bake it 180C (356F) oven for about an hour.

As soon as the pie come out for the oven spray with some wine to keep the dough soft.

Recipe by: Voula Bayioti

Watch the video here