Smoked Cod Substitute

Asked by Dubipj. Answered on 16th June 2015

Full question

I would like to try the Smoked Cod With Canellini Beans but I can't find smoked cod and have asked at the fish counter of our local specialty shop. Any suggestions for a substitute? The only cod we have available is salted (dried) or fresh. Thanks!

Our answer

Smoked cod and smoked haddock are very popular in the UK but can be difficult to find in other countries. If you live in the US then smoked haddock often known as Finnan Haddie and can sometimes be ordered from fishmongers. You could use smoked haddock in the recipe if you can find this.

Smoking your own cod is a long process as you have to brine the fish first, then let it air dry and then cold smoke it for around 6 hours. We do not have a specific recipe but you can find several "how to" guides on the internet. For the recipe itself with the canellini beans you could use fresh cod or salmon, though it will not have the same flavour, or you could use a mixture of a local smoked fish and fresh cod. Poach the smoked fish first so that it flavours the milk a little then use the same milk to poach the cod.