Bacalhau assado no forno (baked salt cod)

• By Daphne Caruana Galizia

For 4 people, you will need:

One thick steak of dried salt cod, one lemon, milk, four cloves of garlic (peeled and chopped), four onions (peeled and sliced), a sprig of parsley (chopped), olive oil, potatoes (peeled and sliced), salt and black pepper.

Wash the cod thoroughly and soak it in water, having first removed the skin. Place slices of lemon in the water, and change it every hour until the fish has been completely saturated. Place the cod in a pan of milk and bring it to the boil. Remove it after a couple of minutes, and wash it under cold running water. Put it in an earthenware oven-dish, and season it with salt and pepper. Add the garlic, onions and parsley. Surround the cod with the sliced potatoes and splash everything all over with olive oil. Bake this in a moderate oven until the potatoes are tender. Serve it straight from the dish.