In brief
- Chiquetaille de morue: desalted salt cod, cooked then shredded and marinated
- Origin: Martinique and Guadeloupe, Caribbean
- Essential ingredients: salt cod, onion, garlic, chilli, lime
- Served cold, as a starter or on toasted bread
Origins and cultural history of chiquetaille
The word chiquetaille comes from the verb chiquetailler, meaning to cut or tear into small pieces. Salt cod arrived in the Caribbean from 1635, brought by Norman and Breton ships: a dried and salted fish, easy to keep on long crossings.
Local cooks paired it with the herbs and chillies of the Creole garden to create this cold preparation, originating in Martinique and Guadeloupe, first devised to use up leftover cod.
What are the essential ingredients of chiquetaille
The preparation relies on salt cod, desalted then cooked and shredded, seasoned with aromatics and a little acidity.
- Dried salt cod
- Onion and garlic
- Caribbean chilli
- Lime
- Flat-leaf parsley
What to know about chiquetaille
Chiquetaille is a cold dish of salt cod, desalted, then cooked and flaked, and marinated with onion, garlic, Antillean chilli, lime and flat-leaf parsley. Its name comes from the verb chiquetailler, which means to cut or tear into small pieces. It is served cold, as a starter or on slices of toasted bread, sometimes alongside accras, in Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Frequently asked questions about chiquetaille
Why does the cod need to be desalted before making chiquetaille?
Dried cod is salted to about 12 grams of sodium chloride per 100 grams. Soaking it overnight in cold water, in the refrigerator, changing the water two to three times, removes the excess salt before cooking.
How is chiquetaille de morue served?
It is served cold, as a starter, on slices of toasted bread or as a garnish alongside accras. It suits both a family meal and an aperitif shared with several guests.
Where to find the ingredients for chiquetaille de morue in France?
NKOSI does not sell dried salt cod, a fresh product to find at the fishmonger, but offers the garlic, chilli and lime juice for this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
