Bacalao: A Unique Kristiansund Culinary Tradition

Learn to make the Portuguese-Norwegian hybrid stew Norwegians call Bacalao, first created in the coastal city of Kristiansund and now a popular festmåltid (celebration dish) beloved throughout Norway. Several generations in Kristiansund’s Nordmøre region have honed their skills and built lore around this Mediterranean-influenced cod-based stew.

Learn about the unique culture and history of Kristiansund and klippfisk (dried salted cod) that led to this unusually flavorful and colorful culinary tradition, experiment with different variations to find your favorite recipe, sample beverage pairings, and have some bacalao to take home (like any stew, it’s even better the next day!).

Instructor Joseph Grodahl is the executive director of the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove, Minnesota. He is the son of a Kristiansund native and is very willing to tell you what an exceptional city it is.

Students of the class can purchase an additional pound of stew to take home for $15, paid directly to the instructor, as supplies allow.