Cod, Food for Meatless Days

Catholics in Europe looked upon cod as manna from heaven.

he Catholic Church imposed over 150 meatless days a year, depending on the diocese. On those days, people who lived in coastal areas ate fresh saltwater fish, and those in the interior ate fresh freshwater fish, or saltwater fish that had been salted, dried or smoked so it would keep longer.

In the Middle Ages, cod already had significant commercial value in Europe. There was considerable demand for the fish, which kept well and tasted good.

Atlantic Cod

Cod (Gadus morhua) is a groundfish that travels in schools in the cold waters of the Atlantic.

t weighs on average two to four kilograms, measures 40 to 80 centimetres and is quite prolific. A very large female lays about five million eggs.

Once the liver is removed, cod can be transported long distances, and it keeps well when salted or dried. All the oil (and thus fat) in its body is concentrated in the liver.