Maria's Salted Cod Dish

Dissolve dried salted cod in cold water for 24 hours, periodically changing the water to maintain its clarity.

Heat a large pot of water to boiling point. Add soaked cod; cook until it breaks apart easily with a fork, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer cod to a cutting board; reserve the water for cooking potatoes. Remove cod skin and bones, then flake the meat into pieces using a fork; set aside in a large bowl.

Combine olive oil, 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley, 1 clove minced garlic, pepper flakes, and black pepper in a small bowl; pour over cod and gently mix to coat.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease an 8x11-inch baking dish.

Submerge potatoes in the reserved pot of salt cod cooking water; bring to a boil. Cook until they become tender, around 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes under cool water, peel them, and cut into 1/4-inch slices.

While potatoes cook, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions; sauté until they turn golden and caramelized. Stir in the remaining 1 clove of minced garlic; set aside.

Layer half of the potatoes at the bottom of the prepared baking dish; cover with half of the cod, then half of the onions. Repeat layers, finishing with onions.

Bake in the preheated oven until it lightly browns, approximately 15 minutes. Garnish with olives and hard-cooked eggs; sprinkle with the remaining 7 tablespoons of chopped parsley.