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Bacalhau com natas is one of the most famous Portuguese dishes made with salted cod. The dish is a combination of soaked or boiled cod topped with diced fried potatoes, generously doused with cream and baked until golden brown in color. Since it is extremely popular, it appears in numerous versions.
The dish often incorporates onions, béchamel sauce instead of cream, cheese, white wine, and a variety of spices. A staple restaurant dish, bacalhau com natas is also an indispensable part of Portuguese Christmas tradition.
MOST ICONIC Bacalhau com natas
View moreBacalhau à bras is a simple Portuguese dish consisting of cooked and shredded salt cod, fried potato strips, onions, eggs, and olives. A delicious combination of flavors and textures results in an incredibly satisfying dish that is popular throughout the country.
It is usually garnished with parsley and served hot, while the potatoes are still crispy. Believed to have originated in the Lisbon quarter Bairro Alto, today bacalhau à bras is one of the most famous Portuguese salt cod dishes.
MOST ICONIC Bacalhau à brás
View moreThis complex Portuguese dish consists of salt cod fillets that are slowly cooked in milk, then topped with sautéed onions and a crumbly mixture of Portuguese cornmeal bread (broa), garlic, parsley, egg yolks, and olive oil. During baking, the broa mixture keeps the fish moist and succulent and transforms into a crisp golden crust.
The whole combination is usually topped with olives and a drizzle of olive oil. The dish is best served alongside potatoes and a glass of Portuguese red wine.
This simple dish is one of the most common preparations of salt cod in Portugal. It consists of baked or boiled potatoes that are partially crushed and then salted before they are topped with previously soaked cod that has been grilled or baked separately.
The dish is then served doused in olive oil, and it is usually topped with sautéed onions or garlic, red peppers, black olives, or fresh parsley. The origin of the dish is typically associated with the Beira region, but nowadays it is commonly enjoyed throughout the country.
Cod-based dishes are a Portuguese staple, and it is often suggested that there are more than one thousand recipes in which dried and salted cod is the star ingredient. This includes simple, everyday dishes, as well as more elaborate versions that are usually served on special occasions, including Christmas Eve and Good Friday.
Interestingly, cod is traditionally not caught off the Portuguese coast, but it became a prominent ingredient in the traditional cuisine during the exploration era because it could be stored for longer periods. Salted cod is primarily soaked in water, and later it can be used in a variety of ways, which include grilling, cooking, frying, or braising.
MOST ICONIC Bacalhau
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Grilled sardines are a simple, traditional seafood dish especially common in coastal Mediterranean areas and during summer months, when fresh sardines are plentiful. The dish is straightforward and emphasizes the natural flavors of the sardines: they are typically marinated in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt (although a variety of spices and herbs can also be added, depending on the region) before being grilled over a charcoal fire.
The dish is usually served as an appetizer or a part of a meze, along with bread, boiled potatoes, sautéed vegetables, or salads, and is best paired with lighter, sweeter local white wines.
MOST ICONIC Sardinhas assadas
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Pataniscas are traditional Portuguese fritters made primarily from salted cod (bacalhau). The dish is characterized by its simple batter, which typically includes flour, eggs, and finely chopped onions and garlic, mixed with flaked cod. The batter is then spooned into hot oil and fried until golden brown and crispy.
Pataniscas are commonly served as appetizers or snacks, often accompanied by a side of rice, salad, or beans. They are a popular choice in Portuguese cuisine for their flavorful and satisfying taste. These fritters are especially connected with the city of Lisbon and the Estremadura province.
Arroz de tamboril is a traditional dish prepared with rice and monkfish as the main ingredients. This stew also contains bell peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, fish stock, olive oil. It's usually flavored with fresh herbs such as bay leaves and chopped parsley.
Once done, arroz de tamboril is served while still hot. This dish is sometimes enriched with the addition of shrimps, if desired.
MOST ICONIC Arroz de tamboril
This traditional Portuguese bread soup combines cod, rustic bread, and a flavorful broth that is generously seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs. The whole soup is usually topped with a poached egg, and the cod is either left whole or mashed with bread to achieve a thick and creamy consistency.
Always served hot, açorda de bacalhau is usually enjoyed as a filling main course.
MOST ICONIC Açorda de bacalhau
As the name suggests, this simple cod-based dish hails from Algarve. It consists of salt cod that is soaked before it is dusted with flour and pan-fried in olive oil. The cod is served topped with sautéed onions and garlic, while thick slices of boiled potatoes are served on the side.
The dish is typically sprinkled with fresh parsley.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 23 Portuguese Fish Dishes” list until March 21, 2025, 1,753 ratings were recorded, of which 1,245 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.