Portuguese Fish Dishes

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 ... READ MORE

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 i... READ MORE

Bacalhau 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 ... READ MORE

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: t... READ MORE

Arroz de bacalhau is a simple Portuguese dish consisting of salt cod, rice (often of the basmati or carolino variety), sautéed onions, garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, peppers, water or vegetable or fish stock, and white wine.... READ MORE

This 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 ... READ MORE

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 se... READ MORE

Traditionally prepared for every Christmas Eve dinner in Portugal, bacalhau à Gomes de Sá is a festive dish made with salt cod, potatoes, and onions. Those key ingredients are layered in a pan, topped with hard-boiled egg slices, bak... READ MORE

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 ... READ MORE

Bacalhau com todos is a festive Portuguese dish that is traditionally prepared every Christmas Eve and served for dinner. Literally translated to cod with everything, the dish is made with boiled cod, hard-boiled egg slices, and vegetables such as... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

Sopa de cação is a traditional specialty made with slices of dogfish shark cooked in a flavorful broth infused with garlic and coriander. The dish is traditionally served over sliced bread, and it is occasionally thickened with flour... READ MORE

Bacalhau à Zé do Pipo is a traditional dish consisting of cod that has been boiled in milk, onions, mashed potatoes, and mayonnaise. The dish is typically baked in an oven as a casserole, after which it is often garnished with olives... READ MORE

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 ... READ MORE

Originating from Aveiro, famous for its eels, caldeirada de enguias is a flavorful Portuguese eel stew that is typically seasoned with saffron and accompanied by onions, potatoes, and bell peppers. The stew should be cooked on medium heat without ... READ MORE

This cod-based dish is usually associated with Lisbon. It consists of salt cod that is cooked with chickpeas and typically also includes sliced onions, boiled eggs, potatoes, olive oil, parsley, paprika, and vinegar. Although it is usually served ... READ MORE

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 slic... READ MORE

A culinary specialty hailing from the coast of Algarve, carapaus alimados is made by dry-salting fresh, gutted, and headed Atlantic horse mackerels with sea salt before boiling them in water and finally removing their entire skin and side bones. T... READ MORE

Espada com banana is a traditional fish dish originating from Madeira. The dish is usually made with a combination of espada (black scabbardfish), bananas, olive oil, flour, eggs, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and oregano. The fish is fillete... READ MORE

Petinga frita is a traditional dish of small sardines, known as "petingas," that have been fried until crispy. The preparation typically involves coating the sardines in corn flour or flour and seasoning them with salt before frying them in hot oi... READ MORE

Punheta de bacalhau is a traditional dish made with shredded salted cod (bacalhau) that is soaked to remove excess salt and then mixed with olive oil, garlic, onions, parsley, pepper, and sometimes black olives and vinegar. This cold salad is typi... READ MORE

Enguias fritas are traditional Portuguese fried eels, commonly enjoyed in coastal regions. The eels are typically cleaned, cut into pieces, seasoned, and then coated in flour or breadcrumbs before being deep-fried until golden and crispy. They are... READ MORE

This traditional Portuguese dish consists of rice and sliced conger eel. It's mainly associated with the Algarve region. Other ingredients for the dish typically include onions, garlic, tomatoes, white wine, parsley, bay leaves, coriander, and oli... READ MORE