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Bolinhos de Bacalhau — traditional dish from All regions, Portugal
Snack Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥400kcal
💪20gProtein
🌾40gCarbs
🥑20gFat
🌿3gFibre
⚖️200 gServing

* Per serving · 200 g. May vary.

Allergens

🐟 Fish 🌾 Gluten 🥚 Eggs

Bolinhos de Bacalhau

How to order / say it
Say it Codfish Fritters — [boo-LEEN-yosh deh bah-kahl-YOW]
Order I'd like the codfish fritters, please.
Locally Quero os bolinhos de bacalhau, por favor.
Say locally

Fried patties of salted cod and mashed potatoes.

Why try it?

Traditional at gatherings and celebrations, these fritters are a part of the Portuguese diasporic culinary tradition, offering a comforting taste of both nostalgia and tradition in every bite.

How it tastes

The fritters are golden and crispy on the outside while creamy inside, with a strong, distinctive taste of salted cod blending perfectly with the soft potato base.

Origin & History — first documented: 1800

First appearing in regional kitchens during the 19th century, bolinhos de bacalhau quickly took hold as a national favorite by providing a flavorful, economical meal using Portugal's abundant cod.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🐟 300 g salted cod
  • 🥕 300 g potatoes
  • 🥚 2 eggs
  • 🫒 30 ml olive oil
  • 🌿 15 g parsley
  • 🧄 50 g onion

Method

  1. 1 Desalt cod by soaking it in cold water overnight.
  2. 2 Boil cod and potatoes until tender, then mash.
  3. 3 Mix cod, potatoes, eggs, onion, and parsley.
  4. 4 Shape into balls and fry until golden.
All Europe recipes — Portugal — Lisbon — Bolinhos de Bacalhau
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