Maria’s Portuguese Bacalau
Maria's Portuguese Bacalau is a traditional dish that is easy to make and tastes good. It's great for serving at parties.
The salted cod needs to soak in water for 24 hours before you can cook it. Change the water a few times during this time.
The dish is made with layers of potatoes, cod, and onions, topped with olives and hard-cooked eggs.
By Nadia Kovalenko
Posted October 3, 2026Share
Time
Calories
Servings
Difficulty
Description
Maria's Portuguese Bacalau is a traditional dish that is easy to make and tastes good. It's great for serving at parties.
The salted cod needs to soak in water for 24 hours before you can cook it. Change the water a few times during this time.
The dish is made with layers of potatoes, cod, and onions, topped with olives and hard-cooked eggs.
Quick Tip Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
Ingredients 12
2 pounds dried salted cod fish
0.75 cup olive oil
0.5 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
2 cloves garlic, chopped, divided
1.5 teaspoons red pepper flakes
freshly ground pepper to taste
4 Yukon Gold potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
10 pitted green olives
10 pitted black olives
4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
Instructions
-
1
Soak 2 pounds dried salted cod in cold water for 24 hours, changing the water several times.
-
2
Boil the soaked cod in a large pot of water until it flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes. Remove the cod skin and bones, then flake the meat into pieces.
-
3
Mix 0.75 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, 1 clove chopped garlic, 1.5 teaspoons red pepper flakes, and some black pepper in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the cod and toss lightly to coat.
-
4
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x11-inch baking dish.
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5
Boil 4 Yukon Gold potatoes in the water used for cooking the cod until they are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, peel, and slice them into 1/4-inch thick pieces.
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6
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 thinly sliced yellow onions and cook until they are golden and caramelized. Stir in the remaining 1 clove chopped garlic.
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7
Layer half of the potatoes, half of the cod, and half of the onions in the prepared baking dish. Repeat the layers, ending with the onions.
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8
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Garnish with 10 pitted green olives, 10 pitted black olives, and 4 chopped hard-cooked eggs, and sprinkle with the remaining 7 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 8
Amount Per Serving
-
Calories 701 kcal
% Daily Value *
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Total Fat 31g
-
Saturated Fat 7g
-
Cholesterol 277mg
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Sodium 8223mg
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Total Carbohydrate 25g
-
Dietary Fiber 3g
-
Protein 77g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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