Bacalhau à Brás (Shredded Salt Cod with Eggs and Potatoes)

Among Portugal’s best-known salt cod dishes, Bacalhau à Brás turns a few everyday ingredients into a deeply savoury pan of flaked cod, onion, crisp shoestring potatoes and softly set eggs. The character of the dish comes from the way the briny cod is mellowed by sweet garlic-scented onion, then bound just enough with egg so it stays tender rather than dry. Black olives and parsley add the familiar salty, fresh finish. It is best served straight from the pan, while the potatoes still keep some bite and the eggs remain glossy.
Cuisine style Portuguese home cooking
Flavor profile Savoury • Briny • Umami-rich
Techniques Sautéing • Pan-frying • Soft scrambling
Key equipment Large frying pan • Large pot • Colander
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Crisp and soft textures: Golden shoestring potatoes add bite against tender flakes of cod and softly set eggs.
  • Layered savoury flavour: Salt cod, sweet onion, garlic and olives build a deeply savoury base without needing a heavy sauce.
  • Classic finishing method: Folding the eggs through gently at the end keeps the mixture glossy and cohesive rather than dry.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Check the salt cod: Salt cod varies widely, so taste a small flake after simmering. If it is still very salty, soak briefly in fresh cold water before continuing.
  • Choose the right potato: Yukon Gold gives a tender interior with good colour, while a starchier potato can make a drier, crisper shoestring fry.
  • Use fresh herbs: Fresh parsley gives the clean finish this dish needs; dried herbs will not provide the same lift.

Texture tips

  • Dry the potatoes well: After rinsing, pat the shoestring potatoes thoroughly dry so they fry rather than steam.
  • Keep the eggs glossy: Lower the heat before adding the eggs and stop cooking while they still look slightly soft; residual heat will finish them.
  • Serve promptly: The potatoes keep their best texture when the dish is served straight after the eggs are folded through.

Common mistakes

  • Season cautiously: Because the cod and olives are already salty, add extra salt only after tasting the combined mixture.
  • Avoid high heat with the eggs: Too much heat turns the eggs firm and dry instead of softly binding the cod and potatoes.
  • Do not over-stir the potatoes: Fold gently once the potatoes are added so they stay distinct rather than breaking into the eggs.

Authenticity notes

  • Portuguese comfort dish: Bacalhau à Brás is a well-known Portuguese salt cod dish, valued for turning preserved cod, potatoes and eggs into a complete main course.
  • Classic finishing touches: Black olives and parsley are more than garnish here; they bring the briny and fresh notes that balance the richness of the eggs.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Rinse the salted cod, then put it in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring just to a gentle simmer, cook for 8 minutes, then drain in a colander and cool slightly. Flake into small pieces, discarding any skin and bones.
  2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into fine shoestrings. Rinse briefly under cold water, then drain well and pat dry. Set aside while you prepare the onion and garlic.
  3. Thinly slice the onion and finely chop the garlic. Heat 3 tbsp of the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. In a separate frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shoestring potatoes and cook, turning often, for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Season with the fine sea salt, then tip onto a plate.
  5. Add the flaked cod to the onion and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes to warm through. Add the crisp potatoes and toss gently to combine. Reduce the heat to low.
  6. Beat the eggs with the black pepper in a mixing bowl. Pour the eggs into the pan and fold continuously for 2 to 4 minutes until softly set and still a little glossy. Take off the heat straight away so the eggs do not overcook.
  7. Roughly chop the black pitted olives and finely chop the fresh parsley. Fold most of the olives and parsley through the bacalhau, then scatter the rest over the top. Serve hot.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • Salted cod varies a lot in saltiness, so taste a small flake after simmering and draining; if it is still very salty, soak it in cold water for 20 minutes, drain well, then continue.
  • For the best texture, keep the heat low once the eggs go in and stop cooking while they are still slightly glossy; the residual heat will finish them.
  • If serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, use eggs that are safe to eat lightly cooked and make sure the dish is served piping hot.

Substitutions

  • Replace Yukon Gold potato with russet potato for a drier, crisper shoestring fry.
  • Replace fresh parsley with fresh coriander for a different herbal finish.
  • Replace black pitted olives with green pitted olives for a sharper, fruitier bite.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Cool quickly, cover and refrigerate. Reheat gently in a frying pan over low heat with a small splash of water until piping hot; avoid high heat or the eggs will turn dry.

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Bacalhau à Brás (Shredded Salt Cod with Eggs and Potatoes)
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 55min (35min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Portuguese
  • Allergens:
    Eggs Fish

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