Where does Bacalhau à Brás come from?

Bacalhau à Brás — country of origin: Portugal.

What is Bacalhau à Brás made of?

Salt cod, straw potato, onion, garlic, egg, black olive, parsley, olive oil.

Which allergens does Bacalhau à Brás contain?

Contains eggs and egg products. Contains fish and fish products.

How do you pronounce Bacalhau à Brás?

Bacalhau à Brás (European Portuguese) is pronounced /bɐkɐˈʎaw a ˈbɾaʃ/.

Bacalhau à Brás

Pronunciation (IPA) /bɐkɐˈʎaw a ˈbɾaʃ/

Shredded salt cod pan-fried with straw potatoes and bound in soft scrambled egg, finished with black olives and parsley — one of Portugal's most-cooked bacalhau dishes.

Also known as: Bacalhau a Brás

Allergens & declarations

Contains

Egg

Contains eggs and egg products

Fish

Contains fish and fish products

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Bacalhau à Brás is shredded salt cod pan-fried with straw-cut potatoes and bound in soft scrambled egg — one of Portugal's most-cooked bacalhau dishes, said to have been invented in a tavern in Lisbon's Bairro Alto.

What it really is

Desalted, poached cod is shredded into fine flakes and fried in olive oil with onion and garlic. Straw-cut fried potatoes, bought ready-made by most kitchens, are stirred in; beaten eggs go in off the heat and are folded through only until soft and creamy, never set firm. Black olives and parsley finish the dish.

It is a dish built to use up bacalhau, not to showcase it whole. Portugal is said to have a recipe for salt cod for every day of the year, and à Brás — named for the tavern keeper credited with inventing it — is the one built entirely around egg and potato rather than a sauce.

How it is served

Hot, straight from the pan, scattered with black olives and parsley.
As a plate on its own, not with rice or bread.
The egg stays soft — an overcooked à Brás turns into an omelette.

Say the potatoes are fried and the cod is salted, not fresh — both explain the texture and the saltiness.
Mention the egg; a soft scramble is not what every guest expects from a "cod dish."

Typical ingredients

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Frequently asked questions

What is Bacalhau à Brás?: Shredded salt cod pan-fried with straw potatoes and bound in soft scrambled egg, finished with black olives and parsley — one of Portugal's most-cooked bacalhau dishes.
Where does Bacalhau à Brás come from?: Bacalhau à Brás — country of origin: Portugal.
What is Bacalhau à Brás made of?: Salt cod, straw potato, onion, garlic, egg, black olive, parsley, olive oil.
Which allergens does Bacalhau à Brás contain?: Contains eggs and egg products. Contains fish and fish products.
What is Bacalhau à Brás also known as?: Bacalhau a Brás.
How do you pronounce Bacalhau à Brás?: Bacalhau à Brás (European Portuguese) is pronounced /bɐkɐˈʎaw a ˈbɾaʃ/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.