Portuguese Cod with Cream
A comforting classic of Portuguese cuisine. Flaky salt cod in a creamy sauce with potatoes and onion, topped with cheese and baked until golden.
📖 The Story
Portugal has over a thousand ways to prepare salt cod – so many that they say "one recipe for each day of the year and one more for Christmas Day". Bacalhau com Natas represents the perfect fusion between the tradition of salt cod and the French influence of béchamel sauce. While older recipes used only olive oil, this more recent and comforting version has earned a special place on Portuguese tables, especially during celebrations and family gatherings. The gratinéed cheese on top adds a texture that makes this dish true comfort food.
🧺 Ingredients
- 400g salt cod flakes, soaked for 6 hours
- 400g potatoes, peeled and diced
- Olive oil
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp flour
- 300ml milk
- 200ml fresh cream
- Fresh parsley
- Nutmeg, salt and black pepper to taste
- 100g mozzarella cheese
- 50g parmesan cheese
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rinse and drain the soaked cod, place it in a medium pot and cover with hot water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- 2
Drain the fish, saving 1 cup of the cooking water.
- 3
In another pot, combine the butter, flour and a drizzle of olive oil. Place over low-medium heat, and after the butter melts, cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- 4
Add the milk and fish water, stirring until thickened to a bechamel consistency.
- 5
Stir in the fresh cream and season with nutmeg, salt and black pepper.
- 6
In a frying pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil, the onions and garlic. Fry until the onions are translucent. Add the fish and fry for another 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
- 7
In the same pan, cover the bottom with olive oil. Fry the potatoes in batches until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- 8
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- 9
Combine the sauce, potatoes and fish. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
- 10
Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
- 11
Serve sprinkled with fresh parsley.