Jul 09 2026
Restaurants›PortuCale Restaurant & Bar›Bolinhos De Bacalhau A Portucale Recipe

Bolinhos De Bacalhau A Portucale Recipe

Inspired by PortuCale Restaurant & Bar
Time1h 30m
Serves4

Homemade Fried Codfish Pastries

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Main Ingredients

For Frying

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Codfish

    Soak the salted codfish in water for 24 hours, changing the water every 8 hours to remove excess salt. After soaking, drain and boil the codfish in fresh water for about 15 minutes until cooked. Once cooked, shred the codfish into small pieces, removing any bones.

  2. 2

    Cook the Potatoes

    Peel the potatoes and boil them in salted water until they are fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow them to cool slightly before mashing them in a bowl.

  3. 3

    Prepare Aromatics

    Finely chop the onion and garlic. In a small pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

  4. 4

    Combine Ingredients

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded codfish, mashed potatoes, sautéed onion and garlic, chopped parsley, black pepper, and the egg. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.

Frying

  1. 5

    Shape the Pastries

    With your hands, take spoonfuls of the mixture and shape them into small oval or round patties, about 1 inch thick.

  2. 6

    Heat the Oil

    In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches around 180°C (350°F). You can test the oil by dropping a small piece of the mixture; it should sizzle immediately.

  3. 7

    Fry the Bolinhos

    Carefully add the shaped patties to the hot oil in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels.

  4. 8

    Serve

    Serve the bolinhos de bacalhau hot with a side of lemon wedges and dipping sauce of your choice.

More from PortuCale Restaurant & Bar