Bacalao con Pimientos y Cebolla

Written by
Lisa & Tony Sierra
Lisa and Tony Sierra are freelance writers and Spanish food experts who lead culinary tours of the country.
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Lisa & Tony Sierra
Updated 03/12/21
Bacalhau Gravy Served With Rice Alex Ortega / EyeEm / Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Soaking: 24 hrs
Total: 24 hrs 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
511 Calories
30g Fat
33g Carbs
30g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 511
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 353mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Protein 30g
Calcium 119mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Salt cod sautéed in garlic-infused olive oil, then smothered in a "pisto" of peppers, onions, and tomatoes. It is such a simple and tasty dish. It is easy enough for a novice cook. Serve this fresh-tasting fish with home-made fried potatoes or rustic bread. This cod recipe is from the Basque Country or Pais Vasco.

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb. salt cod
  • 3 dried red peppers (pimientos choriceros or other sweet dried peppers)
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 yellow or white onion
  • 4 oz. Spanish virgin olive oil for frying
  • 3 Italian green peppers
  • 3 ripe tomatoes
  • Salt to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Salted codfish must be soaked in water for AT LEAST 24 hours, preferably 48, before cooking. This is necessary to leach out the salt. Change the water 2 to 3 times in a 24-hour period. If the fish is not soaked for 24 to 48 hours, the fish will be so salty as to render it inedible.

  2. Rinse the salt cod in water before soaking. Place the fish in a glass baking dish or bowl and cover with cold water. Place in the refrigerator and then every 8 hours change the water. When ready to use, discard water, rinse fish again, and pat dry. Cut into 8 pieces and set aside.

  3. Remove stems from dried peppers and soak in a saucepan of hot water until softened.

  4. Peel and slice garlic lengthwise. Peel and chop onion. Remove stems and seeds from green peppers and chop into small squares.

  5. Pour about 4 oz of olive oil into a large frying pan and heat on medium. Place garlic slices into oil and sauté for 2 minutes. Remove garlic slices before they brown and set aside for later. Place cod into the garlic-infused oil and fry on both sides for 5-10 minutes. Remove cod and set aside. Scrape the flesh from the inside of the re-hydrated peppers and stir into the pan juices.

  6. In a separate large frying pan, sauté onion, peppers, and tomatoes in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, stirring often. When vegetables have formed a "pisto," turn off heat.