Back
BRA_Bolinho DeBacalhau_Free_shutterstock_159456725

'Salgadinho' roughly translates as a snack or appetiser, but in Brazil they are particularly associated with celebration, and are also eaten as bar food in a similar way to Spanish tapas. Here we share the recipe for one of our favourite Brazilian salgadinhos, the delicious bolinho de bacalhau.

  • Prep: 30 minutes
  • Cook: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Total time: 2 hours
  • Recipe serves: 10

Ingredients

  • 500g dried salt cod
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 500 ml (2 cups) cooled mashed potato
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 4 peppercorns
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Place salt cod in a bowl of cold water to soak and soften. For best results, leave in refrigerator overnight (change water two or three times if possible).
  2. Drain the cod and remove any skin or bones before cutting into small chunks.
  3. Half-fill a saucepan with water and add the peppercorns, bay leaf and onion. Bring to boil, then allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cod and 2 cups of cold water, then return to a simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and allow to cool before draining the cod, discarding the seasoning and onion. Flake the cod using a fork into a large bowl.
  5. Stir in the mashed potato, eggs and parsley. Let the mixture stand for around half an hour, then form it into small balls.
  6. Deep-fry the balls in batches for around 5 minutes or until golden, either using a deep fryer or in shallow oil in a frying pan (use enough oil to at least partially submerge them), and drain on paper towels.
  7. Serve hot – preferably alongside a cold beer!

Tailor-made holidays

Flexible, custom-made holidays to Latin America created to match your exact requirements: our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as the clients for whom they are designed.

Design my trip

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

0 1 2 3 4 5