Bacalhau à Brás: how to put it on the menu
Bacalhau à Brás is shredded salt cod sautéed with onion and matchstick potatoes, bound with beaten eggs that stay creamy, and served with black olives and chopped parsley. It is one of the most ordered cod dishes in Portugal.
Updated October 2026
How it reads on the menu, in each language
| Language | Name | Line for the guest |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | Bacalhau à Brás | Bacalhau desfiado com batata palha, cebola e ovo mexido, com azeitonas pretas e salsa. |
| English | Bacalhau à Brás | Shredded salt cod with matchstick potatoes, onion and soft scrambled egg, finished with black olives and parsley. |
| Spanish | Bacalhau à Brás | Bacalao desmigado con patatas paja, cebolla y huevo revuelto, con aceitunas negras y perejil. |
| French | Bacalhau à Brás | Morue effilochée aux pommes paille, oignon et œufs brouillés, avec olives noires et persil. |
Usual allergens to check
- Eggs
- Fish
A guide based on the traditional recipe. Only your recipe and your suppliers tell you what the dish contains. How to list allergens
What Bacalhau à Brás is
The recipe is credited to a tavern keeper in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto named Brás. The secret is the egg: it should stay moist, never dry.
How to write it for visitors
Visitors do not know that “à Brás” means egg and potato. The line in the table fixes that in one sentence. If you serve a version with caramelised onion or without olives, say so.
In Spanish avoid “bacalao a la Brás” with no explanation — the word “Brás” means nothing outside Portugal.
Where and when it is eaten
In Lisbon and all over Portugal, in tascas, restaurants and home cooking. See also bacalhau com natas and bacalhau à Gomes de Sá.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens does bacalhau à Brás contain?
Fish (the cod) and egg. Bought matchstick potatoes may have been fried in shared oil; check with your supplier.
How do I write bacalhau à Brás in English?
Keep “Bacalhau à Brás” and explain it: “shredded salt cod with matchstick potatoes, onion and soft scrambled egg”.