Bacalhau com natas: how to put it on the menu
Bacalhau com natas is shredded salt cod with onion and diced fried potatoes, folded into a creamy sauce of cream and béchamel and browned in the oven. It is a baked, serving-dish meal, very common at Sunday lunch and on group menus.
Updated October 2026
How it reads on the menu, in each language
| Language | Name | Line for the guest |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | Bacalhau com natas | Bacalhau desfiado com batata e cebola em molho de natas, gratinado no forno. |
| English | Bacalhau com natas | Salt cod baked with potatoes and onion in a creamy sauce, browned in the oven. |
| Spanish | Bacalhau com natas | Bacalao con patatas y cebolla en salsa de nata, gratinado al horno. |
| French | Bacalhau com natas | Morue aux pommes de terre et oignons dans une sauce à la crème, gratinée au four. |
Usual allergens to check
- Gluten
- Fish
- Milk
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 com natas is
The béchamel contains flour, butter and milk, which makes this one of the cod dishes with the most allergens.
How to write it for visitors
“With cream” describes it, but does not say it is baked or that it contains potato. Use the full line from the table. If you serve it as a single portion or as a dish for two, say so in the name or price.
Where and when it is eaten
All over Portugal, from Coimbra to the Algarve, in traditional restaurants and in places that cater for groups.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens does bacalhau com natas contain?
Fish, milk (cream, milk and butter in the béchamel) and gluten (flour in the béchamel). If you top it with cheese or breadcrumbs, check those too.
Is bacalhau com natas the same as bacalhau à Brás?
No. Bacalhau à Brás is pan-tossed with egg and matchstick potatoes; bacalhau com natas is baked in a cream sauce.