Bolinhos de bacalhau: salt cod fritters

Portugal (national)

The Portuguese salt cod fritters — small oval cakes of shredded bacalhau, potato, egg, parsley, and onion, fried in olive oil until golden and crisp outside, yielding and fragrant within. Known as bolinhos de bacalhau (little balls of cod) in Portugal and pastéis de bacalhau in Brazil, they are among the most universally eaten Portuguese preparations — appearing at every café counter, every party table, and every family lunch table throughout the year. The technique requires the correct potato-to-cod ratio (more potato than cod, which is the Portuguese style — the Brazilian version inverts this) and a gentle frying temperature that allows the interior to heat through before the exterior over-browns.

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