Bacalao Al Pil-Pil with Lemon and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A silky, emulsified cod dish where oil and garlic create a luxurious sauce that clings to the tender salted cod, a signature Basque preparation. This Basque-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs salted cod, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Basque cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

10 oz, soaked overnight in cold water salted cod
1/2 cup olive oil
4, thinly sliced garlic cloves
1, thinly sliced lemon
3 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat soaked cod dry with paper towels and cut into 1-inch pieces. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat until shimmering, then add garlic and cook gently for 3 minutes until golden but not browned.
Step 2: Remove garlic from oil with a slotted spoon, reserving the oil. Add cod pieces to the pan and cook gently for 5 minutes per side until tender. Remove cod and set aside.
Step 3: Return the garlic oil to the pan over low heat. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil in a slow, steady stream while cooking for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture emulsifies and thickens slightly to a sauce-like consistency.
Step 4: Reduce heat to very low, add cooked cod and lemon slices, and gently stir for 1 minute until the sauce coats the fish. Stir in 3 tbsp chopped parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper.
Step 5: Serve immediately, spooning the sauce generously over the cod, with crusty bread to soak up the rich pil-pil.