Pataniscas de Bacalhau in the Air FryerSalt Cod Fritters

Pataniscas de bacalhau are flat, ragged salt cod fritters: shredded bacalhau, onion and parsley in an egg batter, spooned into hot oil. Lisbon tascas serve them as a petisco with a cold drink or as lunch with arroz de feijão (bean rice). They're cheap, quick and a good way to use the end pieces of a salt cod loin.

The classic batter is loose, and a loose batter just drips through an air fryer basket. Two things make this version work: a thicker batter that holds its shape on a spoon, and a liner or parchment underneath so the fritters set before you turn them.

The recipe

Pataniscas de Bacalhau in the Air FryerSalt Cod Fritters

Pataniscas de bacalhau in the air fryer: Lisbon's salt cod fritters with a thicker batter, cooked on a liner. Honest about what changes from deep-fried.

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Prep20 min

Cook24 min

Total44 min

Serves4

Ingredients

MetricUS

Serves

4

½×1×2×3×

• 300 g soaked salt cod, thin pieces or ends (weight after soaking)
• 150 g plain flour
• 3 eggs
• 120 ml milk, or the water you poached the cod in
• 1 small onion, very finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Black pepper
• Olive oil for spraying

Method

1. Soak the cod in cold water in the fridge for 24-48 hours, changing the water 3-4 times (see how to soak bacalhau).
2. Put the cod in a pan of cold water, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Drain, keeping some of the water, then remove skin and bones and shred the fish into thin threads.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, eggs and milk into a smooth, thick batter, about the texture of thick pancake batter. It should drop slowly from a spoon, not run.
4. Stir in the cod, onion, garlic and parsley. Season with pepper and taste before adding any salt. Rest the batter for 10 minutes.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C for 3 minutes. Put a perforated liner or a piece of parchment in the basket and spray it with olive oil.
6. Drop heaped tablespoons of batter onto the liner, leaving space between them, and flatten each one slightly. Spray the tops with olive oil.
7. Air fry at 200 °C for 7 minutes, until the tops are set. Turn them over, spray again and cook for 4-5 minutes more, until golden.
8. Cook in batches and keep the cooked pataniscas warm in a low oven. Serve hot.

Notes

Amazon best seller

Air fryer parchment liners, 125 pack

Stops wet mixtures like pastéis and croquetes from sticking to the basket.

Tip: Never preheat the air fryer with an empty liner inside.

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Clear ticks

Tap ingredients and steps to tick them off. Scaling changes the quantities at the start of each line; check the rest by eye.

Liner or parchment: what's the difference

A perforated liner lets hot air reach the underside, so the bottom browns more evenly and you get a slightly crisper fritter. Plain parchment holds runny batter better but steams the base a little, so the second side matters more. Never preheat the air fryer with loose parchment inside: without food on it, it can lift into the heating element.

Deep-fried vs air fryer

Be honest about what changes. Fried pataniscas are lacy and crunchy at the edges, because the loose batter spreads and frizzles in the oil. Air-fried ones are thicker, softer and more like a savoury pancake, with golden spots rather than an all-over crust. The flavour of cod, onion and parsley is the same, and they're much less greasy.

What to serve with them

In Lisbon the classic plate is pataniscas com arroz de feijão, a soft, slightly soupy rice cooked with red beans. A tomato and onion salad also works. For more ideas, see our salt cod recipe collection or try pastéis de bacalhau, the potato-based cousin.

From the shop

What you’ll need

Links go to Amazon, where you can check today’s price. If you buy, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Amazon best seller

Air fryer parchment liners, 125 pack

Stops wet mixtures like pastéis and croquetes from sticking to the basket.

Tip: Never preheat the air fryer with an empty liner inside.

View on Amazon

Amazon best seller

Cosori TurboBlaze 6 Qt Air Fryer

One of Amazon's best-selling air fryers. The 6 Qt basket fits a batch of pastéis de bacalhau or chicken thighs for four, and the ceramic coating is PFAS-free.

Tip: Size is what matters for Portuguese cooking: 5.5–6 Qt feeds 2–4 people in one batch.

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Portuguese

Lisboeta by Nuno Mendes

Lisbon's food in a beautiful hardback by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes: tascas, petiscos and city classics.

Tip: A lovely gift for anyone who fell for Lisbon.

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