Bacalao with Caramelized Onion Recipe: Spanish Classic 2026

Bacalao con cebolla is a Spanish classic built on contrasts: flaky cod loin, lightly floured and pan-fried, then finished under a blanket of sweet caramelized onions and a splash of white wine. It is proof that a handful of humble ingredients can deliver something deeply satisfying.

The onions do the heavy lifting here. As they cook slowly, they turn golden and jammy, and that sweetness balances the savory, salty edge of the fish beautifully. The wine deglazes the pan and ties everything together in just five final minutes.

With only six ingredients and 45 minutes from start to finish, this is a weeknight-friendly main dish that still feels special enough for a weekend table. Serve it hot, straight from the pan, with good bread to soak up the sweet onion juices.

Ingredients for Bacalao with Caramelized Onion

Makes 2 servings

• 2 pieces of cod loin (about 200 g each)
• 30 g wheat flour
• 30 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 2 sweet onions
• Salt
• 100 ml white wine

How to Make Bacalao with Caramelized Onion Step by Step

1. Flour the cod

If you are using frozen cod, move the two pieces of loin from the freezer to the fridge the day before so they thaw properly. When you are ready to cook, pat the fish dry with paper towels to remove excess water, then spread the 30 g of flour on a plate and coat the cod in it, shaking off any excess.

2. Fry the cod and set it aside

Pour the 30 ml of extra virgin olive oil into a skillet and let it heat up. Add the cod and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds on each side, then lift it out of the pan and set it aside for later.

3. Slice the onions

Cut the 2 onions into julienne strips. Sweet onions work best here because they caramelize beautifully.

4. Caramelize the onions

In the same skillet you used for the cod, taking advantage of the flavor it left behind, sauté the julienned onions. Add a little salt, cover the pan and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, until the onions turn golden and caramelize.

5. Add the wine and finish

Once the onions are done, return the fried cod to the skillet and pour in the 100 ml of white wine. Cover the pan again and let the wine evaporate over medium heat for about 5 minutes to finish the dish.

6. Serve

Serve the bacalao with onion piping hot, straight from the pan, as a main course.

Tips for the Best Bacalao with Caramelized Onion

Choose the right onion

Sweet onions, such as Figueras onions, caramelize very well and give the dish its signature golden color and mellow flavor. If you cannot find them, any other sweet onion variety will work as a substitute.

Do not rush the caramelization

This is the most important part of the dish, since it brings a golden tone and an appealing sweetness to the plate. That caramelized sweetness contrasts beautifully with the salty touch of the cod, creating a truly delicious balance of flavors.

Keep the cod tender

Dry the fish well before flouring it and fry it only briefly, 30 seconds per side, so it stays juicy. It finishes cooking in the wine at the end, so resist the urge to leave it in the oil longer.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado