Bacalao con Tomate y Pimientos: Spanish Cod in Tomato Sauce 2026

Bacalao con tomate y pimientos is a classic of Spanish home cooking, where golden pieces of desalted cod meet ripe tomatoes and sweet peppers in a sauce that tastes like a slow Sunday even though it comes together in 40 minutes. It is quick, uncomplicated and welcome at any table.

The dish leans on two things: good-quality desalted cod and a gentle simmer, so the fish stays tender and the sauce deepens. It works just as well served on its own as it does with potatoes or white rice, which soak up every drop of that sauce.

Ingredients for Bacalao con Tomate y Pimientos

Serves 4

• 800 g desalted cod
• 100 g wheat flour
• Half a red bell pepper
• Half a green bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 200 ml olive oil
• 500 g crushed tomato
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 30 ml white wine
• 2 bay leaves
• Parsley, to garnish

How to Make Bacalao con Tomate y Pimientos Step by Step

1. Flour the cod

Start by cutting 800 g of previously desalted cod loin into pieces. Put 100 g of wheat flour on a wide plate, coat the cod pieces in it and set them aside on a tray.

2. Prepare the vegetables

Cut half a red bell pepper and half a green bell pepper into thin strips. Peel and chop 1 onion and 1 garlic clove, then set everything aside.

3. Seal the cod

Pour a generous amount of mild olive oil, about 150 ml, into a frying pan and set it over medium-high heat. When the oil is good and hot, fry the cod on both sides, then set the golden pieces aside on a plate.

4. Soften the peppers and onion

In a wide-based pot, heat 50 ml of olive oil over medium heat and brown the chopped garlic. Add the onion and sliced peppers and cook the mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

5. Add the tomato

Once the vegetables are softened, add 500 g of crushed tomato. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.

6. Pour in the wine and bay leaf

When the tomato has reduced, pour in 30 ml of white wine, add 2 bay leaves and let the mixture cook for about 10 minutes until the sauce has concentrated.

7. Nestle in the cod

Finally, add the cod, placing the pieces carefully so they do not overlap and with the skin side down. Cover the pot and let it cook for about 5 minutes, moving the pot now and then so everything settles and the cod blends into the sauce.

8. Rest off the heat

After that time, take the pot off the heat, add a little chopped parsley and let the fish rest for a few minutes before serving.

9. Serve

Bring the cod to the table in the pot itself or on a platter, with the garnish of your choice alongside.

Tips for the Best Bacalao con Tomate y Pimientos

Start with good cod

The key to this dish is good-quality cod, which gives the plate its best texture and flavor. Make sure it is properly desalted before you begin so the sauce is not thrown off balance.

Cook it low and slow

A gentle simmer matters here, so take the time you need for the ingredients to come together and the flavors to develop. Rushing the sauce or boiling the fish hard will cost you tenderness.

Choose the right accompaniment

Serve the cod as it is, or pair it with potatoes or white rice. Either one will soak up the sauce beautifully and carry all of its flavor to the plate.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a blend of cozy comfort classics, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I typically reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

For mornings that need an easy start or lighter fare, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe are frequent picks. And for a gluten-free staple I can count on, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I enjoy putting together.

Whenever tapas and Mediterranean cooking are on my mind, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cooling Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more upscale.

Come lunch or a comforting supper, I'm always quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm after street-food vibes or party-ready plates, and that's when I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a snack or starter.

And when I'm building drinks and a whole spread for company, I'll regularly match dinner with this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest recipes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

What follows are the dishes I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something memorable for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something impressive yet simple. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, understanding how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For richer comfort cooking, I'm quick to point people to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the smooth Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also fond of sharing dishes with global roots, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional 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 results. 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 classic baked pasta can still be decadent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any 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