Main Course · Dinner · Mediterranean ·

Aromatic Basque Cod al Pil-Pil

Name: Aromatic Basque Cod al Pil-Pil
Prep time: 18 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 73 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Cod fillets, 4 fillets, skin on, each about 200g; Salt, 1 teaspoon; Freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon; Extra virgin olive oil, 150 ml; Garlic cloves, 5 cloves, thinly sliced; Red chili, Deseeded and finely sliced; Fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon, finely chopped; Fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon; Lemon slices, For serving; Fresh parsley, For garnish

A traditional Basque dish where fresh cod is cooked in its own flavorful garlic and olive oil emulsion, creating a creamy texture infused with the aroma of spice and herbs.

4.8(346 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 30, 2026

Aromatic Basque Cod al Pil-Pil — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

18 min

Cook

55 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cod

For the Pil-Pil Sauce

For the Herbs

For Garnishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 490 kcal
Protein: 40.4 g
Carbs: 2.4 g
Fat: 34.3 g
Fiber: 0.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1960 kcal
Protein: 161.7 g
Carbs: 9.5 g
Fat: 137.3 g
Fiber: 1.9 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Cod fillets 4 fillets, skin on, each about 200g	720	160	0	2	0
Salt 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon	5	0.2	1.2	0.1	0.6
Extra virgin olive oil 150 ml	1200	0	0	135	0
Garlic cloves 5 cloves, thinly sliced	22	0.9	4.9	0.1	0.3
Red chili Deseeded and finely sliced	6	0.3	1.4	0.1	0.6
Fresh parsley 1 tablespoon, finely chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
Fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon	1	0	0.2	0	0.1
Lemon slices For serving	5	0.2	1.6	0	0.2
Fresh parsley For garnish	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Cod

1
Season the cod
Season the cod fillets with salt and pepper on both sides.
2
Rest at room temperature
Let the cod rest at room temperature for 15 minutes to absorb the seasoning.

Preparing the Pil-Pil Sauce

1
Heat the oil
Heat the olive oil in a large pan over low heat.
Tip: ⚠ Important: Do not overheat the olive oil, as it can lose its delicate flavor.
2
Add garlic and chili
Add the garlic slices and chili, allowing them to gently sizzle without coloring too much for about 5 minutes.
3
Infuse flavors
Remove the pan from heat and set aside, letting the flavors infuse.
Tip: 💡 Pro Tip: Be gentle with the pil-pil sauce; stirring slowly will help it emulsify smoothly.

How to Make Aromatic Basque Cod al Pil-Pil

Total time: 1 h 13 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Cod Cooking
Heat the infused oil and gently place the cod fillets skin-side down. Cook gently for about 8 minutes, basting continuously.
2
Emulsion Creation
Tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to drizzle hot oil gently over the fish to help create the emulsion.
3
Finish & Serve
When the cod is cooked through and the sauce has emulsified, remove it from the heat.