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Merluza en salsa verde — Bilbao
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Typical Dishes 📍 Bilbao, Spain 242 views

Merluza en salsa verde

Literally translated as ‘hake fish in green sauce’, this traditional dish is a seafood lover’s dream. The sauce is made from white wine, parsley garlic and olive oil, while clams are also typically added. Merluza en salsa verde or la merluza a la vasca is simplicity at its best....

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Merluza en salsa verde — Bilbao, Spain.

Location
Bilbao
Type
Typical Dishes
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About Merluza en salsa verde

Merluza en salsa verde - Bilbao | Secret World Trip Planner

Literally translated as ‘hake fish in green sauce’, this traditional dish is a seafood lover’s dream. The sauce is made from white wine, parsley garlic and olive oil, while clams are also typically added. Merluza en salsa verde or la merluza a la vasca is simplicity at its best. An excellent example of how Basque cuisine at its core is local ingredients perfectly cooked without fuss. The salsa verde or green sauce gets its colour from fresh parsley. It’s also a delicious broth for dipping your bread. Some green sauces have shrimp or clams added, others include vegetables such as asparagus, peas or potatoes. The cooked fish and broth are traditionally cooked and served in an earthenware dish.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Merluza en salsa verde, also known as la merluza a la vasca, is a traditional Basque dish featuring hake fish in a vibrant green sauce made from white wine, parsley, garlic, and olive oil. This iconic dish represents the essence of Basque cuisine, showcasing how local ingredients are perfectly cooked without unnecessary fuss, and is typically served in an authentic earthenware dish.
The distinctive green color of salsa verde comes from fresh parsley, which is the key ingredient that gives this classic Basque sauce its vibrant hue. Beyond its visual appeal, the parsley-based sauce creates a delicious broth that's perfect for dipping bread, making it both a cooking medium and a flavorful accompaniment to the meal.
While hake fish is the star ingredient, clams are traditionally added to this dish to enhance its seafood flavor profile. Some regional variations include shrimp instead of clams, and vegetables such as asparagus, peas, or potatoes can be incorporated, though the most authentic versions keep the focus on the quality of the fish and the simplicity of the sauce.
This Basque classic is traditionally cooked and served in an earthenware dish, which not only adds to its authentic presentation but also helps maintain the temperature of the broth. The combination of tender hake, flavorful green sauce, and aromatic broth all served together in the rustic earthenware creates an authentic dining experience that reflects traditional Basque culinary practices.
This dish exemplifies Basque cuisine's philosophy of letting quality local ingredients speak for themselves without unnecessary complexity or heavy preparations. The beauty of Merluza en salsa verde lies in its simplicity—fresh hake, a humble green sauce made from pantry staples, and a savory broth that becomes the highlight of the meal rather than an afterthought.

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