Are you planning to visit Portugal and want to know what to eat there? We have got you covered. Immerse yourself in this tasty read and discover Portuguese food with us as we lead you through its wonders and surprises, since that is something, that Portuguese gastronomy can certainly guarantee! Bom appetite in 1, 2, 3!
Discover with us:
📚 History
🇵🇹 Traditions
🍤 Petiscos
🫒 Salgados
🍖 Enchidos
🍮 Desserts
🍷 Drinks
Portuguese Cuisine
Even though Portuguese cuisine is not as known around the world as other cuisines like Italian, Spanish and French and is very underrepresented outside Portugal, it has a gastronomic variety and very unique cuisine with a lot more to offer than most people might think.
Since the Portuguese gastronomy is based on regional produce and the freshness of local products, the cuisine varies from region to region, but what can be found almost everywhere across the country is fresh fish and shellfish. Due to the oceanic coastline of the country, Portuguese cuisine is dominated by seafood and a lot of different species of oceanic fishes, as well as a wide range of specialty seafood restaurants. However, meat is also a very important and common part of Portuguese cuisine, the geographical location of the land allows the farming of pigs and cows, whereas it has to be noted that Portuguese people pride themselves on using the entire animal and making sure nothing goes to waste, especially when it comes to pigs.
Next to that, and a lot of dishes with unexpected combinations of meat and shellfish, Portuguese gastronomy offers a large diversity of simple ingredients, yet greatly prepared and full of strong flavors. Furthermore, the cuisine includes hearty soups, homemade bread, olive oil, and a great variety of wines, cheeses, and desserts, of excellent quality. Indeed, Portuguese gastronomy is one of the most spectacular in the world.
History
As the oldest European country to define its borders, Portugal was highly influenced by different cultures and nations throughout its histories such as Celtic, Roman, and Moorish.
During medieval times the Portuguese diet was based on wheat, rye, cornbread, vegetables, fruits and grains, honey, olive oil, and wine. In certain regions fishing and haunting were also very common, however, only the richest were able to enjoy fish and hunted meat. Speaking of hunted meat, we should mention Tapada Nacional da Mafra, which used to serve as a hunting park for Portuguese monarchs from the 18th to the 20th century.
The 15th century was definitely a game-changer not only for Portugal but for the rest of the world since it represents the start of Portuguese discoveries. It was during this time that the Portuguese started defining trends in food. That was namely the early age of food globalization.
From Africa, they brought peanuts and coffee, from Asia rice, sugar cane, and tea, whereas potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and pineapples sailed to the Portuguese coast from the New World. Oh, and let’s not forget about the spices such as ginger, curry, saffron, paprika, and coriander. It was all introduced to Europe thanks to Portugal. This way Portuguese cuisine got a whole new taste, with many new aromas, and flavors.
But it wasn’t just the Portuguese who got richer in aroma and flavor, they too left a mark on the gastronomies of Brazil, India, Japan, etc.
Traditions
Portuguese food is well known for ancient and unchanged traditions, including elaborate cooking and above all, the freshness of local products.
Primarily, the food is based on hearty peasant dishes and the Mediterranean diet, which is part of the identity of Portuguese gastronomy and is even classified as a World Heritage by UNESCO. This diet includes vegetables, fruit, good quality bread and largely unprocessed cereals, dried and fresh legumes (especially beans), dried fruits and nuts but also olive oil as the main source of fat, and fish at the expense of red meat. Furthermore, Portuguese people like to enjoy this food when they are in season and buy them at local shops or traditional markets, preparing it in such a way that its nutrients are preserved. From this traditional cooking, in which soups also constitute an integral part, stews, casseroles, and chowders are created. Other characteristics of the diet include the moderate consumption of dairy products, the use of herbs for seasoning instead of salt, the moderate consumption of wine (only with meals), the consumption of water as the main drink, and, needless to say, the importance of companionship, as Portuguese people like to be together with other people to share meals.
Next to this Mediterranean influence, the most traditional dishes that Portuguese cuisine has to offer to include a great variety of seafood, as the country has such a long Atlantic coastline. The reasons for this abundance and high quality of fish caught in Portuguese waters are based on the existence of favorable conditions of temperature, light, salinity, and oxygen, which itself influences the existence of a high number of plankton to feed lower food chain species. In addition to this, there is also the wisdom of fishermen, who, over generations, use techniques to catch fish that allow it to preserve its freshness and superior taste quality – even after caught – and have knowledge about how to prepare and cook fish in traditional ways. All of this contributed to Portuguese cuisine becoming internationally famous for its seafood, as well as the establishment of numerous high-class restaurants all around the world, offering Portuguese fish.
Furthermore, concerning the eating habits of people living in Portugal, it can be said that breakfast, which is called Pequeno almoço (little lunch), is traditionally just coffee and either a pastry or a bread roll with butter, ham, and cheese or jam, as its name suggests. Lunch, however, is somewhat a big affair when it comes to Portuguese people, always being a social occasion and often lasting between one and two hours (at least). Similar to dinner, which usually takes place at late hours around 8-10 pm, there are three courses, often including soup as a starter.
Spices and herbs
When cooking, the Portuguese use a lot of spices and herbs such as salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika, Piri Piri (type of African hot chili pepper), oregano, cinnamon, saffron, bay leaves, mint, cilantro, parsley, and rosemary. Without these, there is no talk about food in Portugal.
Main ingredients
Portuguese cuisine is absolutely unthinkable without garlic, onion, potatoes, beans, rice, tomatoes, wine, bread, and eggs for all the sweets, meat, seafood, especially codfish, cheese, and of course olive oil.
Petiscos
A petisco is a snack, generally a small version of a large plate. The idea behind it is to order more dishes than just one full-size dish, to be able to taste more delicacies of the cuisine, and to share it with other people. There even exists a verb for it, which underlines the importance of petiscos as part of Portuguese food culture: petiscar. It means eating and savoring these small dishes while having a good Portuguese beer or a glass of wine with friends. Just like the Spanish tapas, petiscos originated in the Iberian Peninsula, but while tapas are internationally known and can be found in bars and restaurants worldwide, a petisco bar – also called petisqueira – is part of Portugal’s gastronomy and as extraordinary as that, people have to visit the country to try out one.
Since the range of delicacies that Portugal’s cuisine has to offer is so wide, there are a variety of dishes to choose from and to try, depending on the region and the season of the year, starting with something as simple as azeitonas, olives, and pão, bread.
Gambas ao alho belongs to one of the main petiscos, which is fantastic for many situations. If you are thinking of a gathering of friends or family, as a starter or main course, garlic prawns will open up many possibilities. They are also among the most popular dishes in typical Portuguese Tasca, where in fact they are never missing from the menu. You can combine gambas ao alho with delicious, toasted bread, as a filling for an extraordinary pasta dish, or make a magnificent dish accompanied by fluffy rice. There are plenty of options to make the most of garlic prawns. At the same time, they are also easy to prepare at home: first, you have to remove the shells from the prawns and season them with salt. Place the olive oil, chopped garlic, and pepper in a pan and sauté. When the garlic starts to brown, add the prawns and cook until they are firm. When the prawns are almost cooked add the lemon juice, the wine, and the parsley. Leave to simmer for 1 minute and…voilà!
A very popular petisco is called pica-pau and can be translated to the woodpecker, getting its name from the fact it is usually eaten with toothpicks. It consists of small cuts of meat, which can be pork, beef, or a mix of both, and which have been marinated in garlic, oil, chili, and mustard, whereas the gravy sauce is usually prepared beer-based. This dish can be served with Portuguese-style pickles, carrots, cauliflower, and black olives.
One of the very few Portuguese petiscos that is vegetarian is called peixinhos da horta and consists of battered and deep-fried green beans. The origin of the name is not known for sure, but it is believed that it derives from its resemblance to crispy small fried fish. Basically, it's tender green beans fried in a batter, but the preparation technique is actually called “tempura”, which most people only associate with Japanese cuisine. However, it is believed that Portuguese people are behind the invention and diffusion of this cooking technique, intending to preserve vegetables on Portuguese ships. It was in the 16th century that a Chinese ship with three Portuguese sailors on board was swept off course on its way to Macau and ended up on the Japanese island called Tanegashima. The three mysterious Portuguese sailors were Jesuit missionaries and the first Europeans to ever set foot on Japanese ground and they introduced tempura to Japan. Next to that, the term tempura comes from the Latin “tempora”, referring to a period of fasting imposed by the Catholic Church and being the origin of this very traditional recipe.
Although Portugal is not a big country, it has a wide variety of different cheeses and cured meats to offer, which is perfectly suited to be presented as petiscos on a board. These boards can include cheeses with cow, goat, or sheep mils or a mix of them, as well as a different selection of regional cured meats, whereas most of those are pork-based, for example, presunto, which is a type of cured Iberian ham and can come from different pigs, which also determines its price. The popular presunto ibérico gets its name not only from its place of origin, the Iberian Peninsula but also from a specific breed of pig, the black Iberian pig or Alentejo pig, that can be found in western and southwestern Spain, as well as southern and central Portugal. The thing that makes this ham so unique and pricey is the acorn-rich diet the pigs are doing, while they can roam around hilly fields of oak and cork trees, depending on where they are. Next to providing the pigs with a unique aromatic combination of sweetness, nuttiness, and earthiness, the oleic acid in the acorns guarantees the soft and melty fat of the ham.
Another very classic Portuguese petisco dish that can also serve as the main course is called moelas/moelinhas. Since Portuguese people don’t want anything to go to waste in their kitchens, this is a typical example of making the best out of parts of the chicken that otherwise wouldn’t be used. So basically, moelas are chicken gizzards cooked until tender, which are then served in a flavorful and usually spicy broth of sautéed garlic, onions, red wine, and tomatoes.
Choco Frito is another very traditional petisco consisting of fried cuttlefish, even though some people might think that it could have something to do with chocolate, due to its name. It is the most famous local culinary specialty of Setúbal, where almost every restaurant advertises it on its menus and even a museum exists, which specializes in the different ways of preparing and cooking cuttlefish. Before it had commercial value, it was the fishermen from there that used to bring the caught cuttlefish home or into bars, where they were fried and served, which is a tradition that grew and grew over time. Nowadays, the demand is so big that it even has to be imported from other places.
Most commonly, the cuttlefish is boiled with garlic and bay leaves, marinated in wine and lemon juice, then coated in seasoned, savory cornflour before being fried, the crispy batter making up for a chunky and crunchy outside. Typically, it is served alongside potato chips or fries, salad, and lemon wedges.
Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, a popular petisco that can be found on the menus of most seafood restaurants and that was a finalist in Portugal’s Sete Maravilhas da Gastronomia (Seven Wonders of Portuguese Gastronomy), consists of fresh steamed clams bathing in a delicious sauce that is prepared with olive oil, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, and very often dry white wine for even more flavor. Before the clams are served, lemon juice is drizzled. The interesting story, in this case, is how this dish got its name. As you might have probably concluded, amêijoas is a Portuguese word for clams, but what is Bulhão Pato, even better, who is Bulhão Pato? The first answer would probably be that this person is a famous chef, however, that isn’t true. Raimundo António de Bulhão Pato was a 19th-century poet, gastronomist, and epicurean, and overall, an important figure in the intellectual and artistic circles of that period. But what is his deal with these clams? Rumour has it that a chef wanted to thank him for mentioning his name in his book so he named the dish after the poet. Another theory is that, when hosting parties for the Portuguese elite, Bulhão Pato would often serve this magical specialty, one of many other Portuguese specialties.
Salgados
Salgados are salty, savory, and deep-fried Portuguese snacks.
One of the most popular and known salgados is the pastel de bacalhau, which is a salted, oval-shaped croquet or cod fritter made up of codfish (bacalhau) and other ingredients like mashed potatoes, eggs, parsley, and onion. After they are fried in oil, they tend to be crisp on the outside and very smooth on the inside. This specialty originated in Minho, which is located in the north of Portugal, where the people call it codfish cake (bolinho de bacalhau) instead of pastry (pastel). Regarding the appearance of its recipe, it can be said that it happened a few years after the introduction of potatoes in Portugal, which was in the year 1798 when Queen Mary I encouraged the plantation of them in the Azores. It turned out that there were two other similar recipes: one that included cheese and another one where the preparation required the cooking of the codfish cake instead of the frying. In the following years, a standard recipe was introduced, where milk is used to connect the codfish with the potatoes, and the egg whites are whisked, before being fried in olive oil.
Rissóis (rissoles) are also very popular and common to be served as an appetizer or snack in cafés, at parties, at home, or at festivities in Portugal. They are a Portuguese version of a croquette – a breaded pastry in the shape of a half-moon – that can be filled with meat or shrimp, before being deep-fried. Most commonly, they are filled with shrimp (rissóis de camarão) or meat such as pork or beef (rissóis de carne), although there a many other variations, for example with tuna, octopus, vegetables, cod, duck, and spinach.
Enchidos
Enchido is a type of food that is prepared by filling animal guts with anything one wants.
Chouriço Assado
Chouriço assado is a very popular type of enchido. It is a cured pork sausage that is either cooked or flame-grilled. Typically, it is brought in a special clay bowl – an assador de barro –, which has been soaked in high-proof alcohol (like aguardente) and then set on fire and cooked in front of the person who is going to eat it. As soon as it is crispy and hot inside and the flames have ceased, it is ready to eat, usually accompanied by bread or a nice Portuguese wine. This dish can also be served cold, but with this special preparation technique, it is for sure a traditional Portuguese culinary experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Farinheira
Scrambled eggs with a sausage called farinheira is a delicious starter or simply a great breakfast. Everyone knows how to prepare scrambled eggs, but farinheira gives this dish that special touch, which is why the Portuguese love it so much. This is a sausage, however, it doesn’t really taste like meat. It is a smoked sausage made from wheat flour, pork fat, and seasonings such as garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and white wine.
You will find this sausage in many other traditional dishes such as cozido à Portuguesa but it can also be eaten on its own, roasted or fried but never raw since it contains flour which gives it a somewhat doughy texture. In terms of color, it is yellowish-brown.
Morcela
Morcela is a another very typical Portuguese sausage. Its color is black because it is made from pork blood and fat, which also makes it extremely soft. It is also known as Portuguese Black Pudding or Blood Sausage. You can eat it on your own, but it is also highly likely to be found in a cozido. It is very healthy as it is full of iron. So put on your brave face and taste this delicious blood sausage!
Alheira
Alheira is a type of sausage, but it is for sure not like any other sausage you have seen or eaten so far, it is a sausage that back in the day saved hundreds or even thousands of lives.
During the times of the Spanish inquisition in 1492, a lot of Jews were exiled to Portugal. For a while everything was alright, but after some time the king decided he wanted to marry an heiress of the Spanish throne, which made him follow the Spanish example, ordering either the expulsion or the conversion of the Jews to Catholicism. Some Jews converted but others, the so-called Marranos, which is a Spanish pejorative term for Jews and means pig, continued to practice their religion in secret and this well-known sausage played a crucial part in their disguise. Jews obviously don’t eat pork, which is what most of the sausages are usually made from, so they decided to play a little trick to fool the public by making their sausage, only this one didn’t include pork but other meats such as poultry, veal, duck, chicken, rabbit, quail and hunted meat, rolled into shape with bread to give it a nice texture. They would then dry and hang the sausages for everyone to see because it is something that Portuguese Christians would often do; this was one of their forms of disguise. Pretty smart move, because how could anyone ever know that there is no pork inside the sausage?
This traditional homemade sausage was born in the northeast of Portugal, in the regions of Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta, and the most famous one, initially made from just chicken and bread, comes from a town called Mirandela. In the year 2011 alheira de Mirandela was declared one of the nation's 7 gastronomic wonders.
The name alheira actually comes from the Portuguese word for garlic (alho) and is used to refer to all sausages seasoned with this ingredient.
Present-day alheira is not necessarily kosher, since the Christians eventually adopted the recipe and can therefore include pork, as well as any other type of meat. There is even a vegetarian version of this sausage.
In case you would like to try the alheira with a sprinkle of sweetness, make sure to join our Portuguese Food Tour in Porto.
Olive oil
Olive oil is the essence of Portuguese cuisine. There is not one household in the country that does not possess at least one bottle of olive oil in its kitchen. It has been with the Portuguese throughout history, and it is present in almost every meal. It is unthinkable to prepare a dish without it, and the country is very famous for its high-quality olive oil. In fact, Portugal is nowadays the 4th largest producer of olive oil in Europe and 8th in the world.
The best-known and probably most consumed olive oil brands in Portugal are Azeite Galo and Azeite Oliveira da Serra. Other than these, it is highly necessary to mention brands that have already received and keep on receiving worldwide awards such as Herdade do Esporão, Monterosa, Secrets of Côa, Rosmaninho, Porça de Murça, Carm, etc. The regions with the highest olive oil production in Portugal are Alentejo and Trás-Os-Montes, however, there is also a big production in Ribatejo and Beira Interior.
Bread
In Portugal, despite what some people from other countries might think, bread is an integral part of Portuguese cuisine. In fact, the Portuguese love bread so much that every meal needs to be accompanied by a slice of bread, for which most locals buy fresh bread every day, for example at a typical Portuguese bakery called padaria. Usually, the day starts with a bread roll or toast, but bread is also often included in each major meal or even as a snack in between meals. Although there is some bread available and popular throughout the whole country, they are different from region to region, depending on ingredients, forms, colors, tastes, and textures.
One of the oldest varieties of bread from Portugal is a cornbread which comes from the North and is made from corn and wheat, but there are other variations as well. It is called broa de milho and is very compact, although its core is dense and soft. Usually, it accompanies soups like the popular Caldo Verde or Portuguese cold meats as well as traditional Portuguese dishes, for example, bacalhau com broa, which is codfish topped with crumbles of this bread. Next to that, it can also be simply enjoyed with butter or cheese or both.
Another iconic Portuguese bread is called pão alentejano, which comes from the Alentejo region, as the name suggests. It is characterized by a large and compact core, a thick crust, and a dense aromatic inside, whereas it is famous for its shape because it looks like there is a head that sits on top of the loaf. To be authentic, the wheat flour that is used should come from the Alentejo region, the yeast should be home-made and it should be cooked in a wood oven. Often, it is used for local Alentejo cooking, particularly for dishes like açorda (a bread-based soup), Migas (bread-based dumplings), and stews.
Another unique kind of bread
is called bolo do caco, which comes from the island of Madeira, but can still be found throughout other parts of the country as well. Its name comes from the hot clay-slate that it is cooked in, called caco. It is different from typical types of Portuguese bread since it has a round shape and is made from wheat flour and sweet potato, making it very soft and fluffy and giving it a slightly sweet taste. Usually, it is served with garlic butter, but it can also be used for sandwiches with typical fillings like ham or cheese or both, among many others.
One of the most typical Portuguese buns is called pão de Deus, which can be translated into the bread of God and which is traditionally eaten on All Saints’ Day. It is a round-shaped fluffy and sweet brioche roll with a topping made of grated coconut-based cream, which is prepared with sugar and eggs. It can be eaten just as it is and is perfect for breakfast or as a sweet snack, but it can also be eaten with savory foods such as ham, cheese, and other cold cuts, which is a very common thing in Portugal.
Bolo lêvedo is a gem that comes from the Azores islands. It is a mix between bread and cake, often referred to as a sweet muffin. You can find these all over the islands and in the whole country in general, however, the most famous Portuguese muffins come from Furnas, on São Miguel Island, which is the biggest out of nine volcanic islands. They are made from flour, sugar, eggs, butter, salt, milk, yeast, and water, and that’s it – a recipe that will take your taste buds to paradise. In terms of shape, they look like small balls, which are dusted with flour and cooked over low heat until they reach a golden-brown color. Once they are done, just spread some butter or jam, pair it up with a cup of coffee and your perfect Portuguese breakfast has been served. If you want a bigger meal, just put some steak between a sliced bolo lêvedo and all the hunger should be gone in a blink of an eye.
Cheese
Even though many people aren’t familiar with this fact, Portugal is an absolute cheese paradise and has many variations to offer that come both from the mainland and the islands.
Here are some of the best Portuguese cheeses:
Queijo da Serra da Estrela
Queijo (cheese) da Serra da Estrela is for sure the most famous and oldest cheese from Portugal. It comes from the highest mountain in mainland Portugal, hence its name. It is a cured cheese made exclusively of Serra da Estrela or Churra Mondegueira breed of sheep that produce the milk used for this raw milk cheese which is then curdled with thistle flower. This cheese has a maturation period of at least 30 days which can be extended to 120 days. The cheese is very soft and buttery and needs to be scooped, which is why it is not possible to cut it into slices unless you have the hard version in front of you (Queijo da Serra da Estrela Velho). Whichever version you end up trying, the taste will be unforgettable. In fact, Serra da Estrela cheese has been granted PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status by the European Union, just like many others on this list.
Queijo de Azeitão
This PDO cheese is pretty similar to the Serra da Estrela one. The only difference is the breed of sheep and the type of soil. It has a cylindrical shape, thin and yellowish rind, that too can be eaten. Once again, the cheese is made from raw sheep milk, and the curing time lasts about 20 days until it reaches a semi-hard yet buttery consistency. It also isn’t supposed to be cut. It is produced in the district of Setúbal.
Queijo de São Jorge
The production of this cheese began 500 years ago on the island of São Jorge in the Azores archipelago. It is made from cow’s milk, it is generally hard but can be semi-soft, slightly spicy, and has a yellowish color. Its maturation period lasts around 60 days.
Queijo de Cabra Transmontano
As the name reveals, this cheese comes from the mountainous region Trás-Os-Montes and can only be made from the raw milk of the Serra breed of goats. It can be semi-hard (maturation lasts between 60 and 90 days) or hard (maturation can last between 90 days and 2 years). Its aroma and more or less spicy taste will of course depend on the duration of maturation. It is commonly rubbed with olive oil or paprika, which can sometimes give it a reddish rind.
Other cheeses to try in Portugal are: Queijo de Évora, Queijo de Nisa, Queijo do Rabaçal, Queijo de Serpa, Queijo de Castelo Branco, Queijo do Pico, and many more.
There are so many different textures, flavors, and varieties to taste. If you are a cheese lover, this country will definitely not disappoint you as it possesses some of the best cheeses in the world even though many people unfortunately aren’t familiar with this fact. Goat, sheep, cow…you will find all kinds of cheese in Portugal. They are hardly marketed outside Portugal to maintain loyalty to traditional production methods and let us tell you, as cheesy as it may sound, Portugal is genuinely cheesing its way to the top.
In case you would like to try some of the best Portuguese cheeses, join our Portuguese Food Tour in Lisbon or Porto.
Beans
As we have already previously explained, beans are a very common ingredient in Portuguese cuisine and the best example of it is Feijoada.
Feijoada
When people hear feijoada, they always think of Brazil first, since it is one of the country's national dishes, but the truth is that feijoada actually first appeared in Portugal and made its way to Brazil only later.
The original, Portuguese version has origins in the north of Portugal, but it is nowadays eaten all over the country.
Feijoada is a stew composed of white or red beans and pork, but it can also include beef and sausages like morcela (blood sausage), farinheira, or chouriço.
Obviously, there are many different versions of this delicious bean stew and we will mention the two most popular variations: feijoada à transmontana and feijoada de mariscos.
As the name suggests, feijoada à transmontana comes from Trás-os-Montes, northern Portugal and it is traditionally eaten on Domingo Gordo, which is the Sunday before Carnival. It is made from red beans, various parts of the pig such as the ear, foot, snout, belly, etc., and accompanied by white rice.
If you thought this bean stew only works well with meat, think twice because feijoada de mariscos includes white beans and seafood like fish, shrimp, mussels, and sometimes even shellfish, and it is mostly eaten on the coast.
Soups and Broths
Caldo Verde
This soup is not only delicious and healthy, but also simple and cheap, and one of the most traditional recipes of Portuguese cuisine. It was even awarded the title of one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal’s Gastronomy since it is made and loved across the country. This was a hand-picked list of Portuguese dishes chosen to represent the heritage, history as well as traditional food production in Portugal.
Literally, Caldo Verde means “green broth”, but it is so much more than that. All over the country, depending on the region, there are variations concerning the recipe, but the main ingredient is called couve galega, which is a typical vegetable in Portugal and which gets cut into thin pieces to leave its flavor. Other typical ingredients include a combination of potatoes, olive oil, onions, and garlic, whereas the soup is served with a boiled and sliced chouriço sausage, which is the traditional way, but other types of Verde meat can also be used. Next to that, it is usually accompanied by broa de milho, which is a Portuguese corn bread with a round shape and a hard and crunchy crust.
Originally, Caldo Verde comes from the northern Minho region of Portugal, where people have been eating it for centuries. It can be served for almost any occasion, no matter if it’s a festivity of any kind, a starter in a restaurant of any class, or just a simple and comforting meal at home.
Sopa de Pedra
Stone sou is a literal translation of this dish. Legend says that there was a traveling monk who came to the town of Almeirim and asked the locals for help since he was very poor. Ignored by the villagers who lived in poverty themselves, he picked up a stone, filled the pot with water, and started “cooking”. The villagers were very curious and would often ask what the monk was making and each time he would say that he was indeed preparing a stone soup. However, he was clever and while answering whether the soup was good or not, he would always say something like this: “Yes, but to get the real flavor, a nice homemade chouriço would come in handy” and this way each of the villagers stopping by would bring something to get that supposedly real flavor, flavorcluded beans, potatoes, garlic, onions, pork cuts, sausages like chouriço and morcela etc. In the end, the monk took out the stone and invited all the villagers to join him for lunch. And that is how the stone soup, that the Portuguese still enjoy preparing today, was created.
Canja de Galinha
Canja de galinha or simply canja is a popular Portuguese chicken soup that dates to the 16th century. The soup is very light and is often cooked for the sick but can also be found at weddings and similar festivities, basically it is eaten all year round. To prepare it, the Portuguese put water, the whole chicken, and onions into a large pot. Afterward, rice or orzo pasta is added to the chicken broth and sometimes vegetables such as carrots or celery and once it is done, they often squeeze a bit of lemon juice to give it a nice additional touch and that’s it. A nice and healthy soup is ready to fill your stomach and chase away the cold.
Açorda
Açorda is a very simple and easy and therefore extremely popular Portuguese soup, rich in varieties throughout the country. If you take a quick look at the etymology of the word “açorda”, you will notice that it is linked to the Arabic language and actually afterward means “to break the bread”, which leads to a conclusion that this is a bread soup. Bread is cut into small pieces, over which boiling water, together with olive oil, garlic, and a
variety of herbs is poured to soften the bread.
Even though it was originally created as a dish for the poor, nowadays everyone adores this soup and almost every region has its own version. Three of the most popular açordas are açorda alentejana which comes with a poached egg on top, açorda de camarão (shrimp), and açorda de mariscos, which is seafood-based.
Sopa de Castanhas
This is a soup made from a popular Portuguese street snack, and as you can certainly already guess, it is prepared with unpeeled boiled or roasted chestnuts. The chestnuts are cooked in water or broth together with carrots, celery, garlic, onions, olive oil, and butter.
Sopa Rica do Mar
If you like seafood, this is a soup for you. Listen to this: wheat flour, mussels, shrimps, clams, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, white wine, salt and pepper, and maybe a touch of Piri Piri. Sounds amazing, right? All seafood lovers, go and order your fantastic Portuguese seafood soup right now. If you want a try the best one, head straight to the wonderful town of Ericeira, the surfing Capital of Europe. You are welcome!
Inhabitants of the Portuguese cold ocean waters
Ever wondered which creatures live on the Portuguese coast? If yes, take a look at the list of inhabitants that pay rent in the Portuguese piece of the Atlantic Ocean:
tuna, sardine, mackerel, Atlantic horse mackerel, European hake, clams, redfish, wreckfish, cuttlefish, conger eel, sea bream, guilt-head bream, red sea bream, croaker, swordfish, flounder, squid, mussel, lobster, prawn, crab, oyster, black scabbardfish, Peter’s fish, sea bass, octopus, red mullet, spider crab, brown crab, monkfish and so forth.
But do you notice something odd on this list? There is no cod, no codfish at all. Wondering why? Check out our article about Codfish in Portugal and find out why there is no cod on this list, and the Portuguese eat it more than any other fish.
Seafood & Fish
Polvo
Octopus is well appreciated in the traditional Portuguese cuisine and is a quintessentially Portuguese seafood dish, that can be prepared in many different ways. The most typical and worshiped recipe is the so-called Polvo á lagareiro, which appeared in the Beiras region, between Douro River and Tejo River, which is where the oldest cities and villages were founded, even before the official consolidation of the Portuguese nation. The original versions of this dish go back many centuries and include the octopus being desalted, breaded with leftover bread, fried in olive oil, and then taken directly from the mill and eaten with raw or roasted garlic. Next to that, the main ingredients are boiled potatoes and onions, but the important part of the recipe is the octopus being dipped into olive oil, where it gets its name à lagareiro from. This originated in processes at olive oil mills (lagar), where Portuguese people used to crush the olives by hand and turn them into a paste to pass through big presses to extract the olive oil, which is a very delicate procedure, requiring agility and the maximum attention of those who work on it.
Nowadays, a small fishing village called Santa Luzia in the South of Portugal is often called “the Capital of Octopus”, since people there have been practicing the old-fashioned octopus fishing technique for generations. Using this environment-friendly technique, fishermen lay clay pots called Alcatruz in the water, where the octopi cuddle to sleep and get caught when the pots are removed from the water.
Another very hearty and traditional dish that is devoted to the octopus is called Arroz de Polvo, consisting of cooked diced octopus and rice, incorporated into a rich base of tomatoes, sautéed onions, garlic, and various spices. Usually, it is prepared in a particular style called malandrinho, which means that the rice is supposed to be solto (loose), so that not all of the liquid is absorbed by the rice and it resembles more of a thick rice stew, whereas the flavor of the rice comes from the water the octopus has been cooked in and the water it releases during that time, giving the rice a meaty flavor and a slightly pink color.
In the end, it can be served garnished with fresh parsley or cilantro, but the actual recipes can vary depending on the restaurant and region.
Another dish that includes the beloved octopus and which is typically a petisco or even a couvert, particularly at seafood specialized restaurants, is called Salada de Polvo. This is a recipe that is very delicious and still easy to prepare, since it includes tender-boiled octopus cut into small pieces and accompanied by fresh vegetables, such as onion and peppers. The salad then swims in an abundant tangy marinade seasoned with onion, garlic, parsley, coriander, vinegar, and, olive oil.
Dourada
This fish, called sea bream, is on the menu of almost every restaurant in Portugal and is considered one of the tastiest of all fish worldwide since it has a really clean taste, a delicate flavor, and a satisfying meaty texture. The possibilities of preparing this fish with its juicy white flesh are endless, since it always makes a delicious dish, no matter if it is cooked on a barbecue, grilled, or baked, but the most typical way of serving this fish in Portuguese restaurants is grilled: dourada grelhada. Then it can be served with a salad, baked potatoes or boiled vegetables.
Cataplana
This is one of the most traditional Portuguese dishes originating in Portugal’s Algarve region, something that people can find on almost every menu of the local restaurants, whereas the ingredients vary depending on the region and the restaurant. The name cataplana stands for both the dish and the pot that it is cooked in, which is a pan with two rounded sides connected by a hinge that opens and closes like a clam, allowing hermetic cooking of the dishes, making the cataplana a truly ancient primitive pressure cooker. Although its origin of it is little known, it is believed that it is connected to Moorish influences, since there is a very ancient utensil from North Africa, whose cooking processes are similar to the one of the cataplana and it was first introduced to Portugal during the period of Arab dominance in the region. To this day, cataplanas are made in the Algarve region by artisans who are masters in the art of working with copper, for which this region was once known.
In general, there is no end to the number of dishes you can make in a cataplana – it can be either seafood packed with both fish and seafood, or a pork and clam version. To enjoy it at its best, it should be eaten straight from the pot with warm crusty bread.
Arroz de Marisco
This delicious and traditional Portuguese dish is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal’s Gastronomy, a special contest held in 2011 with a hand-picked list of Portuguese dishes chosen to represent the heritage, history as well as traditional Portuguese food production. The region it originated in is the coastal area of Leira, even though nowadays, this dish can be found across the country, the combination of ingredients varies from region to region, depending on the income, availability, and price of shellfish.
As the name implies, it consists of rice and various seafood ingredients, such as prawns, mussels, squid, or clams, and is usually seasoned with fresh herbs and white wine and accompanied by vegetables such as peas or tomatoes. The key to making this dish special and enjoyable lies in having the rice cooked for a sticky, moist texture amid a fish stew.
Caldeirada da peixe
The Caldeirada stew is a specialty of Póvoa de Varzim in Portugal. The dish is basically a fish stew that can include any kind of fish, depending on the region, however conger, grouper and monkfish stand out. Apart from that, the dish includes potatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil, tomatoes, white wine, salt, and coriander.
Sardines
Sardines are another very famous Portuguese dish, especially in Lisbon and especially in June. Why June? Because June is the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints). The most important day is the 12th of June, which is the day of Lisbon’s patron saint – Saint Anthony. People mostly know him as Saint Anthony of Padua, however, his origins are Portuguese, he was, in fact, a member of a noble Lisbon family in the 12th century.
Now, what is the connection between Saint Anthony and sardines? Legend says that during one of his expeditions in Rimini, Italy, he was having trouble converting the people since they ignored him, so he decided to preach to the fish instead. Apparently, the sardines came to the sea edge and listened to his sermon, which he took as a sign of God. Another reason why the sardines are so important in Lisbon is that they are associated with the poor. Since he was a Franciscan friar, he took the vow of poverty.
It is because of all of these reasons that June is full of Sardine Festivities, but you will be able to eat them during other months as well. After being grilled on charcoal, salty sardines are usually placed in a small bun. Other than that, you can find them served with the famous roasted peppers salad, boiled potatoes, and bread. The most traditional type of bread is cornbread.
Should you be interested in learning more about traditional food in Lisbon, we invite you to join our Portuguese Food Tour in Lisbon to try it all out and don’t forget to book your spot. Incredible Lisbon restaurants are waiting for you.
Lulas, Calamari, Squid…
call it however you want, the Portuguese absolutely love their squids. And there are so many ways to prepare them in Portugal.
There is even a stew made from squids, also known as caldeirada de lulas (Portuguese Squid Stew). This hearty and traditional dish is a combination of fresh squid and rich tomato sauce.
If you are into fried squids, you must try lulas fritas à algarvia. This delicious squid recipe comes from the Algarve region and includes olive oil, bay leaves, pepper, garlic, white wine, and a bit of water. It matches well with boiled potatoes.
Camarão de Vinha D’Alhos
Camarão is a Portuguese word for shrimp. Vinha d’Alhos is a very popular cooking technique in Portugal and isn’t used to just cook shrimp or other seafood and fish, but meat as well. This marinade is in fact very simple – wine, garlic, salt, and other regional seasonings. It is a perfect marinade to enjoy Portuguese shrimps. It’s quick, it’s tasty, and it’s all you need on a hot summer day in Portugal.
Percebes
This funny-looking seafood dish also known as Lucifer´s Fingers when translated to English literally means “Do you understand?”. Yes, you read it right, Portuguese has a dish called “Do you understand?”. Do you understand that?
The devilish nickname is understandable because percebes are actually goose barnacles, crustaceans that live attached to the hard surfaces of rocks, which is why it is extremely difficult to harvest them and why they are kind of pricey, but very delicious.
Regarding the preparation of this dish, that is quite easy –
they are boiled in salty water for a few seconds and that is it, sometimes a bay leaf is added. As far as eating is concerned, it is necessary to squeeze the bottom so that the flesh can pop out. Most people say that they taste like something between lobster and clams, while others argue that they taste like the ocean. So, it is up to you to decide. Fun fact: the shell also contains genitalia, so be careful in the sense not to swallow something you maybe wouldn’t want to.
Percebes, do you get the joke now?
Percebes are very common in the south of the country, especially in Vila do Bispo.
Lagosta Portuguesa
Lobster (lagosta) is a true gem among many Portuguese delicacies. The meat of Portuguese lobster is much sweeter than the meat of lobsters that live in the Mediterranean Sea because the Atlantic Ocean is way colder.
The best lobsters are to be found in Ericeira and Peniche. If you find yourself in Peniche, make sure to try Lagosta Suada à Moda do Peniche. The lobster needs to bathe in olive oil, parsley, white wine, and Port wine and be slowly cooked on low heat. Afterward, it is sprinkled with lemon juice and a tiny bit of Piri Piri.
If you like lobster soup, then go for sopa de lagosta do Peniche. And while you are at it, you might as well stop by Estremadura to try açorda de lagosta.
Sapateira recheada
This is a very cool dish. Anyone up for some crabs? YES! You will absolutely love this, imagine a crab with its claws and legs steamed and the inside of the crab filled with a delicious creamy sauce made from shallot, egg, capers, paprika, beer, mayonnaise, and mustard. Crab meat and that sauce is just something else. And there you have it, your charming Portuguese stuffed crab!
Meat and Portuguese pork love affair
Cozido à Portuguesa
Cozido à Portuguesa is a dish that many people in Portugal would consider a national dish and a part of Portuguese heritage. It could be translated as a Portuguese Stew since it is a traditional boiled meal. The origins of this meal are in the Beira region, however, today, every region has its own version and interpretation of the dish. The recipe is pretty much the same, but the ingredients are sometimes different (for example, different types of meat are used, etc.).
The dish is cooked in an abundant amount of water and is made up of different meats and vegetables. The most common version of cozido includes beef shin, pork, offal, sometimes bits of chicken, sausages like chouriço, farinheira, moura, and different types of vegetables like carrots, kale, cabbage, potatoes, beans, turnip, as well as rice. All of this needs to be cooked slowly to get that perfect taste. And of course, they usually garnish it with olive oil. The dish itself is very heavy, which makes it ideal for winter and is also one of the best comfort foods.
Another thing the Portuguese really enjoy is the cozido soup which is basically made from all the sauces of the meats used to prepare the cozido and comes served with bread, rice or pasta, as well as beans.
All in all, Cozido à Portuguesa is a true family meal!
Cozido das Furnas
Now, this is a special type of cozido, this is not just any kind. Are you up for an underground cooked delicacy? You know, just your everyday volcanic meal, nothing special. Here is the deal: a large pot full of chicken, beef, pig ears, sausages such as chouriço and morcela, ham, pork belly, ribs, and some vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and potatoes, is placed in an underground hole, buried under hot volcanic soil and is left to slowly cook by the steam from the hot springs for around 5 hours. Once it is all perfectly cooked you can enjoy your volcanic meal – cozido das Furnas. Probably wondering where this wonder is happening. Well, in case you want to see the real deal, go to the magical island of São Miguel (Azores) and stop your car in Furnas Valley. Have fun and take it all in as this is a meal you will quite definitely never forget. In fact, a lot of these underground wholes are actually owned by locals and a lot of restaurants. This island is full of surprises, and cozido das Furnas is just one of many. Already booked a ticket to enjoy this volcanic meal? That’s the way!
Cabrito Assado
Cabrito is goatling and it is to be found on the table mostly during Easter time. In the past, it was a secret ritual to please the goats. Cabrito assado is eaten all over the country, however, the biggest fans live in the region of Minho. If you want to enjoy a delicious goatling, the meat must be marinated overnight in a mixture of wine, olive oil, garlic, and all kinds of spices and herbs. Then it needs to be slowly cooked, preferably in a wooden oven. It is traditionally served with potatoes, but rice is quite common as a side dish as well.
Tripas à Moda do Porto
This is a dish that represents the city of Porto and its people in the best possible way. Okay, the name of the dish might not sound that appealing, but it shows their bravery, sacrifice, and devotion. Literal translation of this dish is Porto-style guts and let us tell you these people have some serious guts. They are not messing around. To be able to understand the history and importance of this dish, we need to go back in time, namely to the age of Portuguese discoveries.
The year is 1415, Prince Henry the Navigator commends the expedition of conquering Ceuta. The ships are about to set sail from Porto, and its inhabitants decide to help the brave sailors by giving them all of their good and fresh meat so that they wouldn’t be hungry during this exhausting journey. The people of Porto were well aware that this selfless gesture would leave them only with leftovers – guts or tripes, whichever name you might prefer. However, they were very creative and invented a dish that accompanied them during the dark times.
They cooked tripe and fat meat, accompanied by thick slices of dark bread, and that was their meal. The dish has obviously changed a bit over time and although there are many different variations, the dish typically consists of veal’s and pig’s feet, chicken, smoked ham, chouriço, white beans, carrot, lard, bay leaf, garlic, onion, cumin, clove, paprika, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
This is yet another finalist of 7 Wonders of Portuguese Gastronomy and for a very good reason. In fact, it is thanks to this very delicacy that the people of Porto got their nickname – Tripeiros, or translated animal gutters. Not only do they have the guts, but they eat them as well, or do they maybe have the guts because they eat them? I guess you will never know unless you taste it. Go ahead, and taste what it is like to be a true Tripeiro.
Are you courageous enough to join our Portuguese Food Tour in Porto, if yes, just click here and enjoy a big amount of famous Portuguese food as you visit some of the best Porto restaurants.
Arroz de Pato
This signature rice dish, which consists of duck meat and rice as the name indicates, is a very typical Portuguese recipe that originated in the north of Portugal, in Braga. It is not only appreciated in Portugal, but it also became popular abroad around the middle of the 20th century, especially in Brazil, where some people call it “Arroz à Portuguesa” or “Arroz de Braga”.
Generally, it is a simple dish with only three main ingredients, but the preparation of it is the part that requires care. Primarily, the whole duck alongside either smoked meat or sausages like chouriço is cooked in a seasoned broth with onion, carrot, garlic, and bay leaves. Once the rice is cooked in the same broth and the liquid is almost all absorbed, the shredded duck meat and the chopped sausage are placed in a clay pot and stirred into the rice. Before baking this mixture, it is usually topped with sliced sausages or pieces of smoked meat and additional spices or herbs can be added as well. In Portugal, the main variations of this dish include different types of wine (red or white) and rice (medium-grained or long-grained rice).
Frango Assado com Piri Piri
This is an outstanding traditional Portuguese chicken dish and one of Portugal’s favorite choices for fast food. Usually, it is made with a whole butterflied chicken that can be marinated in a combination of olive oil and seasonings and accompanied by homemade fries and pillows of rice. After it is either roasted or grilled, it is served with a Piri Piri sauce, which is a mixture of dry or fresh chili peppers and oil, along with other optional ingredients.
Since this dish is closely connected to an African dish known as Piri Piri chicken, it is believed that during the Age of Discoveries, Portuguese explorers discovered several new spices and regional ingredients while they were traveling through coastal Africa. One of the things they brought back included the crushed chili pepper called Piri Piri (also called “African devil”), which is used to make a spicy sauce, nowadays being part of many recipes in Portuguese gastronomy.
Bitoque
This is a very traditional Portuguese dish originating in the Beira region, gets its name from being cooked in wood-burning ovens in the oil mills, while the olives were milled. It is a simple and quick dish that can be found all over the country. It consists of a lean fried or grilled steak or pork and is usually accompanied by fries, rice, various salads, and then topped with a crispy fried egg. The sauce to complement this dish has several variations and styles, commonly being a tomato or custard sauce and including ingredients like bay leaf, garlic, and white wine. There also exists a sandwich variety of this dish, called prego.
THE PORTUGUESE PORK LOVE AFFAIR aka THE PORKuguese LOVE AFFAIR aka THE PortPORK LOVE AFFAIR
Boy, do the Portuguese love pork meat. They eat it in many different ways and no part of a pig goes to waste. A-a, one could easily say that that is absolutely forbidden in Portugal. For the love of pork, there is even a Pork Museum in Portugal. Need we say more? Probably not.
But why do they eat it so much? Quite simple – pigs are easy to maintain, there is a lot of them, pork meat is affordable and above all extremely delicious.
Now, remember when we said that no part of the pig goes to waste? Well, the Portuguese really are sticking to that motto to the point that it gets a bit bizarre for most tastes. They will even eat pork testicles. No, you did not misread it, they truly eat pork testicles. How to recognize them? If you order túbaros from the restaurant menu, you are about to be served pork testicles. The testicles are particularly popular in Algarve, Alentejo, and Ribatejo. They are marinated in vinegar and cold water and fried with leaves, garlic, sweet pepper, and Piri Piri.
Carne de Porco à Alentejana
The black Iberian pig is a very special breed of pig, also known as raça alentejana because it can only be found in the Alentejo region of Portugal, where it is on a so-called diet of the acorn, roaming freely over the countryside and eating the acorns of holm oaks and seeds of cork oaks that are native to the region. The acorns are the secret to the extraordinary taste of these pigs, giving the meat a somewhat nutty and earthy flavor and a soft and melty fat content that is a bit healthier than that of other pork. These free-range pigs are called Porco preto and can be found as the star of several dishes, the most typical and famous of Portuguese cuisine being Carne de Porco à alentejana, whereas the name was chosen to make it clear from which region the pork originates. The key to this dish is in the slow cooking, where the pork is marinated and then fried and served mixed with already cooked clams, paprika, bay leaves, and wine and garlic, among other possible seasonings. In the end, it can be garnished with fresh coriander and lemon and accompanied by potatoes.
Secretos de Porco Preto
The best-kept secret of the Black Iberian pigs are secretos (secrets) themselves. Secretos are by far the best part of this pork meat, they are hidden near the belly, or else this part of pork meat is hidden among other layers of bacon or belly fat, and it is also known as butchers secret since it is quite hard to find.
In terms of preparation, secretos do Porco Preto is seasoned with salt, pepper, lemon, garlic, and white wine. Then they are quickly grilled in their own fat on high heat. Once the surface gets crispy and the interior fat melts and makes the meat moist, you know that all of these secrets are ready to be revealed to your curious taste buds. Other than grilling, you can also fry them. Black Iberian pigs eat a lot of acorns among other things. This kind of diet makes the fat of their meat very soft, which is why the fat melts once the meat is grilled. The flavor is very different and much better when compared to regular pork meat. But, shuh, don’t tell anyone, let this be our little secret!
Leitão Assado da Bairrada
This dish, featuring roasted suckling piglets, is one of the best-known regional dishes in Portugal and one of the country’s most praised gastronomic delicacies. It originates in the Bairrada region, where several cities are part of the traditional method of preparing this, employing thousands of people. Once consumed on special or celebratory occasions by locals, there are countless restaurants dedicated to it today, also attracting lots of tourists and visitors that want to taste this very traditional dish.
It is known that Romans already appreciated piglets and the oldest known document that refers to a recipe that is almost like the current dish is from a convent record from 1743, but due to the lack of documentation, the actual origin is not certain. However, it can be said that since the 17th century, more pigs were raised in the lands of the Bairrada region, which lead to the extensive commercialization of leitão. These pigs are considered the best in Portugal. Next to that, the pigs used for this dish are suckling piglets, still in the first weeks of life and still feeding on their mother’s milk, which means that their flesh is rich in collagen and has yet to develop strong, robust muscle fibers and that the meat is incomparably moist, tender and delicate.
To become leitão da Bairrada, the piglets are basted in a sauce with garlic, white pepper, salt, bay leaves, and big fat and then slowly roasted in a wood oven, whereas the point of the basting is to ensure a moist and smoky tender meat and at the same time a paper-thin crispy skin. In general, cooking isn’t difficult, but many things can go wrong, for example, undercooking or scorching the piglet. After that, the meat is cut into perfect bite-size squares and usually served with slices of orange for each bite, potatoes, and a green salad, but traditionally, to preserve its original taste, it should not have many side dishes that could alter its flavor.
Leitão à Negrais
Negrais is a small town near Sintra and it is also popular for its way of preparing a suckling pig. In the style of Negrais, the piglet is traditionally cooked over a grill and is way spicier than leitão à Bairrada.
Portuguese Sandwiches
Sandes de pernil
This is a very simple sandwich that consists of shredded pieces of roasted pork haunch which are placed on a crusty bread roll. It is usually enjoyed plain because the pork juice is already absolutely heavenly, but it can sometimes be found with mustard, caramelized onion, or cheese.
Prego no pão
Now, this is another funny name since the literal translation would be “nail in the bread”. Yes, that is right. It is believed that prego (nail) refers to the act of nailing garlic slices onto the steak and now you basically know what this sandwich is all about: slices of beef seasoned with garlic, onions, and wine. All of that in a nice bread roll. It is usually served with mustard and hot sauce and sometimes topped with a fried egg. I guess you could say that the Portuguese sandwiches really are nailing it!
Bifana
This delicacy is made out of thin slices of pork inside a bread roll. If you are in the south, the meat is often marinated and grilled, might be a bit dry, and therefore served with mustard. However, if you find yourself in the north of the country, get ready to spice up your life because you are in for a spicy bifana. Apart from that, the sandwich is drenched in the sauce used to stew the meat.
Sandes de leitão
Leitão is actually a suckling pig, which means that the meat will be very fatty and succulent. The pork is roasted in chunks that are almost falling apart. Salt, pepper, garlic, and bay leaves are there to intrigue your taste buds even more and it is all served in a fluffy bread roll. This sandwich was born in the Bairrada region.
Francesinha
Oh, boy, it seems like the time has come to introduce the famous francesinha. Francesinha is definitely one of the most famous dishes in Porto if not even the most famous one. It is a sandwich. Or is it? Most would say by definition only. Yes, it comes with two pieces of bread and meat between them. A sandwich, right? And how do you usually eat a sandwich? You grab it with both hands, sometimes by one only, and enjoy it, right? You can even walk and eat the sandwich. Hate to break it to you, but francesinha requires you to be seated and use a plate and cutlery. Eating it with your bare hands? Well, uhm, it could be a bit difficult, and the juice would slide down your coolest T-Shirt pretty soon. Do not get me wrong, the T-Shirt would be even cooler and for a sure juicer. It would certainly be hard to erase the francesinha out of your memory.
So, the dish is called francesinha, right? The Portuguese suffix -inho, or in this case -inha (francesinha) tells us that something is small, but there is absolutely nothing small about francesinha. As a matter of fact, that thing is huge. There is even a restaurant in Porto, Verso em Pedra, that challenges its clients to eat a 5kg francesinha in an hour. If they succeed, they are rewarded with 150€. Not many of them do succeed. It's hard enough to finish a regular francesinha, let alone the 5kg one.
This “sandwich” consists of toasted bread, beef or pork steak (or both), sausages, and ham. It is topped with melted cheese, sometimes followed by a fried egg. Another thing, it very often comes served with is French fries to enjoy the secret sauce even more. And what is the secret sauce, you might wonder? Well, it’s secret for a reason, but fine, if you insist, we will tell you a bit more, but shhh! So, it's a spicy beer-infused tomato sauce, which very often includes Port wine, whiskey, etc. There are so many variations of the secret sauce and francesinha in general. There's basically no such thing as a “strict” francesinha recipe. Everyone has their version of it but follows the described base.
And how did it all start? Let's travel back in time a bit. There's this guy Daniel David da Silva who left Portugal because of poverty, then lived and worked in both Belgium and France, and later on decided to return to Portugal and show the Portuguese something new and interesting, namely the French Croque Monsieur (a hot sandwich made with ham and cheese). He presents it to the people of Porto, but they aren't exactly thrilled. So, he decides to improve it and make it spicier, and therefore more Portuguese.
The original recipe, Daniel´s recipe, consisted of bijou bread, a slice of cheese, sausage, typical Portuguese linguiça, a slice of roasted pork leg, the second slice of cheese, and then again bread topped with melted cheese. And of course, the sauce, made of beer, tomatoes, chili and so on. He first served it to regular customers of Regaleira restaurant who also happened to be his friends. The first person to ever taste the famous francesinha was Júlio Couto and he simply adored it, like the rest of the gang as well. The only problem was the name. Daniel had no idea at all, but Júlio came up with something.
Here is what he said more or less: This sandwich is elegant, beautiful, and spicy, just like French women, so let's call it francesinha (little Frenchie, French girl/lady). They all had a good laugh about it and that is how the name was created. Daniel David da Silva adored French women himself and was kind of a ladies’ man.
A sandwich or not, it is still glorious and a must-try when in Porto!
Beloved Snacks
Welcome to the world of Caracóis!
Caracóis are snails. Yes, that is right, the Portuguese eat snails too and the snail season begins in May. It is from May until the end of summer that almost every restaurant and café will have snails on their menu, and you will often see nets of these little creatures in the restaurant or café itself. They are usually served as an appetizer, but you can also see people eating snails as a snack during a football match, for example. They are especially popular in the center and south of the country.
However, the snails in Portugal are really tiny compared to the ones in France, even caracoletas, which are basically bigger caracóis.
The snails are cooked on low heat with salt and oregano. Afterward, the cooking is finished in a broth consisting of rosemary, garlic, onion, bay leaf, white wine, and olive oil, of course. Sometimes you will even see some cooks adding Portuguese chili pepper sauce Piri Piri and chouriço for example, it really depends on the region. The snails are swimming in this delicious sauce and the great thing about this dish is that you do not need to use the cutlery since the shell can be very easily removed with the help of a toothpick.
Tremoços
Tremoços (Lupini Beans) are extremely popular in Portugal. Apart from being delicious, they are very rich in protein. This is a beloved Portuguese snack accompanied by a beer for example or a very common side dish that is only seasoned with some garlic and salt. If Lupini Beans are placed inside a glass container, they can last in your fridge for up to 1 month.
A Touch of Luxury - Ostra
Portuguese oysters (ostras) can be found on estuaries and rias. The best oysters in Portugal com from ria Formosa in Algarve, ria de Aveiro and from the estuary of Sado. These delicious bivalves are a very popular delicacy in Portugal and all over the world. If you have the chance, try the incredible soup made from oysters – sopa de ostras.
Desserts
Pastel de Nata
Pastel de Nata is one of the most popular pastries in Portugal and across borders, loved by locals as well as foreigners, and something that cannot be missed while visiting the country.
The recipe of this delicacy dates back over 300 years to Belém, a civil parish west of Lisbon, where the Jerónimos Monastery is located. It is believed that there, pastéis de Nata was created by monks because they needed money to survive and to support the monastery due to the difficult times of the liberal revolution. They started selling these pastries in a store located right next to the monastery, where they rapidly became known as pastéis de Belém, which is their original name. In 1837, the baking of the pastries began in the buildings attached to that small store, following the ancient “secret recipe” from the monastery, which was passed on exclusively to the people who hand-crafted them, remaining unchanged to the present day.
So, what people know as pastel de nata is in reality nothing more than the result of the attempt to reproduce the original pastel de Belém, some better achieved than others, since each region of Portugal, as well as each baker, has its own way of doing them and twisting the recipe.
Considering that the nuns and monks at that time used egg whites to starch their clothes, they had a lot of egg yolks at their disposal, which was typically one of the main ingredients for desserts. So even though the pastéis look like a mixture between a custard tart and a cake, they are small egg tart pastries, aiming to be crispy and flaky on the outside and creamy and sweet on the inside. When they are ready and baked, they get caramelized and are usually served with sprinkles of cinnamon and a dusting of icing sugar, preferably accompanied by a coffee.
Bola de Berlim
After pastel de nata and croissant, bola de Berlim is the third most beloved pastry in Portugal and it is, in fact, a Portuguese custard-filled donut, that was brought to Portugal from Germany by a Jewish family in the 1930s. The family settled in Estoril and found refuge there before World War II. The wife was preparing these delicious donuts at home and her husband would then distribute them all over the town.
The donuts are originally filled with jam, but here in Portugal custard is the main filling you can find. Basically, the donut is rolled in granulated sugar, sliced in half, and then filled with sweet and creamy custard. It is also possible to find the donuts without the creamy filling.
They are mostly consumed on Portuguese beaches. You will often hear vendors screaming “Bola de Berliiim!”. Why is this sweet pastry so popular on the coast? Nobody knows exactly, however it is no lie that after a salty ocean, a little bit of sugar can make your life a tiny bit sweeter.
Tarte de Amêndoa
Did you know that Portugal is one of the top producers of almonds in Europe? North of the country as well as Douro Valley are especially known for their outstanding almond production. This fact explains why Portuguese desserts often contain almonds, such as the delicious Almond Tart. These chopped almonds in a combination with a sweet feeling and flaky crust are an absolute charm. You just have to try or maybe even prepare it yourself since the recipe is very simple. This dessert is especially cherished in northern Portugal.
Ovos Moles
If we think about Lisbon’s sweets, we say pastel de nata, but what do we say if we think about the pastries of the fabulous city of Aveiro? Of course, ovos moles!
They are a Portuguese delicacy originally from this city, even though today we can find them in the whole country. And did you know that in 2008 they were elected a product with Protected Geographical Indication by the European Union, which meant the first Portuguese bakery product to get this classification?
Considering their origin, as the mentioned pastel de nata, also the ovos moles “soft eggs” were invented in the convents in Portugal, in particular in the famous Aveiro's Jesus Monastery. In the 8th-century sugar, manufacturing became one of the main economic activities and it was mainly held by the King, but a little part was donated to the convents. Besides that, also eggs were given to the nuns who had begun a new use of sugar, which until that moment was used basically in the pharmacy.
The egg whites were needed by the nuns on different everyday scopes, such as gumming clothes. In order to not waste anything, the yolks were combined with sugar, originating a creamy paste, famous today as doce de ovos, or “sweet egg”. Afterward, this paste was put inside a host for storing it, giving birth to what we know today. In particular, the shapes of the ovos moles are connected with the link of Aveiro town with the ocean and sea life.
When the convent was closed, the last servant began to prepare the pastries at their own home following the original recipe, which was passed down from generation to generation until the delicious ovos moles overcame barriers and started to be made massively, until everybody got to know them, in Portugal and beyond. A true representative of sweet Portuguese food.
Pão de Ló
This is the Portuguese version of a sponge cake and was traditionally made by the nuns from the Convent of Cós in Alcobaça and has been enjoyed by everyone who has had a sweet tooth ever since the 18th century. However, back in the 19th century, the recipe suffered a sudden change that is nowadays often referred to as a cooking mistake. During the visit of King Carlos I, the nuns served him pão de ló, but a bit underbaked, which gave it a very runny consistency. To everyone’s surprise, the king adored it and demanded that the cake is prepared in the same way from then on.
The cake is very soft, sweet, and moist, filled with delicious egg cream. It is made from eggs, flour, and sugar.
Arroz Doce
Arroz doce is a must-have if you come to Portugal. This sweet rice dessert will conquer you no doubt. It is no coincidence that this dessert is enjoyed by young and old alike, and its easy recipe makes it suitable for a Christmas dinner, lunch, or dinner with friends and family. Naturally, it is also very often found in Portuguese restaurants, for all those who want to end their meal with a tasty dessert. This traditional sweet is a little different from the Brazilian one: it usually consists of egg yolk, which helps make the cream thicker and yellowish, and is always prepared with sugar instead of condensed milk.
Baba de Camelo
- Hello, would you like some camel's drool?
- Oh, yes, please!
…
Said no one ever! Except if you are in Portugal.
Yup, this dessert's name is indeed camel's drool, which probably doesn't sound like the first thing you would order if you knew the meaning of it, and now that you do, don't let this shocking fact discourage you as this is a true delicacy.
Basically, there was a certain Senhora Valentina who would often have last-minute and unexpected visits and therefore started making fast, simple, and easy desserts out of the things she had in her fridge. One day she only had condensed milk, and a few eggs and was well aware that that wouldn't be enough for everyone, so she decided to discourage her guests from trying it by giving the dessert a rather unpleasant name, and it worked! However, the brave ones thoroughly enjoyed this funny taste of joy and so will you!
Alteria
This traditional Portuguese recipe is a Christmas Eve must-have! It is prepared with thin pasta such as Vermicelli, better known as Angel Hair, egg yolks, milk, and sugar and afterward topped with cinnamon. Simple, easy, and tasty is what this dessert is all about.
Queijadas da Sintra
Queijadas de Sintra is one of the most famous Portuguese pastries, a dessert rooted in traditional cuisine. In fact, it is probably one of the most served pastries after a good dish or even as a bite to eat in the middle of the day. This is why it can be found throughout all pastry shops in the country.
Sintra's queijadas consist of a delicious filling based on fresh cheese, sugar, eggs, flour, and cinnamon, wrapped in a crispy pastry. The recipe is said to have been created in the Convent of Penha Longa, in Linhó. However, the recipe is different from today's one, because at that time cinnamon and sugar were not yet used. Known since at least the year 1227, they were even utilized as payment for land dues! According to the literature, different rents have been paid in queijadas.
This centuries-old regional sweet was originally homemade, then with industrialization, Sintra began to be a good area to produce them, as there were many livestock. Being a great success, the production of queijadas increased and, in the middle of the 19th century, the main factories of this famous regional sweet appeared, such as “Piriquita", "Sapa", "Casa do Preto" and "Gregório".
Queijadas da Sintra will sweeten your palate and your soul!
Drinks
Ginja/Ginjinha
It is a traditional liqueur from Portugal and one of the typical drinks of Lisbon. Its name comes from the fruit the liqueur is obtained from, called “Ginja”, sour cherry with a sweet and sour taste that varies between red and black in color and is normally used for culinary purposes. Originally, Ginja comes from Asia and from an ancient recipe created by monks, who infused it in Brandy and used the mixture for medicinal practices, which was common at that time.
The name “Ginjinha” stands for the result of the combination of this fruit with sugar, aguardente and spices, for example, cinnamon. The drink is served in a shot glass or in a small edible chocolate cup and can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, whereas it is recommended to sip it slowly in order to savor the taste. Nowadays, it can be found in bars, restaurants, and counters all over the city of Lisbon, captivating people with its tradition, taste and quality.
Aguardente Bagaceira
Trying to find grappa in Portugal? Aguardente bagaceira, also known as just bagaço is what you should be looking for. It is basically a clear and colorless spirit distilled from grape pomace and is extremely strong. It can be found in almost every café and restaurant in Portugal and interestingly enough if you ask for café com cheirinho (coffee with little scent) what you can expect is an espresso with a drop of bagaço. So, watch out!
Sagres
Sagres beer is one of the most popular beers in Portugal and is produced and shipped to countries all around the world. It is distributed and manufactured by “Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas”, which is a Portuguese brewery founded in 1934 and located in Vialonga, close to the city of Lisbon. Not only do they produce a wide range of mainly pale lagers, but also a dark Munich called Sagres Preta, an auburn beer called Sagres Bohemia, a Sagres Radler as well as soft drinks and bottled water.
The Sagres beer was introduced to the market in 1940 at the Portuguese World Exhibition. It was named in reference to a town by the same name and was the first beer to be exported from the nation, winning several international awards.
The beer is produced from 100& natural ingredients, brewed with exclusive traditional methods based on water, malt, unmalted cereals and a rigorous selection of hops, with no additives or preservatives. It is a medium-bodied, dark beer with a dry character and pleasant bitterness, having an alcohol content of 5.0%.
Super Bock
If you are in the north, then the beer you have to go for is Super Bock since it is exactly there, in the north of the country, near the city of Porto, or to be more precise, north of the Mandego River, where this brand originates from and thus contributes to the rivalry between Lisbon and Porto even more. It was established in 1927 and actually launched as a “winter beer”. Today, it is the best-selling Portuguese beer in the world. It is a light-bodied golden or pale lager that you can drink at any time of the day even in the warm weather because it is very refreshing and crisp, plus it is extremely affordable. This beer has maltiness both in flavor and aroma. Speaking of maltiness, we should definitely mention the fact that when this beer was first launched into the market, it was brewed entirely with malt. The reason behind this was navigation difficulties and
the beer production at the time was forced to use 100% national malts.
You were probably wondering if Super Bock is a type of German Bock, right? But no, the answer is no. Unicer, a beer company that brewed Super Bock, today better known as Super Bock Group, wanted to refine a Bock, which eventually led to a super bock and that is how the beer got its name.
Wine
In Portugal, there is a wide variety of internationally recognized high-quality wines as well as a variety of terroirs, two of them being wine-producing regions that are protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites, one the Alto Douro Valley Wine Region (Douro Vinhateiro) and the other the Pico Island Wine Region (Ilha do Pico Vinhateira). Due to differences in terroirs and climatic conditions, the difference in the art of making wine and difference in the character and flavors, the wines that Portugal has to offer can be called very unique and distinctive.
Considering that Portuguese territory is quite small, it is exceptional that vineyards have been planted there for more than 4000 years, nowadays making the country one of the top ten largest wine producers in the world. There are 13 different wine regions and more than 250 native grape varieties, many of them not growing anywhere else in the world, which is why there is no lack of diversity when it comes to different flavor profiles and characteristics of wine. While in other parts of the world, popular wines are made with just one type of grape, Portuguese winemaking practices mainly focus on blended wines, which means that they are made with a combination of at least two different grapes, but most of the time even more than that.
The most famous and most copied wine from Portugal is called Port wine, coming from the Douro Valley, whereas the second top exported Portuguese wine is Vinho Verde, which is made from slightly under-ripened grapes.
Moscatel Wine
Moscatel is a type of wine that is made from muscat grapes, an aromatic grape variety with floral, citrus and grape aromas, which can reach high sugar levels and are ideal for making fortified wines. Its taste is restrainedly sweet with mainly varietal and floral notes that lead to a slightly dry and bitter finish.
Moscatel has a lot of different variations around the world, but the two main types of it are produced in Portugal, one known locally as Moscatel de Setúbal, from the Setubal Peninsula, and Moscatel Galego Branco from the Douro valley up north. Whichever part of the country the grapes come from, the process for turning them into Moscatel wine is the same. For that, grape brandy is added to the wine when it reaches the indicated degree of sweetness, while the grapes are crushed with the skin left on, so that the flavors of it can be absorbed over three months. Once this fermentation process is completed, the wine is aged in large wooden barrels for a minimum of 18 months. Most of the Moscatel wines are sold and consumed when they are between 2 and 5 years old, with an alcohol content of between 16 and 22%.
Moscatel wine makes an ideal combination for pastries and desserts and is served slightly chilled between 12 & 14°C, which makes it a sweet but light and thus, refreshing drink, whereas the structure of it allows an open bottle to stay good for months.
Port wine
This is a wine you should definitely not miss out on because you will absolutely love it. And there is quite a special story behind it. You see, everyone thinks that the wine comes from Porto. When in fact, the vineyards are actually in Douro Valley. The reason why it is called Port wine (vinho do Porto) is because the wine was carried down the Douro River in small wooden boats, called rabelos, all the way to Porto, the city right by the Atlantic Ocean where it was loaded onto ships traveling to England and the English saw Porto as a port (harbor), hence the name. Given the fact that it was a pretty long journey, the wine was fortified with the addition of brandy, and the English loved the taste. And that love is still visible today if you just take a look at the names of wine cellars where the wine is still stored and aged to this day, which are all on the other side of the Douro River, in a different town called Vila Nova de Gaia. Some of the most famous ones are Taylor, Graham, Croft, Sandeman, Osborne, Burmester, etc. Apart from English, a lot of Dutch and Germans invested in Port wine and spread its delicious aroma all over the world.
Because it is fortified with brandy, of course the process is a bit different today. The fermentation stage is actually not completed but halted near the beginning and afterward a brandy is added. Therefore, the wine is a bit stronger than traditional wines and very sweet. It goes great with cheese, dried fruit, or dessert. It is typically red, but also comes in white, semi-dry, and dry varieties.
There are many categories of Port wine, but these are the most common and popular types:
Ruby – ruby red wine; has an aging process with little or no oxidation; intense fruity aroma,
Tawny – pale, brown to golden, “tawny” color greater oxidation; aroma rich in nuts, spices, and wood,
White – it is golden, sometimes amber; made out of indigenous white grapes; rich and smooth texture,
Rosé – it has a pink color to it and is a recent innovation; macerated only for a short period of time and made out of red grapes; flavors of strawberry, violets and caramel.
Advice and curiosities
1. ENGLISH TEA OBSESSION
It was actually the Portuguese who made England so obsessed with tea, in fact it was a woman, the only Portuguese princess, who by marrying King Charles II became the queen of England – Catherine of Bragança. When she moved to her new home in the 17th century, she brought the tea leaves with her. They were packed in crates that had the following mark Transporte de Ervas Aromaticas (Transport of Aromatic Herbs), which led to today’s abbreviation T.E.A. This is the real reason why the English enjoy their afternoon tea so much.
2. TEA PLANTATION
São Miguel, the biggest island of the Azores archipelago is home to a tea plantation and not just any kind of plantation, but the biggest in Europe. This plantation, Fábrica de Chá Gorreana, has existed since 1883 and manages to produce over 40 tons of tea a year. And the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
3. AFFORDABLE WINES
Are you a wine lover? Worry not, Portugal is a place to be because it is here, where one can find extremely affordable and good quality wine for a price of sometimes less than 3 EUR. Can you believe this?
4. GREEN WINE THAT ISN’T ACTUALLY GREEN
Vinho Verde or in a translated form Green Wine isn’t actually green. Why you ask? Because the term “Verde” (“green”) doesn’t stand for color nor it's level of maturation like many people wrongly think. It got its name because of the grapes. This is the story. In the early 20th century, the fields of Portugal´s Vinho Verde region were mostly used for potatoes and corn. As grapes weren’t a priority, they were planted in places with less solar exposure, meaning that they weren’t completely mature by the time of harvesting. It is thanks to these unripe, well “green” grapes that this famous light, acidic and fizzy wine came to life and was therefore named. However, nowadays these grapes are actually grown until they are completely ripe and this is how Green Wine is being produced in present times.
5. BASKET OF BREAD, OLIVES AND CHEESE ARE NOT FOR FREE
When you enter a restaurant in Portugal it is very often that on the table you will already find (or the waiter will bring you) a basket of bread, olives and sometimes cheese, as well as a bottle of water without even asking if you want it. Warning! This is not for free. If you don’t want to pay for it, then don’t touch it or simply ask the waiter to put it away. Otherwise, you might be surprised when you see the bill. It doesn’t cost much, but it’s good to know.
6. CANNED FISH IS A THING
Believe it or not, canned fish is actually delicious in Portugal. You will come across sardines, tuna, mackerel and most importantly codfish, and they will mostly be bathing in olive oil. Yummy, yummy, yummy!
7. OLD CLOTHES
-Have some old clothes?
-Uhm, yeah!?
-Cool, let’s eat them!
-Sorry, what?
…
That is right, when in Portugal you eat old clothes! No, it is not a joke, there is a dish called Roupa Velha, which means old clothes that you obviously want to eat. Ok, ok, we will stop joking now. However, that is the name of the dish indeed. It is made from leftovers from Christmas dinner, which means that on your plate you will find a mix of codfish, potatoes, cabbage, potatoes, olive oil, garlic etc. This dish is particularly typical in the North of Portugal, in the Minho region. It used to be associated with poorer families, but today is a tradition in almost every family before eating a hearty dish made from different kinds of meat.
8. EGG YOLKS, FOLKS, EGG YOLKS. OH, AND SOME MORE EGG YOLKS!
Yes, that is exactly right. Portuguese sweets are full of egg yolks. Wherever you go and almost any dessert you want to try, there will be the holy egg yolk. Pastel de nata, Pastel de Tentúgal,pão de ló, pitos de Santa Lúzia, ovos moles… to only name a few. So, what is the deal with all the egg yolk? Glad you asked. Back in the day, in the 15th century, but earlier as well, egg whites were very useful. They were used to iron and starch the religious clothing of nuns and priests. Other than that, they were used as glue to decorate altars with golden leaves for example. Of course, they didn’t want to waste the egg yolks, so the nuns needed to be creative and came up with a lot of delicious sweets we still enjoy today.
This was the end of the article, thank you so much for discovering famous Portuguese food with us. In case you would like to learn more about other Portuguese delicacies and try them yourself, or would simply like to know what to eat in Lisbon, you are welcome to participate in our Lisbon Food Tour and book your place at our table by clicking here.
In case you find yourself in the North of Portugal, our Porto Food Tour is ready to show you the best of Portuguese food and help you decide what to eat in Porto. Our kitchen table is looking forward to feeding you with traditional Portuguese dishes.