There are few puts we’ve explored which are as a lot of a ceremonial dinner for the senses as Portugal. We spent two complete months touring all the nation, from the sun-drenched seafood eating places of the Algarve to the historical middle of Guimarães within the north. Our challenge was once easy: to consume the whole thing.
We attempted meals from tiny tascas in Lisbon, beach grills serving the most up to date catch, and family-run spots deep within the geographical region. This information is the results of that scrumptious adventure. It’s our selection of the standard Portuguese dishes that you just have to take a look at, according to our firsthand enjoy of consuming our method around the nation.
Conventional Portuguese Meals at a Look
In the event you’re brief on time, listed below are our most sensible selections to assist making a decision what to consume first.
- Will have to-Check out Dishes: Pastel de Nata, Bifana, Grilled Sardines, Caldo Verde.
- Very best Seafood: Bacalhau, Cataplana de Marisco, Polvo à Lagareiro.
- Very best Meat Dishes: Francesinha, Leitão Assado (Suckling Pig), Porco Preto.
- Will have to-Check out Beverages: Vinho Verde, Ginjinha.
1. Pastel de Nata (Custard Tarts)
You’ll’t speak about conventional Portuguese delicacies with out beginning right here. Those bite-sized egg custard tarts are a countrywide treasure. The pastry is impossibly flaky, shattering the instant you chunk into it, giving solution to a heat, creamy custard centre. They’re in most cases served with a sprinkle of cinnamon on most sensible.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We’ve eaten extra of those than we will depend, and our rule is unassuming: consume them heat, ideally status proper out of doors the bakery. Whilst there are well-known spots in Lisbon, virtually each native pastelaria has an implausible model. It’s the easiest spouse to a morning espresso.
2. Bacalhau (Salt Cod)
Bacalhau isn’t only a fish; it’s a Portuguese obsession. It’s mentioned there are greater than 365 techniques to organize this dried and salted cod—one for on a daily basis of the yr. Traditionally, it was once the meals that sustained sailors on lengthy voyages, however lately it’s a liked staple present in the whole thing from easy fish desserts to elaborate casseroles. WE actually were given a just right style of it after we had been up in Guimaraes. What wonderful meals scene.
Dave & Deb’s Take: In the event you’re new to bacalhau, the most efficient advent is Bacalhau à Brás. It’s a regular Portuguese dish of shredded cod combined with onions, scrambled eggs, and thinly fried potatoes. It’s scrumptious, no longer too fishy, and a great solution to enjoy Portugal’s nationwide dish.
3. Bifana (Beef Sandwich)
The Bifana is Portugal’s solution to the easiest sandwich. It’s easy, reasonable, and extremely pleasing. The sandwich is composed of skinny slices of beef marinated in garlic, white wine, and spices, served on a comfortable, contemporary bread roll. It’s without equal Portuguese convenience meals.
Dave & Deb’s Take: The most efficient Bifanas we’ve had are from tiny, no-frills spots the place you’ll be able to pay attention the beef scorching at the griddle. Don’t be shy with the mustard, a squeeze of it cuts during the richness of the beef completely. It’s the best reasonable and cheerful lunch.
4. Grilled Sardines (Sardinhas Assadas)
Freshly grilled sardines are a juicy, easy excitement and a staple of Portuguese delicacies. Traditionally a dish of the decrease categories because of their affordability, they’re now a liked snack or mild lunch around the nation. The name of the game is the slow-grilling over charcoal, which assists in keeping the fish wet and full of flavour.
Dave & Deb’s Take: The most efficient sardines we’ve ever had had been from a tiny, no-name grill arrange on an aspect boulevard within the Alfama district of Lisbon all through the St. Anthony Pageant in June. The entire neighbourhood smelled of grilled fish and charcoal. You consume them together with your fingers, striking the sardine on a slice of bread to absorb the juices. Don’t be afraid to get messy; it’s all a part of the enjoy.
5. Piri-Piri Hen
That is one in all Portugal’s most famed culinary exports, and for just right reason why. It’s so a lot more than simply the model you to find at chain eating places. Original Portuguese Piri-Piri rooster is spatchcocked, marinated in a flavourful mixture of chili, garlic, olive oil, and lemon, after which grilled over charcoal till the outside is crispy and the beef is amazingly juicy.
Dave & Deb’s Take: Each and every eating place has its personal secret Piri-Piri sauce recipe, and a part of the joys is making an attempt other variations. We discovered the most efficient spots are generally unassuming, native puts with an enormous charcoal grill out entrance. It’s in most cases served with easy fries and a elementary salad, which is all you want to accompany the celebrity of the display.
6. Caldo Verde (Inexperienced Soup)
Caldo Verde is without equal Portuguese convenience meals. This warming and flavourful soup originates from the northern Minho area however is now discovered on menus all around the nation. It’s a easy, rustic soup made out of potatoes, thinly shredded collard vegetables (or kale), and slices of smoky chouriço sausage, all introduced in conjunction with a beneficiant drizzle of olive oil.
Dave & Deb’s Take: This was once our go-to starter on cool evenings in Porto. It’s hearty with out being heavy, and the combo of the earthy vegetables and the smoky sausage is highest. It’s a easy dish, but if it’s carried out proper, it’s some of the pleasing issues you’ll be able to consume in Portugal.
7. Francesinha (The Queen of Sandwiches)
This isn’t only a sandwich; it’s an tournament. Hailing from Porto, the Francesinha is a beast of a meal, layered with sausage, ham, and steak, then smothered in melted cheese and a wealthy, highly spiced, beer-based tomato sauce. It’s messy, decadent, and completely unforgettable. Easiest when accompanied through an aspect of french fries.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We made a particular commute to Porto simply to take a look at an original Francesinha, and it lived as much as the hype. It’s arguably the most well liked Portuguese meals. Our recommendation? Come hungry, and don’t put on a white blouse. You’ll to find it on menus in Lisbon, but it surely’s price ready to take a look at it in its place of birth of Porto.
8. Carne de Porco à Alentejana (Beef with Clams)
That is the unique Portuguese surf and turf, and it’s a super aggregate of flavours. The dish combines soft chunks of beef marinated in wine and garlic with contemporary clams, all served over a mattress of fried potatoes and crowned with contemporary cilantro. It originated within the Algarve area however is now a liked vintage around the nation.
Dave & Deb’s Take: The primary time we noticed this on a menu, we had been a little bit skeptical in regards to the beef and clam combo, but it surely simply works. The salty flavour of the clams completely enhances the wealthy beef, and the sauce is implausible for dipping your bread in. It’s a must-try for any adventurous foodie.
9. Arroz de Marisco (Seafood Rice)
Whilst it will seem like a Spanish paella, Arroz de Marisco is a uniquely Portuguese dish. The important thing distinction is that the rice is cooked in a flavourful broth till it’s a lot looser and extra stew-like than a paella. It’s full of a beneficiant quantity of seafood, in most cases together with prawns, mussels, clams, and squid.
Dave & Deb’s Take: That is an implausible dish to percentage. It generally involves the desk in a big clay pot, steaming and aromatic. We like the soupy consistency of the rice, which is full of the flavor of the ocean. It’s a great meal for an extended, lazy lunch with a bottle of Vinho Verde.
10. Bitoque (Steak and Egg)
Bitoque is a vintage Portuguese convenience meal you’ll to find in virtually each native eating place or tasca. It’s a easy however pleasing dish of a thin-cut steak (both beef or red meat) that’s pan-fried in garlic and butter, then crowned with a runny fried egg. It’s virtually all the time served with an aspect of french fries and rice.
Dave & Deb’s Take: This was once our go-to lunch on days after we wanted one thing fast, hearty, and dependable. It’s a no-frills dish, but it surely’s all the time scrumptious. The most efficient section is breaking the fried egg yolk and letting it run over the steak and fries. It’s easy, vintage Portuguese cooking at its very best.
11. Arroz de Pato (Duck Rice)
It is a vintage Portuguese convenience meals dish. Arroz de Pato, or duck rice, is a wealthy and savory dish the place the rice is cooked in a flavorful broth made out of simmering the duck itself. The soft, shredded duck meat is then combined into the rice, which is incessantly crowned with slices of smoky chouriço and baked till the highest is relatively crispy.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We had this on a fab night time in a small, family-run eating place and it was once the easiest hearty meal. It’s a lot richer and extra flavourful than a normal rice dish. The crispy chouriço on most sensible provides the easiest salty, smoky distinction to the soft duck.
12. Polvo à Lagareiro (Octopus with Olive Oil)
In the event you love seafood, this dish is an absolute must-try. Mushy octopus is boiled after which roasted with numerous garlic and a beneficiant quantity of Portuguese olive oil, and in most cases served with small, roasted potatoes which were smashed to absorb the entire scrumptious oil.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We had been a little bit hesitant about octopus sooner than our journeys to Portugal, however this dish totally transformed us. When it’s cooked neatly, the octopus is amazingly soft, no longer chewy in any respect. It’s a easy dish that actually shall we the top quality elements shine. It’s one in all our go-to orders each time we’re again in Portugal.
13. Bolinhos de Bacalhau (Codfish Truffles)
Those are one in all Portugal’s most well liked snacks or appetizers. Bolinhos de Bacalhau are small, deep-fried fritters made out of a mix of salted cod, potatoes, eggs, and contemporary parsley. They’re crispy at the out of doors and comfortable and fluffy at the inside of.
Dave & Deb’s Take: You’ll to find those all over, from small cafes to high-end eating places. They’re the easiest snack to have with a chilly beer on a sunny afternoon. We like how they’re a easy, scrumptious chunk of Portugal’s most famed fish.
14. Cozido à Portuguesa (Portuguese Stew)
It is a carnivore’s dream and a real style of conventional Portuguese meals. Cozido is a hearty boiled stew full of an enormous collection of meats and greens. A normal Cozido can come with red meat, beef, rooster, and quite a lot of sausages like chouriço and morcela (blood sausage), all slow-cooked with greens like potatoes, carrots, and cabbage.
Dave & Deb’s Take: Be ready: this isn’t a mild meal. It’s an enormous platter of meals, supposed to be shared. It’s an implausible solution to pattern an enormous number of Portuguese meats and sausages multi function cross. It’s a vintage Sunday family members meal for a reason why.
15. Cataplana de Marisco (Portuguese Seafood Stew)
This iconic dish from the Algarve area is as a lot in regards to the presentation as it’s in regards to the flavour. It’s a seafood stew cooked and served in a clam-shaped copper pan known as a cataplana. The pan acts like a steamer, locking in the entire flavours of the contemporary seafood, which in most cases comprises clams, prawns, and fish, cooked in a aromatic broth of tomatoes, white wine, and herbs.
Dave & Deb’s Take: This was once the vintage Portuguese dish that we had heard about from our buddies. So, after all we had to take a look at it. We had this at a beach eating place in Lagos, and it was once a great hearty meal. The instant they open the cataplana at your desk and the steam billows out is unbelievable. It’s a must-do enjoy whilst you’re within the Algarve.
16. Peixinhos da Horta (Fried Inexperienced Beans)
Don’t let the straightforward description idiot you; this is likely one of the maximum addictive snacks in Portugal. The call actually interprets to “little fishes from the lawn,” and the dish is composed of inexperienced beans which are battered and deep-fried till crispy. It’s believed that this dish was once the foundation for what the arena now is aware of as Jap tempura, presented through Portuguese investors centuries in the past.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We first attempted those at a bit of tapas bar and couldn’t prevent ordering them. They’re the easiest appetizer. The batter is mild and crispy, and the golf green bean inside of is completely soft. It’s a easy, good dish and an ideal vegetarian choice.
17. Picanha
Whilst at first a well-known Brazilian minimize of red meat, Picanha has been wholeheartedly followed through Portugal. This particular minimize, the highest sirloin cap, is understood for its implausible tenderness and a thick layer of fats that bastes the beef because it grills over charcoal, making it unbelievably juicy and flavourful.
Dave & Deb’s Take: In the event you see Picanha at the menu and also you’re a steak lover, order it. It’s incessantly served merely with fries and black beans. The standard of the meat in Portugal is unbelievable, and this is likely one of the very best techniques to enjoy it.
18. Feijoada (Bean Stew)
Every other dish with robust Brazilian ties, Feijoada is a wealthy and hearty stew of black beans and quite a lot of cuts of beef and red meat. Whilst traditionally made with less expensive cuts, it’s now a liked convenience meals. It’s a slow-cooked, soulful dish that’s highest for a large, pleasing meal.
Dave & Deb’s Take: It is a true style of rustic, hearty delicacies. It’s a heavy dish, so it’s very best loved on a cooler day. We discovered it’s an ideal meal to percentage, incessantly served with rice and orange slices, which assist minimize during the richness of the stew.
19. Caldeirada de Peixe (Fish Stew)
That is the quintessential Portuguese fisherman’s stew. A Caldeirada is a gorgeous, layered stew made with plenty of contemporary fish and potatoes, all cooked in combination in a flavourful broth of tomatoes, bell peppers, and herbs. The wonderful thing about the dish is that it historically makes use of regardless of the fishermen stuck that day.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We had this in a small fishing village within the Algarve, and it was once implausible. It’s very similar to a French Bouillabaisse however heartier and extra rustic. It’s an implausible solution to pattern all kinds of native fish multi function cross.
20. Ovas (Fish Roe)
For the in point of fact adventurous eater, Ovas is a Portuguese delicacy made out of fish roe (eggs). All of the egg sack, in most cases from a gray mullet, is boiled after which served chilled, incessantly sliced and dressed merely with olive oil, vinegar, and onions along boiled potatoes.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We need to admit, this one was once a problem for us in the beginning, however we had been made up our minds to take a look at it. The feel is probably the most distinctive section—very easy and silky. It’s an overly conventional and historical dish, and in the event you’re having a look to step out of doors your culinary convenience zone, that is the only to take a look at.
21. Serra da Estrela Cheese
If you’re a cheese lover, you might have to take a look at Queijo Serra da Estrela. That is Portugal’s most famed cheese, hailing from the Serra da Estrela mountains. It’s a comfortable, gooey sheep’s milk cheese this is so creamy you incessantly consume it through scooping it out with a spoon. It has a powerful, complicated flavour this is completely unforgettable.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We first attempted this Portuguese cheese at a marketplace in Lisbon, and it was once a revelation. It’s served at room temperature, and the rind is bring to a halt the highest so you’ll be able to dip bread proper into the gooey middle. It’s extremely wealthy and flavourful. Paired with a pitcher of crimson wine, it’s a great appetizer.
22. Pão de Deus (God’s Bread)
It is a common Portuguese bread roll, and its call actually interprets to “God’s Bread.” It’s a comfortable, brioche-like bun with a scrumptious, candy shredded coconut topping that will get toasted all through baking. It’s a staple in Portuguese bakeries (pastelarias).
Dave & Deb’s Take: This was once our go-to breakfast on many mornings in Portugal. It’s no longer overly candy, and the comfortable bread with the relatively crispy coconut topping is an ideal aggregate with a powerful espresso. It’s a easy, scrumptious solution to get started your day like an area.
23. Bola de Berlim
Those are the Portuguese model of a Berliner or a Bismark doughnut, and they’re extremely common, particularly at the seashores in the summertime. They’re fluffy, deep-fried doughnuts, rolled in sugar, and historically full of a candy egg yolk cream (creme de ovos).
Dave & Deb’s Take: You’ll see distributors strolling the seashores within the Algarve promoting those from coolers, and also you must completely purchase one. They’re the easiest seashore snack. Whilst the standard egg cream is the vintage, we additionally love those full of chocolate.
24. Cebolada
Cebolada isn’t a standalone dish, however relatively a flavorful onion-based stew or sauce that could be a cornerstone of Portuguese house cooking. It’s made through slow-cooking onions with tomatoes and garlic till they’re comfortable and candy. It’s incessantly served as a base for stewed or pan-fried fish and meat dishes.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We had this served with a good looking piece of grilled tuna, and it was once unbelievable. The beauty of the slow-cooked onions and tomatoes is the easiest supplement to the contemporary fish. It’s an ideal instance of the way easy, top quality elements are the center of Portuguese delicacies.
25. Linguica (Portuguese Smoked Sausage)
Linguica is a flavourful, smoke-cured beef sausage seasoned with garlic and paprika. It’s a staple within the Portuguese vitamin and is amazingly flexible. It may be grilled, fried, or added to stews and rice dishes so as to add a deep, smoky flavour.
Dave & Deb’s Take: That is spicier and extra flavourful than a regular chorizo. We adore it grilled over an open flame. You’ll incessantly see it served as a easy appetizer, the place it’s dropped at the desk in a flaming ceramic dish. It’s a little bit of theatre and extremely scrumptious.
26. Port Wine
You’ll’t cross to Portugal with out attempting its most famed drink. Port is a candy, fortified wine produced completely within the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. It’s in most cases served as a dessert wine and is available in a number of types, from wealthy, fruity ruby ports to complicated, nutty tawny ports.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We spent a couple of days exploring the Douro Valley, and it’s some of the stunning wine areas on this planet. One of the best ways to enjoy Port is to consult with one of the vital Port inns in Porto for a tasting. It’s an implausible method to be informed in regards to the historical past and other types of this iconic Portuguese drink.
27. Vinho Verde (Inexperienced Wine)
Don’t let the call idiot you; “inexperienced wine” isn’t in fact inexperienced in color. It’s a tender wine (therefore “inexperienced”) from the Minho area within the north, and it’s mild, crisp, and incessantly has a slight effervescence. It’s the easiest refreshing drink for a sunny afternoon.
Dave & Deb’s Take: We drank Vinho Verde virtually on a daily basis in Portugal. It’s extremely reasonably priced and pairs completely with contemporary seafood. It’s mild, simple to drink, and quintessentially Portuguese.
28. Ginjinha (Cherry Liqueur)
Ginjinha (or Ginja) is a well-liked Portuguese liqueur made through infusing bitter cherries (ginja berries) in a brandy known as aguardente. It’s a candy, robust liqueur that could be a liked native drink, particularly in Lisbon.
Dave & Deb’s Take: One of the best ways to take a look at that is from one of the vital tiny, historical Ginjinha bars in Lisbon. For approximately one Euro, you get a shot served in a small glass, incessantly with a cherry within the backside. You’ll additionally ask for it to be served in a small chocolate cup, which is a a laugh and scrumptious solution to revel in it.
Making plans Your Meals Excursion of Portugal
- Very best Meals Excursions in Lisbon & Porto: A meals excursion is likely one of the very best techniques to get an advent to Portuguese delicacies. We suggest taking a excursion to your first day to get your bearings and uncover some native gem stones.
- Pointers for Eating in Portugal:
- The bread, olives, and different small plates the waiter brings originally of the meal (the couvert) aren’t loose. In the event you don’t need them, simply courteously say “no, thanks.”
- Lunch is in most cases the principle meal of the day, and plenty of eating places be offering an ideal worth prato do dia (dish of the day).
- Dinner is eaten overdue in Portugal, generally after 8:00 PM.
FAQ: Meals in Portugal
The nationwide dish of Portugal is Bacalhau (dried and salted cod). It’s mentioned that there are greater than 365 techniques to prepare dinner it, one for on a daily basis of the yr.
A normal Portuguese breakfast is mild and easy, incessantly consisting of unpolluted bread with butter, cheese, or jam, and a espresso (like an coffee or a galão – espresso with milk). The Pão de Deus could also be a well-liked breakfast selection.
Typically, conventional Portuguese meals isn’t very highly spiced. The well-known Piri-Piri sauce is the principle exception, and it’s generally served at the aspect so you’ll be able to upload as a lot warmth as you favor.
So, Which Dish Will You Check out First?
After spending two complete months consuming our method from the sunny coast of the Algarve to the historical hills of the north, it’s not possible for us to pick out only one favorite Portuguese dish. What we in point of fact fell in love with was once the honesty of the meals.
Whether or not it was once a easy bowl of Caldo Verde on a fab evening in Porto or contemporary grilled sardines at a pageant in Lisbon, the focal point was once all the time on implausible, contemporary elements ready with care. But when we had to pick out one highest meals reminiscence, it could be sharing a steaming Cataplana de Marisco at a tiny beach eating place. The instant the waiter opened that copper pan at our desk and the aromatic steam of seafood, wine, and herbs crammed the air… that, to us, is the style of Portugal.
This nation’s delicacies is a scrumptious journey, and we are hoping this information has impressed you to take a look at as many of those conventional Portuguese dishes as you’ll be able to.
