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Feb 28, 2024 · Alcatra – This stew from Terceira, which comes in both meat and fish varieties, is rich and highly-recommended. Polvo guisado – A dish that’s found all over The Azores, but particularly on Terceira, São Jorge, and Faial, this is one of the best octopus dishes in the whole of Portugal.
- Kevin Raub
- AFAR Local Expert
- kevin.raub@gmail.com
- Pastel de nata (custard tart) Where to try it: Pastéis de Belém, Lisbon. Even if you know next to nothing about the cuisine of Portugal, you’re likely familiar with the country’s most famous dessert, a tiny, decadent egg tart with a satisfyingly rich taste usually for under €2.
- Polvo à Lagareiro (octopus with olive oil and potatoes) Where to try it: Páteo, Lisbon. One of the most ubiquitous dishes across the country and one nearly guaranteed to be locally sourced, polvo à Lagareiro is said to have originated in the central Portuguese region known as the Beiras.
- Porco preto (Iberian black pork) Where to try it: Taberna Típica Quarta Feira, Évora. Iberian-native black pigs (porco preto) are descendants of pigs originally brought to the peninsula by the Phoenicians, who interbred their swine with wild boars to produce the unique breed that exists today in Portugal and Spain.
- Arroz de pato (duck rice) Where to try it: Cozinha da Terra, Louredo. Pork aside, duck rice is one of Portugal’s finest meat moments, a perfect marriage of succulent duck and Carolino rice.
People also ask
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- Salted cod is part of many Portuguese dishes. Portugal’s most famous food is bacalhau (salted cod), which can be served in a seemingly limitless array of dishes.
- Don’t miss the world’s best custard tart in Lisbon. One of the great culinary wonders of Portugal, the cinnamon-dusted pastel de nata (custard tart), with its flaky crust and creamy center, lurks irresistibly behind pastry counters across the country.
- Feast on fresh-off-the-boat seafood on Portugal’s coast. Always a seafaring people, the Portuguese know a thing or two about cooking fish. Taste the culinary riches of Portugal’s coast in dishes such as caldeirada de peixe (fish stew layered with tomatoes, potatoes and rice), açorda de camarão (a tasty stew of shrimp, garlic and coriander thickened with breadcrumbs), xerém (corn mash made with cockles) or cataplana (shellfish stewed with wine, garlic and tomatoes in a traditional domed copper pan).
- Taste traditional tripe stew in Porto. Residents of Porto are known as tripeiros, a nickname that means “tripe eaters.” What might sound like an insult is actually nothing of the sort — something that will become immediately apparent when feasting on a savory bowl of tripe stew.
- Ginjinha – Sour Cherry Liquor. You may have seen this Portuguese liquor also sold as ‘ginja’ or ‘ginia’ in grocery stores. A favorite among tourists and locals alike, this sweet and sour Portuguese drink is drunk as a shot before or after a meal.
- Portuguese Coffee. Just because Portugal doesn’t grow coffee doesn’t mean they don’t make a fantastic brew! The only place in Portugal where coffee beans are grown are in a small sliver of an island in the Azores.
- Licor Beirão. Simply known as Beirão, this national drink of Portugal is one you don’t want to miss! Possibly the most popular Portuguese liqueur on the market, this drink originated in the Beiras region and is an excellent option for those with a sweet tooth.
- Sumol Ananás. If you’ve seen the jokes, you’ll know that ‘ananas’ is the word for pineapple in most other languages. Sumol Ananás is one of the most popular non-alcoholic Portuguese drinks.
- Learn A Few Key Portuguese Phrases. Learning the Portuguese language, a latin-based idiom filled with phonic challenges, is a worthwhile project that takes both time and effort.
- Make Restaurant Reservations. We get the desire to be spontaneous while on vacation. Making plans is something we expect to do while working, not playing.
- Start Your Mornings With A Pastel de Nata. We still remember the first time we ate our first pastel de nata breakfast in Portugal. We felt like we discovered something really special.
- Order Locally And With The Season. Eating local, seasonal food isn’t just good for Portugal’s environment. It’s also good for the taste buds. Seasonal eating in Porgugal goes beyond munching on fruits and vegetables.
Caldo Verde. Caldo verde with broa bread, a popular Portuguese food. Caldo verde, or “green soup” is a dish that is very distinctly Portuguese and delivers major taste to go along with its unique appearance. This typical winter Portuguese dish is a very thick and creamy soup popular throughout the country.
Jul 13, 2023 · 8. Arroz de Marisco (Seafood Rice) Arroz de Marisco is a testament to Portugal’s bountiful coastline, featuring an assortment of shellfish like crab, shrimp, clams, and lobster, all nestled in a bed of aromatic saffron rice. This dish, similar to Spain’s paella but soupier, is a celebration of the ocean’s bounty.
