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If you are in Portugal and pondering what Portuguese foods to try, fret not; this guide is your pathway to 40 of the most traditional Portuguese foods. We’ve compiled a list that covers the most celebrated dishes and unveils hidden culinary treasures rarely explored by tourists.
- Cod Dishes
- Codfish Appetizers
- Polvo à Lagareiro
- Alheira
- Caldeirada de Peixe
- Açorda Alentejana
- Tripas à Moda Do Porto
- Feijoada
- Arroz de Pato
- Arroz de Polvo
Cod in Portugal is calledBacalhau, an ingredient full of stories which even coming from far, much of Norway, has become a symbol of Portuguese food. In Portugal, there are many dishes and recipes with cod, among which we highlight:
Cod is also used to prepare snacks, perfect with a good glass of wine. The best known are the pastel or bolinho de bacalhau, fried dumplings with cod and potatoes. There are also the pataniscas and iscas de bacalhau, which are made with shredded and seasoned cod, and fried breaded.
Polvo à Lagareiro is undoubtedly one of the most typical dishes in Portuguese cuisine. The term lagareirorepresents the olive oil mill workers from the producing areas. Hence the name of the dish that uses olive oil in large quantities. The recipe consists of boiled octopus baked in the oven, drizzled with a lot of olive oil, accompanied by garlic,...
Few Portuguese foods carry a history as impressive as the Alheira. A Portuguese sausage made mainly with chicken meat and bread was created to deceive those who persecuted and killed Jewish people during the Spanish Inquisition. The Alheira looked like traditional pork sausages, an ingredient prohibited by the Jewish religion. In this way, the Jews...
The Portuguese relationship with the sea is evident in this typical fish stew known as Caldeirada de Peixe. Different sea fishes are used according to the region, such as cod, monkfish, conger, ray, eels, sardines, squid, and shellfish. The Portuguese fish stew is prepared in layers and cooked together with potatoes, garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppe...
Açorda is a typical Portuguese soup from the Alentejo regionthat can be served as a starter or main dish. This Alentejo soup is usually made with bread, eggs, salt, garlic, coriander, olive oil, and water.
Portuguese food does not like wasting ingredients. Typical of Porto, this dish carries many stories that go back to the 15th century. Tripas à Moda do Porto means Porto-style guts. It became so famous that local people came to be called ‘tripeiros’ (something like guts’ men). Among many stories, it is common to hear that this dish originated when t...
Feijoada is a stew made with pork and beans. Very popular in Portugal, it has also influenced the cuisine of its former colonies, such as the Brazilian feijoada, one of the most famous foods in Brazil. The traditional recipe uses white beans and red beans, depending on the region. However, there are variations of the Portuguese feijoada worth menti...
Arroz de Pato (Duck Rice) is amongst the most popular foods in Portuguese cuisine and is also known as Arroz de Braga due to its supposed homeland. The secret of this dish is in the broth used to cook the rice, the same in which the duck, sausage, ham, and spices were previously cooked. Duck meat is shredded, mixed with cooked rice, and then finish...
Arroz de Polvo (Octopus Rice) is another well-known dish among popular Portuguese foods. It is made with Carolino-type rice (long grain), widely used in the malandrinhostype of preparations, a Portuguese term for the more brothy dishes. In this recipe, rice is cooked in the same broth that cooked the octopus, enhancing the flavor. It also takes oli...
Best Portuguese Food – Meat main dishes Cozido à Portuguesa (Portuguese stew) Cozido à Portuguesa is the mother of all traditional Portuguese food! It is a slow-cooked dish made with various vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes, cabbage, turnip, and different pieces of meat, chicken, beef, pork, chouriço, and morcela. It is a heavy ...
- Claudia Bastos
- 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.
- Pastel de Nata (Portuguese Custard Tart) The Portuguese Custard Tard, also known as the Pastel de Nata takes first place. The perfect breakfast or snack accompanied by an espresso, this sweet pastry is a Portuguese staple.
- Bacalhau A Bras. A national treasure, the Portuguese consume 20% of the world’s cod. The Portuguese say there are 1001 ways to cook cod, also known as bacalhau.
- Caldo Verde. A popular soup in Portugal, the Caldo Verde translates to “green broth”. It includes some of the most traditional Portuguese ingredients, including shredded Portuguese cabbage, potatoes, onion, garlic, and pieces of meat such as chourico or linguica.
- Arroz de Pato. Arroz de Pato is one of the most popular Portuguese dishes globally. With roots in the city of Braga, this dish is a combination of traditional ingredients, including duck, rice, bay leaf, and chourico.
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Aug 17, 2023 · Açorda with shrimp is a classic – and hearty – traditional Portuguese food. While you’ll find it on traditional menus all over Portugal, some more modern takes elevate the dish, as well. Photo credit: Arnold Gatilao Cozido à Portuguesa. If there’s one stew in the world that’s perfect for meat lovers, it’s cozido à Portuguesa. It ...
Mar 11, 2024 · WHAT IS TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE FOOD? As described, hearty Portuguese dishes made with meat, seafood, legumes, and vegetables favor heavily in the local cuisine. It’s a Mediterranean-based cuisine that makes use of a wide variety of spices, many of which came from Portugal’s former colonies.
