One of the best memories of my childhood were holidays where our dining room was filled with friends and family. We would sit for hours and tell stories and laugh while we ate course after course. Meals were built with fresh ingredients and cooked with love. When traveling to Portugal, you have to try its delicious cuisine. From fresh seafood to savory meats, there is no shortage of amazing food to try. Here are 15 foods you need to try in Portugal:
APPETIZERS
Queijo da Serra
Queijo da Serra is a soft and creamy cheese that is made from sheep’s milk. It is great for a petisco (a Portuguese version of tapas).
Sausages
My four favorite are Chouriço: You can have it cold or hot, but an awesome way to eat it is a flame-grilled chouriço assado, cooked in a clay dish and they light the sausage.
Linguiça: It is a lot like Chouriço, but has more paprika and garlic.
Morcela: ok…keep an open mind with this one. Morcela is blood sausage. It is delicious and I love to fry them up in a cask iron pan.
Farinheira: This sausage wasn’t a favorite with members of my family, but I like it. It has a bread consistency and it’s very filling.
Queijo Fresco
My grandmother would sell this cheese in her tiny village in Portugal (Serra da Estrela)
and she said people would come from miles away to buy it because hers was the best. Haha…modest huh? But, if you tasted her cheese you would believe it. This salty, spreadable cheese tastes best on crusty bread.
Rissóis de Camarão
Another favorite at our house are these delicious shrimp-filled appetizer. They are deep fried and are the only reason I own a deep frier.
Bolos de Bacalhau
These fried balls of cod fish and potatoes are also a staple at all family gatherings. They can be served hot or cold.
Caldo Verde
Caldo Verde is a simple and comforting soup that is made with potatoes, kale, and chorizo. It is served in most family meals and I know some people that start every dinner with a bowl of this soup.
MAIN DISHES
Polvo à Lagareiro
Polvo à Lagareiro is a grilled octopus and potato dish that is flavored with lots of garlic and olive oil. This is my all-time favorite Portuguese food and I love that my girls consider it their favorite too.
Paella
Paella is a seafood rice dish that is filled with various types of shellfish, including clams, mussels, and shrimp. I always try to have as much fresh seafood as I can while in Portugal and this dish is filled with them. I always add lobster to mine and serve the rice on the side. Most Portuguese people would gasp at that…lol. Take a peek at my recipe I use on Christmas Eve.
Bacalhau
Bacalhau is a Portuguese staple, and it is a type of dried and salted cod that can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as in a stew or as a fritter. Every town had a different version that is their specialty.
Cozido
Cozido is a hearty stew that is made with various meats, vegetables, and beans. It is typically served with rice or potatoes. The best cozido I ever ate was from a pot cooked in the ground at the hot springs in San Miguel, Azores. (Read all about our unique meal)
Sardines
Grilled sardines are a popular summer dish in Portugal, and they are often served with a simple salad or bread. The best way to eat them is hot off the grill. Canned sardines on crusty bread are also a popular snack.
Leitão
Leitão is a traditional roasted suckling pig dish that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Carne de Porco à Alentejana
Carne de Porco à Alentejana is a pork and clam dish that is typically served with potatoes. You may think pork and clams are an odd combination but the salty wine sauce blends the flavors together and gives them a great taste.
Bifanas
Bifanas are thin slices of marinated pork that are served on a roll with mustard and hot sauce. These were popular lunches at our house. However, we never used mustard on them.
DESSERTS
Pasteis de Nata
Pasteis de Nata, also known as Pasteis de Belem, are small, delicious custard tarts with a flaky crust. They are a sweet and creamy pastry that is a must-try in Portugal. We loved starting our day in Portugal at a café with this pastry and a nice espresso.
Filhós
These were my grandmother’s specialty dessert and it will change the way you look at fried dough forever. I can still smell our kitchen when she would stand over the stove frying the delicious dough. My job was to sprinkle the sugar on top…and I was the taste tester! They are also known as malasada.
Pudim
This dessert is always on our table at family get togethers. Very similar to flan, the vanilla custard and caramelized sugar will make you want seconds.
BEVERAGES
Port wine
Portugal is famous for its Port wine, which is a sweet and fortified wine that is typically served as a dessert wine.
Ginja
This liqueur is made by infusing ginja berries in alcohol (aguardente). In certain places in Portugal, like Obidos, it is served in adorable chocolate cups. The tart berry juice and the sweet chocolate make the perfect combination.
Now that you’ve discovered the foods you need to try in Portugal, how can you experience it at home?
CHECK OUT THESE AMAZING PORTUGUESE COOKBOOKS
By: Maria Dias & Lisa Dias
My Lisbon: A Cookbook from Portugal’s City of Light
WHERE CAN YOU FIND INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THESE FOODS YOU NEED TO TRY IN PORTUGAL?
Portugalia Marketplace, in New Bedford, Massachusetts has the best Portuguese food. I order so much from them. They have it all…sausage, coffee, cheese, spices, and more.
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