Portuguese cuisine is quite simple to prepare, but hearty dishes (the main direction of local cuisine is fish cooking).
National cuisine of Portugal
Of particular importance in Portuguese cuisine is soups (locals eat them every day) - fish and “green” soups with fresh vegetables (try “caldo verde” - a thick soup with potatoes and cabbage). Meat dishes are also prepared here with the addition of herbs, garlic and other spices. As for the snacks, they are represented in the country by olives and olives, local cheeses, fish pate, meat and fish croquettes, and shrimp dumplings.
Separately, Madeira's cuisine should be mentioned: fish, seafood, fruits and local spices are held in high esteem (it is worth trying the swordfish prepared in different ways).
Popular Portuguese dishes:
- “Cataplana” (fish soup with seafood and different types of fish);
- "Borrego" (roast lamb);
- “Bacaldu a bras” (salted cod fried with potatoes, eggs and onions);
- Ameijuas a balyao pato (boiled mussels cooked with white wine, garlic, olive oil and coriander);
- “Befe” (beef or pork cutlet).
Where to taste the national cuisine?
Those planning to visit national restaurants should take note: the dishes on the menu are in 2 categories - “peixe” (fish) and “carne” (meat), and side dishes are usually not indicated, but are always included. As for the portions of the dishes, they are not small, so you can safely order 1 dish for two.
In Lisbon, “Faca & Garfo” (a restaurant specializing in homemade Portuguese cuisine, where the owner of the establishment gives advice to everyone on the choice of dishes) and “Ha Piteu” (serves Northern and southern Portuguese cuisine; here guests are recommended to cook their own beef steak on hot stone), in Porto - “Cafe Santiago” (here guests are offered to enjoy a dish typical for the Porto region - francesinha, which is a toast with sausage, melted cheese and tomato sauce, the top of which is decorated with scrambled eggs), in Albufeira - “O Manjar” (of Portuguese cuisine, this place is famous for its steaks cooked in wine sauce).
Cooking courses in Portugal
For one-day culinary courses, those who wish will be invited to the restaurant “Assinatura” (Lisbon), whose chef (Enrique Mouro), together with the “students”, will go to the organic market, after which he will conduct a master class for them, followed by lunch and tasting of jointly prepared dishes and Portuguese wines.
You can fly to Portugal to take part in the celebration of the Street Food Festival (Estoril, April), the Fish Festival (Lisbon, April), the Chocolate Festival (Obidos, April), during which you can not only enjoy the taste of various chocolate delicacies, but also admire sculptures made of chocolate.
