Portugal is the westernmost country in continental Europe. The Mediterranean climate creates ideal conditions for recreation here almost at any time of the year.
You can see the sights of this amazing country for a very long time: these are the famous Azores, the Belém tower, which has become a symbol of Lisbon, and the Alto Douro wine region, and the Vasco da Gama bridge … But sooner or later, even the most indefatigable traveler will get hungry and he will have a question: what is worth trying in Portugal?
Food in Portugal
The national Portuguese cuisine is simple and tasty, this hearty meal is perfect for the tourist who wants to have a good meal before further sightseeing. But those who are interested in Portuguese cuisine more than local beauty and antiquity will not be disappointed.
This cuisine was created by farmers and fishermen, its main ingredients are vegetables, fish, seafood. But it would be a mistake to think that Portuguese cuisine will not offer you anything else. You can taste unusual meat dishes, different types of cheeses, and a huge number of puddings and pastries. But that's not all: did you know that Portugal is the birthplace of port wine? He's excellent there.
Wine, bread and olive oil are three more pillars of Portuguese cooking. The Mediterranean is the Mediterranean.
The Portuguese themselves are especially fond of cod dishes: there are several hundred recipes for preparing this fish. Locals claim that you can cook cod every day throughout the year and never repeat it.
Top 10 Portuguese Cuisine Dishes
Baked cod bakalau
Baked cod bakalau
The word "bakalyau" itself, translated from Portuguese, means "cod". It is also used to refer to dried and salted cod, which is an ingredient in a wide variety of Portuguese national cuisine. One of these dishes is baked cod bakalau.
Cod is not found off the coast of Portugal, all this fish is imported. At the same time, each resident of the country eats about one and a half dozen kilograms of cod annually - such is the culinary paradox.
Grilled fish
This dish can be tasted in any restaurant, served in large portions. The traditional garnish for this fish is vegetables and rice, and olive oil will also be brought to you. Residents of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, are especially fond of grilled fish. They often cook this dish right on the balconies of their homes, while the mouthwatering smell of baked fish spreads throughout the surrounding streets.
Feijoada
Feijoada
This is a stew, which includes stewed beans, rice, cabbage, peppers, smoked meat, and various types of sausages. In different cities of Portugal, the nuances of the preparation of this dish are different, and therefore the taste of feijoada in Lisbon does not resemble the taste of this stew in Braganse or Porto. Try it and see for yourself.
Beef offal tripash
This dish comes from the city of Porto, the northern capital of Portugal. Its ingredients are giblets, pork ears, cow hooves. It does not sound very appetizing, but the inhabitants of Porto love this dish so much that they even got the nickname "trepeiros", which in translation from Portuguese means "lovers of tripe".
Caldu verde
Caldu verde
This is a puree cabbage soup. It is seasoned with paprika and olive oil. Potatoes and smoked Portuguese sausage are also added to this soup. The last ingredient is sometimes served separately, you can throw the sausage into the soup or eat it in a bite. If you are a vegetarian, you can try not to add sausage to the puree soup … although the result is a completely different dish. Caldu verde can be called the Portuguese analogue of Russian cabbage soup.
Cheese "Cayjo de Serra"
This is a soft cheese. It is so soft that you can spread it on a piece of bread, although the Portuguese never do it. Usually we perceive cheese as an ingredient in a dish, but the people of Portugal consume this product separately, without adding it anywhere, or wash it down with wine. "Cajjou de Serra" has a light sour-milk aroma, it has a hard crust.
Here are a few more varieties of Portuguese cheeses:
Cayjo de Castelo Branco;
"Keiju San Jorge";
"Fresh cheese".
Portugal has a long tradition of cheese making. Some gourmets believe that local cheeses are as good as French and Italian.
Pastel de nata
Pastel de nata
These are puff pastry cakes, beloved by all Portuguese. Locals love to eat them for breakfast. The buttercream gives this dish a spicy flavor. If you wish, you can ask for cinnamon sprinkles on the cakes. Pastel de nata goes well with coffee. You can try this delicacy in any Lisbon pastelaria - this is the name of local cafes. Sit back on the terrace or courtyard of this pastelaria and enjoy the sweet treats.
Royal pie
The Portuguese usually eat it with their families on Christmas Eve. But nothing prevents you from enjoying it at any other time of the year in one of the Portuguese restaurants or cafes. The pie is made from butter dough, decorated with candied fruits and nuts. One of the hallmarks of the cake is the round hole in the middle. Locals believe that the recipe for this dish comes from France, which does not prevent them from proud of the royal pie as one of the most delicious dishes of the Portuguese national cuisine.
Tortas de azeitao
Tortas de azeitao
Yellow-brown roll stuffed with egg cream. Moderately sweet and very tender, it will appeal not only to those with a sweet tooth, but also to those looking for a suitable snack for Portuguese port.
Kozidu-dash-furnash
The most exotic dish of all ten. The inhabitants of the Azores are very fond of him. This dish is prepared like this: a large pot of vegetables, pork and chicken is lowered on strong ropes into a volcanic crater, where the food is stewed on a hot ground. During the preparation of this dish, a lot of tourists with cameras always gather around the chefs. As a result, travelers receive delicious food and interesting photographs.
