Bom dia! Portugal, known as the land of the poets, is also very rich in cultural heritage and fine wine. The country is also affluent in food. Portugal has many culinary hits that we are happy to share so that when you plan your next trip to Portugal you don’t have to google or even look at the menus. You will just know!
Before diving into the traditional Portuguese cuisines, we would like to highlight a little history behind the food. We know! The little history buff in you is excited. Well, to start with, Portuguese cuisines hold their prestige to the Age of Discovery and are heavily influenced by explorers like Vasco De Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral who set sail for the New World during the 15th century with Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator. So it is not a surprise that seafood dominates Portuguese kitchens.
Let’s take a trip to some of the culinary hits of Portugal. Bon Appetite!
- Pastel de nata (custard tart)- Perhaps one of the most popular Portuguese foods in the country, this famous egg tart will melt your taste buds, in a good way. The origins of these creamy pastries can be traced to the Jerónimos Monastery located in the Belém neighbourhood of Lisbon. Egg whites were used by monks and nuns centuries ago to starch their garments, which left them with an abundance of leftover yolks for baking delicious delights. Monks began selling homemade tarts at a neighbouring sugar factory to make money when the Liberal Revolution of 1820 forced convents and monasteries to close.
- Bacalhau (salted cod)- Something smells fishy! Bacalhau persisted in Portugal despite contemporary developments despite the absence of a pre-refrigeration method for salt-preserving fish. These days, Norway is the main source: Every year, about 25,000 tons of bacalhau are imported. Bacalhau can be really excellent or extremely fishy depending on how it is prepared.
- Porco preto- Porco Preto, or succulent pork from the Iberian black pig, is a must-do in Portugal if it’s not already on your list of must-do activities. This pork is some of the greatest you’ll ever taste—it even melts in your mouth! Porco preto are descended from pigs that the Phoenicians brought to the peninsula. They breed their pigs with wild boars to create the special breed that is still in existence in Portugal and Spain today. Portuguese people prefer their meat in enchidos (pork sausages), grilled secretos (a fatter cut resembling pig belly), and charcuterie (presunto ibérico).
- Arroz de pato (duck rice)- If you think you have tried every Portuguese food, then you are wrong my friend! This perfect blend of duck and Carolino rice should be next on your list of Portugal food. The rice has been prepared with duck stock, onions, and garlic before the boiled and shredded duck is added. It is then partially baked, topped with spicy chouriço sausage, and served with orange slices. It comes from Alentejo, just like a lot of the heartier foods of Portugal.
- Sardinhas assadas (grilled sardines) – Start the June festivities honouring Santo António, one of Portugal’s most venerated saints, with a bite of freshly grilled sardines. When they are at their plumpest, which is June to October, they are easily accessible. With a simple recipe-sardines are seasoned with coarse salt and cooked over hot coals on grills. They are then consumed with broa, or cornbread, or, in restaurant settings, traditional sides such as boiled potatoes and bell pepper salad. Visit O Pitéu da Graça in Lisbon, which has been serving traditional Portuguese food for more than 30 years as a culinary benchmark.
So now that you have the perfect culinary delights be sure to pack your bags to Portugal this summer!