Discovering Portuguese Cuisine: Top Foods to Try in Portugal
Our Top Foods to Try in Portugal
We’ve spent the past six weeks discovering Portuguese cuisine as we travelled the country from north to south in our self-built camper-van. Read on for our top foods to try in Portugal.
Bacalhau
Our first experience of discovering Portuguese cuisine on this trip was in the northern city of Braga where we tried Bacalhau a Braga – salted cod fish served with onions, garlic, fried potatoes and rice. At around €10 for a plate of home-cooked food it is worth a try, but we wouldn’t rush to have it again when there are lots more tastier fish dishes to choose from.
Mountain Stew
A cold day in the mountain village of Trancoso in central Portugal called for a hearty stew. Not knowing the portion size we ordered one each. It turns out that one (for €14) would have been plenty big enough for the two of us to share! The Vitela Na Panela a Padre Costa was a pot filled with tender veal, potatoes and vegetables, while the Vitela Na Panela E Arroz de Enchidos was a pot of rice stew and various local meats and sausage.
Francesinha
Porto delivered with its traditional dish, the Francesinha. Layers of bread stuffed with meat & cheese, topped with an egg & drowned in a spicy tomato & beer sauce served with chips. If it’s calories you’re after this is the dish for you! Priced around €12. No trip to Porto would be complete without sampling this traditional dish. A definite top food to try in Portugal.
Sardines
Sardines became a lunch staple as we made our way south along the Portuguese coast. They’re practically a dime a dozen and available everywhere. Grilled, fresh and filling. And did you know there are entire shops throughout Portugal dedicated to selling tinned sardines??
Pastel de nata
The daily addiction has been none other than the classic Portuguese Pastel de nata, wee egg custard tarts that are irresistible, even for us non-custard fans! Every nata is good, but some are definitely better than others. A euro, or less, is well spent most days.
Queijadas
The other sweet treat that we found, specifically in Sintra, was queijadas. They’re tiny little cheesecakes in a really light pastry case with a cinnamon topping. As delicious as they were they didn’t taste very cheesecake-y to us, but definitely a top food to try in Portugal.
Bifanas
The bifanas on every street corner was the highlight of our visit to Lisbon. For €3 you can tuck into a perfect hot pork sandwich. The sliced pork is simmered in a pan of lard, laced with garlic, and splashed with wine and beer before being served on a warm bread roll. Washed down with a local beer it’s the perfect fast food lunch.
Algarve Cataplana
The final dish we’re going to praise is not for anyone who follows a kosher diet. It is the traditional Algarve Cataplana or pot of Porco Alentejana, a combination of steaming Portuguese pork and clams cooked in a wine sauce and served with chips. At around €40 a pot for two people it is superb value for a dinner out. A traditional dish and a top food to try in Portugal.
Port
After all that food, it’s only natural to finish off with a local tipple, and what else, but a glass of Port. We bought a bottle of Old Tawny (€40) from Quinta da Padrela, a lovely family run vineyard we stayed at in the Douro Valley, which interestingly is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
This past festive season with us safely ensconced in Sagres in a house sit with two lovely Springer Spaniels has been the perfect time to try it. Suffice to say it’s going down a treat!
Top Tips
A word of advice to our vegan and vegetarian friends who might be planning on discovering Portuguese cuisine – many of the cafes and restaurants we visited, particularly in the Northern half of the country, and especially in rural areas, did not offer any options for vegetarians or vegans. It was often a choice of meat or fish only.
To avoid wastage, and save money you can ask for half portion sizes, a full portion, or a portion for two to share, in many restaurants in Portugal.
Let us know in the comments below if you’re planning on discovering Portuguese cuisine, or if you already have, what are your top foods to try in Portugal? We have at least another four weeks here so would love to hear your suggestions for us to try!
