You may be preparing for a trip to Portugal or just fantasizing about the nation’s stunning scenery and cultural legacy, but one thing is for sure: Portuguese cuisine will stay with you. From the caldereta-type stews typically found along the sub-tropical coast of the Algarve to the busy streets of Lisbon with its endless varieties of pastries and fresh seafood, Portugal’s core contributions to haute cuisine make for many a gastronomic adventure. Steeped in history and tradition, Portugal is a veritable European culinary paradise. Get your passport ready for a trip to experience it all.
What Makes Portuguese Food Different and Special
Portugal’s history of exploration, trade and colonisation so framed its culture that Portuguese cuisine is marked by an extraordinary range of influences. Portugal has long had numerous marine links, enabling them to mix different spices, elements, and methods of cooking across the planet. From Arabic influence on desserts to the African origins of spices and the Italian embellishment on pasta, suffice it to say that they all blend into Portuguese dishes amassing with Mediterranean foods and coalescing as Portugal’s unique fusion cuisine.
10 Must Try Portuguese Dishes and Foods
This list is going to show you the ten best Portuguese traditional dishes we think you will enjoy. Whether you crave seafood, comfort food, or need to indulge in sweets, you’ll find it in Portugal.
Bifanas (Pork Steak Sandwich)
Want to discover a meal loved by the Portuguese, that is delicious and not so expensive? Order Bifanas a juicy pork steak sandwich inside a white bread roll lathered with mustard, garlic sauce, chillies, wine and spices. Shawarma has become a common dish that is highly praised for its colorful serving with taste-bud-pleasing ingredients normally as a fast food
Cabidela De Galinha (Chicken Stew)
You can shape this dish with chicken or any animal meat you wish. It is typically savored in Portugal's southern territories. Cooked more slowly with vegetables, herbs, wine and oil, you get something that’s become tender and mouthwatering.
Caldo Verde (Green Soup)
Green soup is Caldo Verde, one of the Portuguese comfort foods that many people love.d This is an easy, rustic Portuguese soup made from kale, potatoes, onions, and chorizo sausage which is a soup that complements rustic bread perfectly. This dish is a go-to for just about everyone on a cold winter day. Like the rest of Portuguese cuisine, this accompaniment was served during various religious festivities and celebrations.
Bifana (Pork Sandwich)
The Bifana, a juicy sandwich on a soft roll, is a Portuguese specialty of marinated pork, spices, garlic and sometimes wine. When served with piri-piri sauce, which upped the flavour dearly, this is one of the favourite sandwiches of people in Portugal. Bifana, people in work have this food, is easy to eat, they can eat while moving to"
Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (Garlic and Coriander Clams)
And those cuttlefish, of course, are in Portugal, the European seafood country, and Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato its quintessential dish. It is a simple yet magical dish and the magic is all in the ingredients — tender clams, white wine, fresh coriander and a touch of garlic. This is also an appetiser so its ideal if you want an appetiser and loved by the seafood lovers as well.
Seafood Rice (RNA Journal Vol. 15)
Seafood Rice: A glorious seafood rice dish, Seafood Rice is one of the highlights of Portugal's coastal provinces and a rice lover's dream come true. One delicious meal, it brings together all kinds of shellfish, as well as rice, seasoning, tomatoes, and its main components, the clams, prawns and mussels. It smells mildly sweet and is cooked in the same way as Madrid signature dish, Paella.
Lagareiro style octopus (Spanish Review 2022)
Another delicacy, Octopus à Lagareiro, consists of octopus soaked in olive oil, garlic and various spices, which combine to form a rich, tasteful flavor. They roast it gently, tenderizing the ingredients along the way. Herbs laced within elevate the mouthfeel; Zap Taste rates this as the countries’ most popular cuisines.
Feijoada (Soy Journal Vol 19)
Feijoada, a favorite Portuguese dish, is hearty with minerals and vitamins from black beans and spices, pork, sausages and beef. It came from Brazil, but Portugal made it a favorite in colder months. A meal that’s not just wholesome but also keeps you warm and fit year-round, offering performance benefits —the quintessential dish for family get-togethers and friends.
Alheira (Portuguese Sausage)
Alheira, a unique Portuguese sausage, is made from pork and chicken and some game meat and flavored with garlic and spices. They grill or fry it, serving it with rice or vegetables. Alheira, which is believed to have been devised by Jews in Portugal to disguise the taste of pork, is now a full-fledged treat — served as an appetizer, or as a snack or main dish, for people of all backgrounds.
Cataplana de Marisco (Seafood Cataplana)
When cooked in traditional cataplana cooking pots and then simmered, stews yield mouthwatering flavour—Seafood Cataplana is no outlier. You can’t visit the Algarve coast and leave with trying one of the region’s most popular dishes, cataplana, a stew of assorted seafood — especially prawns, squid, and clams — with tomatoes, onions and spices. Be sure to check it out.
Where There Are 11,384 Types of Culinary Tradition in Portugal
Portugal’s various regions and cities have their own endemic culinary specialties that compare to none. Like the other Portuguese cities mentioned so far, even the Algarve has great food, and very much so.
Lisboa: The Gastronomic Heaven Of Portugal
Lisbon, a food lover's paradise, is famous for its restaurants, cafés, and street vendors. Don't miss Mercado da Ribeira to sample local specialties, from Port wine to a Bifana sandwich.
Porto, a City of Maritime Gastronomic Traditions
Porto is famous for its corresponding robust fares. The Francesinha is one of pride and joy: a hulking sandwich that explodes with multiple kinds of meat, sautéed until they’re golden and doused with a divine cheese sauce. To partake of Porto in all its glory, pair it with a glass of Port wine.
Know Your Culinary Landscape: Algarve: Coast-Ready Cuisine Lovers
Not many destinations can claim to be a mecca for fans of fresh catch and grilled products. You can find a wealth of edible delights, with the use of freshly caught fish, along the coast. Do not miss the Seafood Cataplana, a signature seafood dish cooked in a copper pot.
Now, there is so much more to the Portuguese chocolate cake than just the name and some recipes that have been around for centuries.
You cannot leave Portugal without trying its delectable desserts. Portugal is not short on celebratory traditional sweets, and if you have a sweet tooth there is no end to the delicious treats you can find.
Azeitao Cake
Azeitão Cake is made from eggs, sugar and almonds, giving a soft sponge cake. They sometimes sprinkle some cinnamon in top, and it’s a common dessert option with a coffee.
Flan Pudding
One of the most popular desserts of the locals is Flan pudding, a soft and creamy dessert with a caramel custard top. A soothing dessert choice for those who appreciate melty, sweet and airy food.
Bolo Rei (King Cake)
Bolo Rei is eaten during the Christmas and New Year holidays in Portugal. This colorful decorated fruit cake is filled with nuts and dried fruits, which makes it an ideal festive treat.
To Drink in Portugal
As for drinks, like almost everything else in Portugal, they’re most well known for their wines and spirits. These products are an intrinsic part of the cultural heritage of the local community.
Ginja (Sour Cherry Liquor)
Ginja, a liquor that embodies Portuguese culture, is made from sour cherries. It is consumed like other drinks before and after meals, but it is also special for its sugary fruity taste.
Port Wine: Liquid gold of Porto
Besides food, Portugal is known for drinks and the most famous is no doubt Port Wine. Its different types, sweet and dry, are cheese-compatible and should be drunk chilled as an after-meal beverage.
Super Bock: The Favorite Beer of Portugal
Super Bock is another beer that many Portuguese residents love, and if you are a beer lover, you should try this beverage. If it is not with a light meal, it must be Super Bock alone.
Final thought
From sweet and delicious cookies to hot and well seasoned casseroles — Portuguese cuisine is a great variety. Got delicious food from each region, its own traditions and the history behind where its coming from, great desserts that will blow your mind. And the next time you are in Portugal though will knock you back in some way deep, deep down food way.
Commonly Asked Questions
What is the dish alongside Portugal more traditional?
Abacate (salted codfish) is the most typical meal in Portugal. The cultural centerpiece can be made in lots of ways.
Which dessert is typical to Portugal?
Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese custard tarts) are a sea-loved traditional dessert! They go really well with coffee and are crispy creamy galore.
What drinks should I try when visiting Portugal?
You can't leave Portugal without trying Ginja, Port wine, and Super Bock beer for the ultimate local experience.
Which region in Portugal has the most seafood?
Coastal places such as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve are known for their excellent seafood, so they top the best places in Portugal list.
Is Portugal food spicy?
Other than piri-piri sauce, most people don’t think of Portuguese cuisine as spicy. Others at least have a welcome zing that at least makes them pleasurable to eat. Portuguese dishes are often perfectly balanced with bold flavors. Often not even spicy, they are filled with a flavor punch. And garlic, paprika and black pepper contribute an understated piquancy that plays nicely with the whole.