Imagine - you are relaxing on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, enjoying pleasant weather and picturesque landscapes. To make your vacation absolutely perfect, all you need is original dishes and a glass of delicious, light wine. This is what will surprise and delight Portuguese cuisine - original, colorful and, of course, incredibly tasty.

Features of Portuguese cuisine

Many people mistakenly believe that the cuisine of Portugal is a continuation of the culinary preferences of Spain. However, Portuguese dishes show the influence of many peoples and nationalities. For example, the famous hot piri pepper is better known in the national dishes of African countries, and pasta and garlic are products typical of Italian cuisine.

The Portuguese love and know how to use a variety of spices common in India, giving two dishes with the same ingredients completely different flavors. Portugal borrowed its love of bread and olives from Mediterranean cuisine. Given the geographical location of the state - on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean - the Portuguese menu is dominated by fish and seafood dishes.

Interesting fact! Portugal is the first country in the world in terms of consumption of fish and seafood. It is believed that any Portuguese can easily prepare 365 dishes from cod - the number of days in a year.

Cod with cream sauce

If you try to characterize the dishes of Portuguese cuisine in one word, it will turn out to be unique. They combine dietary and high-calorie ingredients, a kaleidoscope of flavors, and simple and complex cooking techniques in a unique, inimitable way. For example, traditional Portuguese puree soups will be ready in just a quarter of an hour, and cooking cod with cream sauce will take at least a day.

Dishes typical of mainland Portugal

The national cuisine of this part of the country is well known throughout Europe. First of all, these are cod dishes, which in Portugal are called bacalhau. It is prepared in a variety of ways - with legumes, sausages, added as a filling to pies, you can even find pasties with cod, which are called Paste de Nata.

Interesting to know! A gastronomic tour to Portugal is a great way to get acquainted with the history of the country, its national culinary traditions and culture.

In Porto they honor the tradition of cooking sardines on All Saints' Day. If you find yourself in Porto, be sure to try the offal stew - Tripas. It was this dish that gave the name to all the residents of the city - tripeiros, which means tripe lovers.

Stew Tripash

There is a historical fact associated with the appearance of this dish. Famine forced local residents to cook from tripe. In the middle of the 15th centuries, the monarch Don Enrique set out to expand his national possessions; to do this, he had to slaughter the cattle that the townspeople had available. The inhabitants of Porto needed to survive, so dishes were invented from all the products that were left after the soldiers. This is how a dish of tripe with the addition of vegetables appeared. Despite the fact that Tripash appeared five centuries ago, the dish is still incredibly popular today.

The cuisine of Portugal has been formed over many centuries under the influence of certain factors:

• for a long time the country was isolated from other states;
• most of the country's inhabitants lived poorly, they had to cook from available products - self-caught fish became the basis of the diet;
• In Portugal there was a small selection of products, so dishes that were simple in composition and cooking technology prevailed.

Note! All regions have unique dishes that are found exclusively in this part of the state, the so-called culinary pride.

Pasteis de Belem

Every Portuguese meal ends with dessert. In terms of quantity and variety of sweets, Portugal surpasses many European countries. You can buy exquisite, original desserts on any corner. For example, in the capital's Belem district there is a bakery that produces the most delicious cakes in the country. Tourists from different countries come to enjoy the dessert - Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

Dishes typical of the Azores

Cozido das Furnas

The Azores Islands are one of the archipelagos of Portugal. In general, island cuisine is similar to continental cuisine in many ways, but there are some unique dishes. For example, Cozidu dash furnas. They cook it in the crater of a volcano, placing dishes with vegetables and chicken meat there. On the islands you can try very tasty bread and many types of honey - such food is included in the daily diet of local residents.

Dishes typical of the island of Madeira

The cuisine of this island is based on rural traditions. Fish dishes also predominate in the diet of Madeirans. There are also meat dishes - mainly pork or beef. Popular side dishes include corn, beans and French fries.

What to try in Portugal

The national cuisine of Portugal is incredibly diverse, filled with a whole range of bright flavors and light flavors. In each category of dishes there are sure to be several culinary masterpieces that you must try.

First meal

Caldo verde

Caldo verde

This is the famous cabbage soup, which in its popularity can be compared with cabbage soup in Russia. In addition to cabbage, olive oil, paprika and a special smoked sausage prepared in Portugal - shirisu - are added to it.

On a note! The soup has a very delicate taste and can be tasted in all restaurants and cafes. Sometimes the sausage is served separately and added to the plate to taste.

Fish soup "Captain Vidal's Crying Fish"

Vidala was a simple fisherman who made a living by catching fish and selling it. One day, the crew of the ship, being in the ocean, was left without food, and the captain decided to make soup from the catch. The sailors threw live fish into the broth; it seemed to them that the fish was crying. The ship returned without a catch, but with a delicious, new recipe for cod soup, fresh vegetables, salt and pepper.

The recipe for the dish has not changed for several centuries. After cooking, all ingredients are whipped with a mixer and the wonderful puree soup can be savored.

Meat dishes

The Portuguese masterfully prepare different types of meat, offering tourists delicious, original dishes. You should definitely try them while in Portugal. In a butcher shop, a piece of meat can be cut up in front of the buyer and minced meat can be prepared. In addition to traditional varieties of meat, people in Portugal eat meat from quails, goats and hares.

Interesting fact! Vegetarians in Portugal are better off avoiding butcher shops, since in the windows you can often see butchered carcasses of rabbits and chickens, and bags of blood, which is used to prepare first courses.

Feijoada

Feijoada

A hearty, high-calorie national dish, which is prepared from a mixture of beans and different types of smoked meat and sausages. The traditional recipe contains vegetables and rice. In different regions of the country, Feijoada is prepared differently, changing the ingredients.

Alheira de Mirandela

Alheira de Mirandela

This is a Portuguese sausage that is made from any type of meat except pork. It is believed that during the Middle Ages the dish was invented by Jews in order to hide their nationality and escape persecution by the Inquisition. In accordance with religious canons, Jews did not have the right to eat pork, but thanks to sausages they managed to avoid starvation and reprisals from the inquisitors.

In modern Portugal, sausages are also prepared from pork, and the dish is served with scrambled eggs, potatoes and fresh vegetables.

Piri-piri chicken

Piri-piri chicken

The name "piri-piri" means "hot pepper" in Swahili. It is made from chicken wings and an absolutely incredible sauce. The wings are baked for 20 minutes. The dish turns out spicy, with a slight sourness. They eat chicken with fresh vegetables, salads and chips. Piri-piri should definitely be on your list of national Portuguese dishes to try.

Fish and seafood dishes

The Portuguese are famous for their ability to cook fish and seafood dishes. Any store offers a huge selection of fish and a variety of shellfish. Most often, food is fried in a frying pan or grill. In the assortment of large supermarkets you can see swordfish and moray eel.

Portugal is known for a wide variety of cod recipes. The most popular recipe is salting fish. This cooking method was used by Portuguese fishermen to bring their fresh catch to the shore. Before salting, the cod was soaked in water for 24 hours. Salted carcasses can be purchased at all grocery stores.

Grilled fish

Grilled fish

Any kind of fish is prepared this way; on weekends, many locals set up grills on their balconies, which gives off a special aroma. Restaurants typically serve huge portions with fresh vegetables or rice seasoned with olive oil.

Monkfish with rice

When traveling around Portugal, be sure to try the exotic monkfish dish. To prepare it, the fish is cut into portions, mixed with rice, tomatoes, various spices and herbs. This is a popular dinner dish among locals. Restaurants that specialize in seafood cuisine prepare a similar dish of octopus or shellfish.

Carne de Porco à Alentejana

Alentejo Pork (Carne de Porco à Alentejana)

A dish that will delight the taste buds of meat and seafood lovers. It is prepared from pork and seafood. The meat is marinated in sauce, fried, and shellfish are added. It is served and eaten with potatoes.

Sweets

What do they eat for dessert in Portugal? First of all, these are pastries, cakes, puddings. It is noteworthy that most of the recipes are taken from the cooking records of local nuns. The symbol of Portugal is undoubtedly the Pastel de Nata cake.

Bolo Rei

The Portuguese also love king cake (Bolo Rei), a national pastry. It looks like a cheesecake or a large donut - round with a hole in the middle. To complete the taste, the pie is generously sprinkled with chopped nuts, candied fruits and other dried fruits. Bolo Rei is a must have on the table during the Christmas holidays. According to one legend, the recipe was brought to Portugal by the owner of the oldest pastry shop in Lisbon.

Tortas de azeitau - sponge cake with soft egg cream. Dessert is served with wine or port.

Pastel de nata cakes

Made from puff pastry filled with creamy egg cream. You can try them in any cafe or restaurant in Lisbon, but it is believed that the best cakes are served in the Belem district. In some cafes, sweets are sprinkled with cinnamon.

The traditional breakfast for the Portuguese is a cup of espresso and several Pastels de Nata.

Ovos moles de Aveiro

Egg dessert from Aveiro (Ovos moles de Aveiro)

An unusual, original dessert - a delicate egg filling wrapped in a wafer tube shell. The famous Portuguese writer of the 19th century, Esa de Queiroz, wrote about this sweetness.

Biscuit Pão de ló

A famous Portuguese dessert that you can try in any bakery. Typically, it is eaten with a scoop of ice cream.

Portuguese drinks

We figured out what food to try in Portugal, but it’s impossible to imagine a full lunch or dinner without a glass of port or wine.

Where can you try the best port wine, if not in the homeland of this dessert wine? The technology for producing the drink is enshrined in law.

In Portugal, Verde wine is incredibly popular - this is a young wine that comes in white, red and rosé. The drink is produced exclusively in Portugal. Tourists note that the taste of the wine is quite specific; it is served with seafood, fish and meat.

If you prefer to drink stronger wines, consider Madeira. The wine is made on the island of Madeira and can be dry or dessert. The type of drink depends on the grape variety used and its aging.

Good to know! If you plan to order Madeira in a cafe or restaurant, you only need to pronounce it this way - vinho de Madeira. Otherwise the waiter will not understand you.

Another national drink is coffee. People here like strong, tasty, aromatic coffee, but not as bitter as Italian coffee. The most popular coffee brands in Portugal are Nicola e Delta.

Cheeses

What to try in Portuguese cuisine? Of course, you should pay close attention to cheeses, which in terms of taste are in no way inferior to the most famous European varieties. The country has maintained cheese-making traditions for many centuries. Famous national cheese producers are located in central Portugal, in the province of Alentejo and the Azores. For the production of cheese, different milk is used - not only traditional cow's, but also goat's and sheep's.

Locals do not add cheese as an additional ingredient, but eat it as an independent dish.

The most popular varieties worth trying:

• Queijo de Serra;
• Queijo de Castelo Branco;

On a note! Cheeses are sold even in small souvenir shops, but if you want to buy a really tasty product, visit a specialized store.

queijo São Jorge

Europeans love this cheese very much. It has been prepared from unpasteurized milk for several centuries.

Portuguese cuisine is incredibly diverse and unlike any European cuisine. Here everyone will find their favorite dish. The cuisine of the mainland was influenced by Spanish culinary traditions, while the cuisine of the island parts was formed under the influence of Indian traditions. If you prefer Mediterranean cuisine, head to the southern part of Portugal.

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In this article I want to share with you real examples, prices and places where you can eat inexpensively in the Algarve. Current prices for food from the trip in May 2017.

Breakfast prices in the Algarve.

To begin with, I would like to say that breakfast is a flexible concept. For some, breakfast is a mug of coffee and a sandwich or cake, but for others it is always hot, plus a sandwich, plus sweets, etc.

In the Algarve you can find breakfast to suit every taste. On average, all cafes open at 9 am and offer a variety of breakfasts. The most popular of them is the so-called English breakfast.

The average price for such a breakfast is 5 Euro. Somewhere more expensive, somewhere cheaper. Breakfast already includes a drink. We had breakfast in Albufeira on the embankment and it cost us 20 Euros for four.

For lovers of a modest breakfast, the most budget-friendly option is coffee with Pastel de Nata, a national Portuguese delicacy with custard. The price for Pashtel varies from 75 cents to 1 Euro; a mug of coffee, depending on the type, will cost from 70 cents to 2 Euro.

I would like to note that traditionally the Portuguese drink coffee from very small cups, almost thimble-sized. And if you order Café, they will bring you a small mug of espresso. If you are used to sizes of at least 200-300 ml, then we recommend ordering coffee with milk café com leite or galão - something like a latte.

To place an order at this confectionery, you can choose whatever you like in the window, show it to the seller, and in return you will receive an order number. You will need to give this number to the waiter when you sit down at the table and order coffee.

Dinner. Food prices.

Naturally, food prices are limited only by the size of your wallet. I won’t say that we tried to save a lot on food, but we spent money on food quite reasonably and based on the places where we found ourselves for lunch.

If we talk about a set lunch, prices vary from 5 to 8 euros. It so happened that we had lunch mainly in the shopping center, because... we ran away from the sun there. Therefore, my review of lunches is more about cafes in shopping centers.

As a rule, this is a meat steak (chicken, pork, beef to choose from) and a side dish - French fries or rice, plus salad and of course a drink. But the portion size is simply unreal. Therefore, sometimes my mother and I took one lunch for two and added a plate to it, or rather a pot of soup and dessert. The soup cost between 1 and 2 euros.

One day, either lunch or second breakfast found us
in
time for a trip to Monchique, and we went down to the small town of Caldas de Monchique (not to be confused with Monchique itself).
There is a hotel with thermal springs, and it also houses a very old and famous restaurant. But he works according to his own schedule and again I didn’t get into it. For this occasion, there is a buffet nearby from the same restaurant, where we ordered an assortment of traditional sausages and very tasty bread with sausage! Outwardly it doesn’t look so attractive, but in reality it turned out to be very filling and tasty, so much so that even your favorite pastel de nata turned out to be unnecessary :)

Dinner

In Vilamoura we lived in apartments with a kitchen and often dined at home. We bought a kilogram of shrimp or salmon steak, vegetables, fruits, a bottle of wine and enjoyed fresh and high-quality products. . But we went out to restaurants a couple of times. We chose one of them based on reviews on TripAdviser and were not disappointed. It is located on the highway not far from Vilamoura towards Faro and is called Marufo 1. Opposite is exactly the same, but Marufo 2 and it no longer has the same assortment and there are almost no people.

We arrived at 20:40 and literally took the last place at a long table, after us there was already a queue at the entrance. We didn’t understand what caused such a stir on an ordinary weekday evening, and the menu was small. But everything became clear when the dishes were brought to us. Fresh grilled fish with a wonderful side dish and wine! And at a ridiculous price too. We paid about 45 Euros for dinner for four with wine. We ordered Dorado, Salmon Steak, half chicken and pork with mussels. The table was also served with bread and olives with butter, although you can refuse this and not pay 1 euro per person.

But not all food prices in Portugal are so low, and I’ll give you an example of another delicious dinner in an interesting place. We personally came across two of these Italian restaurants in Albufeira, and there may be some in other towns.

In the article we will tell you how to eat in Portugal, the culinary preferences of Portuguese chefs.

Portuguese cuisine is characterized by a variety of hearty meat and vegetable dishes, but let's not forget that Portugal is a coastal country, so, of course, the basis of this country's gastronomy is fish and seafood dishes.

The territory of Portugal also includes several islands, the largest of which, Madeira, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, a thousand kilometers from the mainland of the country. The geographical location of the island explains the prevalence of fish dishes in its cuisine. The use of local spices and fruits gives Madeira cuisine a special flavor. The most famous seafood in Madeira is swordfish, the local chefs know an incredible variety of ways to prepare it. Be careful! Pregnant women should not eat swordfish.

The wines of Portugal are widely known - red, white and so-called green (young and slightly carbonated). But the country's main alcoholic drink is port, which literally means "wine from Porto" in German. This fortified wine also comes in white and red: the first usually serves as an aperitif, and the second as a digestif, that is, consumed after a meal.

10 Best Portuguese Dishes You Must Try

Piri-piri chicken (Frango piri-piri)

Any Portuguese will tell you with confidence that you have never eaten real chicken in your life if you have not tried piri-piri chicken. It would seem that what’s wrong with this, since frying chicken meat is not particularly difficult? But the whole secret, of course, is in the carefully selected combination of local spices, which make the aroma of fried chicken unique and unforgettable. Portions of Frango piri-piri in Portuguese restaurants are small; the meat is served with salad, fresh vegetables and homemade chips.

Fried sardines

In any place in Portugal, be it a beach on the ocean, the center of a large city or a mountain village, fried sardines are considered a typical summer dish, which both locals and visitors order for lunch. The fish are grilled and served with fresh tomatoes and potatoes - tasty and low in calories. The native Portuguese do not use cutlery when ordering fried sardines: they take the fish with their hands and put it on a piece of bread, so as not to leave the most delicious thing on the plate, and then eat it like a sandwich. A glass of cold sparkling “green” wine goes very well with this dish.

Bacalhau (salted cod)

The basis of fish dishes in Portugal is also cod. They say that the Portuguese can cook cod every day for a year and never repeat the recipe. In this country, salted fish is very popular; in general, salting is considered an alternative to freezing as a method of storing food. Salted fatty cod with a rich taste and smell of spices is very popular among locals, so bacalhau can be called a traditional dish of Portuguese cuisine.

Monkfish with rice

This predatory fish actually has a different name - anglerfish, and it was called monkfish because of its not the most attractive appearance. However, monkfish meat is very tasty - dense, white, almost boneless. Cooks chop the fish into large pieces and cook it with vegetables, herbs, rice and seasonings. Monkfish is also very beneficial for the body, because it is rich in various vitamins, protein and amino acids, and contains very little fat. You can try the dish in any Portuguese restaurant.

Stewed cabbage with pork

This dish is considered rural, provincial. They cook it without haste, so that all the food has time to be saturated with the aromas of meat and vegetables. It is also customary to enjoy stewed cabbage with pork slowly, enjoying every bite. Therefore, the dish is considered a Sunday dish and appears on the menu on Sundays: on a day off you have nowhere to rush, so you can have a sedate and thorough lunch.

Feijoada (bean and meat stew)

This is a traditional dish of Portugal, as well as Latin American countries where Portuguese is spoken. There are many varieties of feijoada, but the classic recipe for this dish includes pork, sausage, cabbage and beans. When in the Algarve, a region in the southern part of the country, try feijoada elderfish with shellfish or feijoada choco with cuttlefish. Whatever type of feijoada you order, you are guaranteed to receive a tasty, healthy and satisfying lunch.

Caldeirada (fish stew)

The dish is prepared from different types of fish with the addition of shellfish, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and onions. In order for the aromatic caldeirada to be a success, it is necessary to strictly follow the sequence in which the ingredients are laid out - then all layers of the dish will be equally well saturated with aromas. At the end of cooking, white wine and a lot of herbs are added to the stew, after which it is served in the same container in which it was cooked. Caldeirada is a typical dish from the south of Portugal and is very popular in the Algarve.

Shrimps

There are many ways to prepare shrimp in Portugal. They are served boiled and fried, with or without heads, with various seasonings, marinades and the like. Grilled tiger prawns are a must-try.

Custard cakes

After a hearty lunch, it would be a shame not to enjoy a traditional Portuguese dessert. The most favorite delicacy of the Portuguese are tiny custard cakes with cream and caramel. The “correct” choux pastry should be made from a light and flaky dough, and the sweet cream for it should be egg. You will find this sweet in any pastry shop in Portugal, but, according to numerous confessions of indigenous residents and tourists, the most delicious custard pies are sold in the pastry shop of the Lisbon district of Santa Maria de Belem.

Marzipan

The Portuguese are also very fond of edible figures made from almond paste - marzipan. Most often they are made in the shape of fruits, but you can also find sweet images of people or animals. By the way, marzipans are great not only as a dessert, but also as a souvenir from Portugal.

Where to dine on a budget in Lisbon?

You can always have a quick, satisfying and inexpensive lunch in Portugal in small cafes that operate near shopping centers. In addition to traditional dishes of local cuisine, you can always have a snack here with “pan-European” food - burgers, sandwiches, cakes and coffee.

Lunch time in Portugal is considered to be between noon and 15.00. In the southern regions of the country, for example, in the Algarve, in the summer almost all establishments are open around the clock. You don’t have to strive to dine in a large and expensive restaurant - in small budget Portuguese cafes the dishes are no worse. Tipping is not an obligation here, but you can always reward the waiter or taxi driver for good service with the traditional 10 percent “bonus” of the bill.

As in any other country, Portugal has a number of catering establishments aimed primarily at tourists. Here visitors can expect inadequate prices, which visitors are not yet very familiar with, a meager choice of dishes on the menu and not the best preparation. Therefore, try to refrain from visiting cafes and restaurants in places where tourists congregate, near popular attractions, try to watch the locals - where will they go for lunch? However, there is one caveat: in establishments not intended for tourists, the menu will only be in Portuguese, without translation into English. As for prices, they are, of course, higher in large cities, and lower in the periphery. An average lunch per person can cost between 10 and 30 euros.

Pizzeria "Casanova"

This establishment belongs to the category of family restaurants; couples with children often come here for a meal. You can have lunch with pizza for an average of 8-10 euros. Since the cafe is family-run, it does not serve alcohol; you can be offered coffee or a non-alcoholic cocktail as a drink.

Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique Loja 7.

"Petiscaria Ideal"

In appearance, this is an unremarkable, ordinary restaurant, but it is always full of Lisbon residents. Visitors love the establishment thanks to the non-standard food system adopted by the local chefs. The portions served here are small, but you can try everything at once: in one meal you can taste fried octopus, goat cheese, wine-soaked pear, nuts and much more. For a dozen small portions of different dishes, you will pay no more than for one standard portion of food (about 10 euros), but you will be able to try a lot of things. Address: Rua da Esperanca, 100.

"Bella Lisa Rossio"

This is a restaurant with a tourist focus, but since it is located away from the central streets of the city, the prices here are quite reasonable. The menu is extensive and varied, with plenty of meat and fish dishes. The interior is pleasant, the staff is friendly. Depending on the dishes ordered, the bill per person can be either 10 or 30 euros.

Address: Av. Visc. de Valmor 65A.

"Casa Chinesa"

Based on the name of the cafe, you might think that this is an eatery serving Chinese cuisine. But you won't find anything like it here. The establishment specializes in coffee and fresh pastries, so locals love to have breakfast here. It is better for tourists to visit the cafe closer to lunch, when it is freer. For a cup of coffee you will pay less than a euro, and the entire meal will not cost more than 5 euros per person.

Address: R. Áurea 274.

The most popular places in Lisbon

Solar dos Presuntos

The "trick" of this establishment is the service. As its owners say, all visitors are their personal guests, so they look after the guests rather than serve them. As for dishes, the restaurant's cuisine is predominantly fish. The establishment is popular, so you need to reserve a table in advance to avoid a half-hour queue at the entrance.

Address: R. Portas de Santo Antão 150.

Belcanto

This is a restaurant of haute cuisine created by chef Jose Avileza. Thanks to his efforts, the establishment has already earned two Michelin stars. Belcanto's hospitable staff will be happy to tell you about each dish on the menu and help you make a choice. The culmination of Jose Avileza's experiments is a dish of pigeon meat and a dessert called "Mandarin".

Address: Largo de São Carlos 10.

Cais da Ribeira

The owners of this restaurant also focused on fish and seafood dishes. Lovers of light fish cuisine will appreciate local dishes prepared in strict accordance with unique ancient recipes. Here you can enjoy not only food, but also wonderful views of the waves of the Tagus River.

Address: Cais do sodré 2.

Pasteis de Belem

A very popular pastry shop. It is famous for its unique creamy cakes, the recipe of which has been kept secret by local chefs for many years.

Address: R. Belém, 1300-085 Lisboa

Atmospheric restaurants and bars in Lisbon

One of the most famous restaurants in the city, which has a wonderful location - at the highest point of the Eduardo VII Park. At this site, the international hotel giant Hilton Corporation intended to build another chain hotel, but a group of eleven influential Lisbon residents prevented these plans, as a result of which a restaurant called Eleven appeared in this picturesque corner of the city. One of the 11 founders of the establishment is chef Joachim Körper, awarded two Michelin stars (one of which was won at the Eleven restaurant), an unsurpassed master of Mediterranean cuisine. That’s why everything in this restaurant is wonderful: the food, the interior, and the views from the windows.

Address: Rua Marquês de Fronteira, Jardim Amalia Rodrigues, Lisbon

A Travessa

The restaurant is located in a historical building built more than 4 centuries ago. Once there was a monastery here, and now it is a catering establishment with a village flavor. It has its own bakery, and visitors are treated to hot, freshly baked bread. Noteworthy items on A Travessa's menu include meat dishes, mushroom dishes and scrambled eggs, as well as a variety of desserts.

Address: Travessa do Convento das Bernardas, 12, Bairro da Madragoa – Santo, Lisbon

Phone: 351-213-902-034; 213-940-800

A very colorful and unusual restaurant. The fact is that it is located in the same building as the circus school, so circus performers come here to have lunch - jugglers, acrobats, clowns, trainers, who, saving time, do not change clothes or remove makeup. By evening, the circus crowd is diluted with ordinary visitors, but the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant remains. The restaurant's menu is designed to suit the diverse preferences of a wide range of guests. The most frequently ordered dishes include duck breast in orange sauce and grilled octopus.

Address: Rua da Costa do Castelo, 7, Alfama, Lisbon

Cravo E Canelo

This cozy bar-restaurant always plays soft jazz music. In the evening, all the tables here are usually occupied, since this stylish establishment is very popular with local youth. The menu is varied and contains echoes of many cuisines from around the world. The restaurant's signature dish is duck with pepper and champagne.

Address: Rua da Barroca, 70, Bairro Alto, Lisbon

Phone: 351-213-431-858

Next to the river is another iconic Lisbon bar and restaurant. More than a hundred years ago, this building was used as an industrial warehouse, and a successful design decision was to preserve its original decoration - antique brick, chains, pulleys. The interior came out very stylish and atmospheric. Inside, Kais is divided into two rooms: in the upper one you can dine on international cuisine, and downstairs you will be treated to traditional Portuguese dishes.

Address: Cais da Viscondessa, Lisbon

During the daytime, this establishment operates as an ordinary cozy cafe, and when darkness falls, it turns into a noisy, crowded bar, where music and laughter of dancing visitors can be heard until the morning. The restaurant's cuisine features high-quality dishes, which is not typical for this type of entertainment establishment. The menu also offers an extensive selection of alcoholic drinks.

The colorful, original and incredibly tasty cuisine of Portugal will make any vacation wonderful. After a hard day's work, eating traditional dishes is a really good way to unwind and enjoy it for a long time to come.

The article will tell you about the features of the national cuisine of Portugal and dishes that can be prepared at home. Despite the radically different preferences of each person, traditional Portuguese food has never left anyone indifferent, so it truly deserves respect.

Features of Portuguese cuisine

Some people mistakenly claim that Portugal's local dishes are derived from Spanish ones. In fact, this cuisine shows the influence of many different nationalities. For example, hot pepper came here from African countries, and Italian traditions brought garlic and pasta.

Portuguese cuisine is popular thanks to the locals, who know how to use spices well and love to use them. They give dishes different flavors. Therefore, two identical servings can be radically different from each other if they are seasoned with different spices.

Among the main features of Portuguese cuisine, it is worth noting the fact that it is dominated by seafood and fish dishes. This is explained by the fact that the state itself is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore all residents have access to these products. Thanks to this feature of Portugal's cuisine, the country has long been considered the first in terms of seafood consumption. In addition, it is generally accepted that each local resident is able to cook exactly 365 cod dishes (according to the number of days in a year).

Unique delicacies from Portugal combine dietary and high-calorie components. They are real kaleidoscopes of tastes and are prepared according to both elementary and difficult-to-find recipes for the majority of the population.

What's served on the mainland

The cuisine of Portugal, or rather its continental part, is famous for its cod dishes, called bacalhau. Cooks prepare it with sausages and legumes, and often add it to pies as a filling. In addition, there are even fish cakes that delight all tourists.

On All Saints' Day in Porto it is customary to cook sardines. Every person who finds himself in that area should definitely try tripash - a delicious stew made from offal. Thanks to him, the inhabitants of this part of the country began to be called tripeiros, which literally means “trash lovers.”

People were forced to cook food from offal due to hunger. Back in the middle of the 15th century, the famous ruler Don Enrique decided to expand his possessions and slaughter the livestock that the townspeople had. Because of this, the residents of Porto had to survive in any way possible, so the dishes were prepared from what was on hand and what was left over from the military. This is exactly how a dish of tripe with vegetables appeared. Even though it became famous more than 5 centuries ago, today its taste is highly appreciated by both local residents and tourists.

The formation of the national cuisine of Portugal for a long time occurred under the influence of certain factors:

• isolation from other states;
• not a very large selection of ingredients, which is why simple cooking technologies were held in high esteem;
• poverty did not allow them to buy expensive products, so the diet was based on fish caught independently.

Tourists often wonder what to try from the national Portuguese cuisine. It is impossible to give a clear answer here, since each region has its own special dishes. They are called the culinary pride of a certain part of the state and are very rarely found in any other places.

The Portuguese always end every meal with dessert. If we talk about the number of sweets, then this country is superior in this indicator to many countries in modern Europe. You can find it on almost every corner. For example, in the capital's Belem district there is a bakery where everyone has the chance to taste delicious cakes. Not only local residents, but also tourists from neighboring countries come here to eat.

Dishes of the Azores

One of the archipelagos that attracts tourists is the Azores. The cuisine here is very similar to that which prevails in the continental part, but there are also unique dishes. A great example would be cozido dash furnas. It is prepared in the very mouth of the volcano, where a container with chicken meat and vegetables descends. In addition, on the islands you can try delicious bread and various types of honey. This kind of food is the basis of the daily diet of local residents.

Food on Madeira Island

If you have any doubts about what to try from Portuguese cuisine while on the island of Madeira, you should immediately make a choice in favor of French fries, corn and legumes. All this is served as a side dish for meat and fish dishes. As a rule, beef or pork is used to prepare the former. The main courses have virtually no major specialties, but the accompaniments are always excellent.

What to try in Portugal

When traveling to a Western country, you definitely need to learn more about the cuisine of Portugal. It is filled with a range of different flavors, as well as light flavor shades. Each category of dishes contains several real culinary masterpieces that are truly worthy of attention.

First meal

The names of the dishes of the national cuisine of Portugal always seem strange to tourists, although remembering them is not so difficult. When you go to a local cafe, you definitely need to try some soup. The most popular are:

1. "Captain Vidal's Crying Fish." The dish is named after a simple fisherman who makes a living by catching and selling fish. When the crew of one ship lost food, the captain decided to cook fish soup. The broth was made from live fish, so the sailors thought it was crying. As a result, the ship returned home without a catch, but brought with it a new recipe for soup made from vegetables, cod and spices. Today you can try the soup in any establishment in Portugal, but preparing it yourself will be problematic, since chefs do not reveal their secrets.
2. Caldo verde. The famous puree soup can easily compete with Russian cabbage soup. It is made from cabbage, olive oil, smoked sausage and paprika. The finished dish has a rather delicate taste.

Fish delicacies

The national cuisine of Portugal is famous for its colorful fish dishes, as well as food with seafood. The townspeople do an excellent job with these ingredients, so they can enjoy culinary masterpieces every day. They typically grill or fry the food to create a richer flavor.

The Portuguese have many recipes for cooking cod. The most popular is salting fish. This recipe was also used by fishermen to deliver fresh catch to the shore. Before starting the procedure, the fish must be soaked in water for a day. Now you can already buy salted carcasses in local stores, although not so long ago this was problematic.

The Portuguese pay special attention to the following dishes:

1. Grilled fish. Any fish is prepared this way. Most often on weekends, citizens set up grills on their balconies and cook delicious dishes, the aroma of which spreads throughout all the streets. Cafes and restaurants serve fairly large portions with rice or fresh vegetables.
2. Angler. This exotic dish, recommended to all tourists, is prepared using a special technology that only specialists know. Here the fish is cut into portions and mixed with various vegetables and spices. This dish is often prepared for dinner. And in restaurants specializing specifically in seafood cuisine, similar dishes are prepared from shellfish and octopus.
3. Alentejo. The pork dish can please the taste buds of every picky taster. No lover of seafood and meat can pass by. Alentejo takes quite a long time to prepare, as it requires marinating the meat in a sauce and frying it, which takes a lot of time. It is most often eaten with potatoes, since in its pure form the dish is not entirely filling.

Sweets

For dessert in Portugal it is customary to serve pastries, cakes and puddings. Most of the recipes were taken from the nuns' notes.

Local residents and visiting guests always enjoy dishes such as:

1. Pastel de nata. The unique puff pastry cakes have a creamy egg filling, which is what attracts consumers. They are served in many restaurants and cafes. Some chefs supplement them with cinnamon, which gives them an improved taste and aroma. These cakes even form a breakfast staple along with a cup of espresso.
2. Egg dish from Aveiro. A creative dessert with a delicate egg filling, wrapped in a waffle tube. It literally melts in your mouth, making you feel all the delights of the taste of the simplest ingredients used every day to prepare a wide variety of foods.
3. Pao de lo. The sponge cake served in every Portuguese bakery is made using a special technology and consumed in combination with ice cream.

Recipes

People who do not have the opportunity to visit a Western country are looking for Portuguese cuisine recipes in order to get at least a little familiar with the splendor of the taste of these dishes. The most popular dishes are, of course, fish. Fortunately, the ingredients for them can be easily purchased at your local store. Although the taste of Portuguese food cannot be replicated exactly, it is still possible to get a little closer. Thanks to the recipes, everyone who tries such dishes will definitely have a desire to go to Portugal and try food from local culinary masters.

Arosh de marisco

The first thing to consider is the Portuguese paella - aroche de marisca. For it you will need to take the following ingredients:

• 250 g of fish and any seafood;
• a glass of rice;
• a couple of glasses of fish broth;
• two cloves of garlic;
• one onion;
• a couple of tomatoes;
• 2 tablespoons olive oil;
• ground pepper and salt.

The cooking process consists of only four steps:

1. Chop onion, garlic, tomatoes and fry in olive oil until golden brown.
2. Combine the vegetable mixture with seafood, and pour broth on top of it all, without removing from the heat.
3. When the liquid boils, pour in the rice and add spices to taste.
4. Stir and simmer until tender, covered.

Before serving, you can diversify the dish with herbs and lemon juice. This will give it not only a more presentable appearance, but also a significantly improved taste.

Caldo verde

When talking about what to try from Portuguese cuisine, we should mention caldo verde soup. It will require:

• potatoes - 5 pieces;
• sweet paprika - a teaspoon;
• - bundle;
• chicken broth - 2.5 liters;
• smoked hot sausage - 280 grams;
• bulb;
• vegetable oil - a couple of tablespoons;
• ground black pepper - half a teaspoon;
• cayenne pepper - 1/4 teaspoon.

The dish is prepared as follows:

1. Grind potatoes and sausage.
2. Fry the second cut component for two minutes in oil, remove from the container.
3. Sauté the chopped onion in the remaining fat.
4. Combine it with paprika, sulfur pepper, salt and cayenne pepper.
5. Pour in the potatoes and pour in the broth.
6. Cook until the potatoes are ready.
7. Remove the container from the heat and puree the contents.
8. Peel and chop the kale.
9. Combine all ingredients together and simmer for 10 minutes.

Before serving the dish, you can garnish it with dill. In addition, bread crumbs go perfectly with it.

Folar de Ollan

Small pies served as dessert are especially attractive to little tasters. They have unique taste properties, as they are complemented with unusual ingredients. To prepare you will need to take:

• 350 grams of flour;
• a couple of tablespoons of melted honey and orange juice;
• 260 grams of cane sugar;
• 80 grams of soft butter;
• beaten egg;
• 5 grams of sea salt;
• 80 ml milk;
• half a teaspoon of cinnamon and ground

The cooking method is as follows:

1. Mix 60 grams of cane sugar, 30 grams of butter, egg, sea salt, flour and half of the orange juice.
2. Having brought the mass to homogeneity, you need to slowly pour the milk into it, constantly kneading the dough.
3. When it becomes dense and smooth, it should be left for 15 minutes, covered with a towel.
4. Roll out a layer of dough no more than half a centimeter wide.
5. Combine 50 grams of sugar and spices and sprinkle the resulting mixture onto the dough.
6. Grease the layer evenly with butter and roll it into a roll.
7. Cut the resulting mixture into 6 pieces and place on a baking sheet previously covered with parchment.
8. Mix the remaining sugar with honey and orange juice.
9. Bring the glaze to a boil and pour it over the dough.
10. Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 40 minutes.

During the baking process, the baked goods need to be greased periodically. When finished, the dish should be slightly browned and puffed up. If the filling spreads, there is no need to worry, as the taste and juiciness will not go away because of this.

These buns are usually eaten with milk. They are great as an addition to any meal. Despite the high calorie content, this dish never allows girls who are watching their own figure to pass them by.

Today I would like to start a very large and interesting topic that is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. This is food.

ABOUT! This is a very important aspect of Portuguese life. They take food very seriously. Therefore, you can be sure: in Portugal you will eat delicious, high-quality and inexpensive food.

I think that you are unlikely to find another country in Europe where the price-quality ratio of food will differ so favorably in favor of Portugal. And first of all, I’m talking about the high quality of the original ingredients, i.e. the most basic thing from which it is actually prepared.

Meat, fish, seafood, milk, meat products and cheeses (many of them are prepared according to old recipes), bread, all kinds of vegetables and fruits - all fresh and of excellent quality.

Portuguese cuisine- quite simple, but this is from the series that everything ingenious is simple. The cuisine here is not refined in the sense of fancy sauces and spices, it is refined in the sense of conveying the taste of the main product and it is very tasty. Spices are used, of course, but without fanaticism, only where needed and as much as needed.

In restaurants you can eat a variety of types of meat: beef, pork, lamb, turkey, rabbit, and chicken, of course. In village restaurants you can taste deer, wild boar and other game meat. Meat is cooked very well over coals, and there is also a lot of stewing, frying, and baking in the oven. Meat grilled or fried is usually served with french fries and rice. Rice is served, I think, to collect the juices from the meat.

Of course, fish and seafood, they are also often baked on coals, fried, boiled, or stewed. Depending on the dish, of course. Usually served with boiled vegetables, sometimes accompanied by salad.

When I first saw a simple homemade dish served for lunch - boiled fish with boiled vegetables and all drizzled with olive oil, I thought... hmm, how simple. But when I tried it all, I fell in love forever. I won't call it anything else. Fell in love. I still often cook this way: a piece of sea fish, boiled simply with salt and boiled potatoes, carrots and green beans. What does it all have to do with boiling it all together in one pan. Yes.. we’re not used to it, but this is how they cook it here (at home, of course). And then pour it all over with a little olive oil... and with a fresh salad.. mmm.

In restaurants, this dish is also prepared, most often with hake fish (pescada). And the dish is called pescada com todos, translated as hake with everyone (meaning that a variety of boiled vegetables are served with the fish: potatoes and carrots always and always other vegetables).