Gastronomic tour | Food From Portugal

ALENTEJO TRADITIONAL RECIPES

The Alentejo region, the largest in Portugal, has much to tell, place where reigns the peace of mind and tranquility.
It is rich in landscapes, from its typical plains to hilly and mountainous areas including a stunning coastline with idyllic beaches, remarkable cities and typical villages that seem frozen in time. Its vast plains for years have led to nicknaming the region of “Portugal’s Barn”, since present the right conditions for the cultivation of wheat, barley, oat and sunflower.
Alentejo is also a historical region with immense archaeological remains dating back to prehistoric times.
Its traditional cuisine is based on pork, lamb and bread. To the main ingredients are added local spices that grow freely in the plains and near streams, such as parsley and coriander, through the cultivation of gardens and fields with a wide variety of horticultural products, with special focus on the production of olive oil and its use as a seasoning.

SOME TYPICAL ALENTEJO RECIPES:

PORTUGUESE BREAD SOUP (recipe video)

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the tastiest, nothing like a traditional Portuguese bread soup. It’s a delicious meal, cheap, with few ingredients and quite comforting.
Portuguese bread soup on a large bowl

TRADITIONAL DOGFISH SOUP (recipe video)

Want to prepare a comforting meal for those cold winter days? You must try this delicious and creamy traditional dogfish soup. The flavor of garlic and coriander give this soup a special touch.

PORTUGUESE MIGAS (CRUMBS) WITH PORK RIBS

For a special lunch with family or friends, a typical Portuguese dish is always an excellent option. We recommend Portuguese migas (crumbs) with pork ribs, it’s simple to prepare and makes your lunch a success.

PORTUGUESE COD BREAD SOUP

This typical recipe from the south of Portugal is much appreciated by everyone. With few ingredients and very simple to prepare this Portuguese cod bread soup it’s perfect for a family Sunday lunch!

SERICAIA (PORTUGUESE DESSERT)

The sericaia is a typical Portuguese sweet greatly appreciated in Portugal. Get to know our recipe and delight yourself.

PORTUGUESE PORK WITH CLAMS (recipe video)

Have lunch with friends? We suggest this tasty traditional Portuguese meal of pork with clams! It’s easy to prepare, has a delicious presentation and everyone will like it.

RICE PUDDING (recipe video)

This is one of those traditional sweets we all enjoy. Rice pudding is a recipe with few ingredients, very creamy and with excellent presentation! It’s the perfect sweet to serve after a dinner with family or friends!

MIGAS WITH PORTUGUESE CHOURIÇO

If you want to prepare a simple and quick traditional meal, migas with Portuguese chouriço is undoubtedly the ideal recipe for you. It’s a recipe with few ingredients, with excellent presentation and very simple to prepare!

PORK WITH PORTUGUESE MIGAS (recipe video)

Try this delicious and traditional recipe of pork with Portuguese migas. The seasonings and flavors of the fried meat and the migas flavored with chopped coriander is the perfect combination for one of the most appreciated recipes in our country.

TRADITIONAL ALGARVE RECIPES

Algarve is the region further south of Portugal, that makes border to the north by the Alentejo region and the south by the Atlantic Ocean. It is the southernmost region of all, becoming the most important tourist region in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe. Its temperate Mediterranean climate and the delicious and healthy cuisine are attributes that attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year and make the Algarve the most visited region and one of the most developed in the country.
The typical Algarve architecture with typical Moorish terraces and chimneys, the almond, orange and other fruit trees are Moorish heritage rooted in the region over the centuries, making known a vast historical heritage, cultural and artistic.
The Algarve Gastronomy is based on ancient traditions and products, with emphasis on all fish and seafood to this tasty coast, but also pork, cooked beans and cabbage and pastries based on eggs and nuts, as almond or fig.
The rich and varied cuisine joins recipes from coastal and inland regions, such as:

FRIED SHRIMPS WITH MUSTARD

Before serving a lunch or a dinner prepare these delicious fried shrimps with mustard. They are simple to prepare and have excellent presentation.

CUTTLEFISH À ALGARVIA

Grilled are essential for a balanced and healthy meal. Try this tradicional cuttlefish recipe to provide a healthy lunch to your family.

GRILLED PORK (ASSADURA À MONCHIQUE)

Choose for a dinner with friends this typical Algarve recipe. It’s very easy to prepare! Everyone will like the grilled meat aromatized with garlic, parsley, olive oil and lemon!

OCTOPUS SALAD

A pleasant and simple recipe to prepare, cooked octopus cut into pieces, seasoned with onion, garlic, parsley, coriander salt and pepper, drizzled with olive oil and vinegar.

TRADITIONAL CENTRAL REGION RECIPES

This region is located in the heart of Portugal, bounded on the north by the Northern Region, east with Spain, the south with the Alentejo and Lisbon Region and to the west with the Atlantic Ocean. Presents itself as a rich region in history and heritage and it’s a land of hospitable people.
In the Central Region are very different realities, from large cities and developed that share inheritances with villages lost in time. The Atlantic coast contrasts with the green of the mountains and the inland mountains.
In gastronomy this diversity of landscapes and realities is reflected by combining the knowledge of ancestors with the best taste at the table. In the coastal zone we can find delicious fresh fish and seafood, in the mountainous region the quality of meats and pasture fields allow famous sausages, cheeses, honey and quality wines. Stands out among vegetable products, the predominance of the potato, kale, Portuguese cabbage, tomato, turnip, the turnip greens, green beans, dry beans and onion. In the meat, pork is by far the most used, it follows this meat the goat and / or lamb, most used in the manufacture of festive dishes.

SOME OF THE RECIPES ARE:

TIGELADA (PORTUGUESE DESSERT)

Tigelada is a typical Portuguese sweet very tasty with excellent presentation, confectioned with beaten eggs, sugar and milk, that goes in the oven until golden.

PORTUGUESE GREEN SOUP

You must try this delicious and traditional soup recipe. Portuguese green soup is a typical Portuguese soup very much appreciated in our country.

PORTUGUESE SPONGE CAKE

Portuguese sponge cake is a delicious typical cake, very appreciated and easy to prepare. Try it you won’t regret!

RED BEAN SOUP

This is one of those perfect meals for those cold winter days. This red bean soup is comforting, quite creamy and very tasty!

LISBON TRADITIONAL RECIPES

The Lisbon region comprises part of the district of Lisbon and Setúbal. Limited to north with the Central Region, northeast, east and south with the Alentejo, and to south and west with the Atlantic Ocean.
In this region is located the capital city of Portugal and its greater metropolitan area, full of places of tourist and heritage interest. Lisbon it’s one of the cities with most tourist demand of the European continent, known for its light and unique charm, with famous beaches and diversified, with excellent infrastructure and roads, as well as a wide range of restaurants and hotels. Also reveals an incredibly jagged coastline, with many rivers, mountain ranges, mountainous areas, agricultural growing areas and industrial zones, marked by cities developed at all levels contrasting with small villages that survived the passage of time or by a large density of residential and suburban areas. This region reveals several monuments and landscapes considered World Heritage by UNESCO, Parks and Natural and Protected Landscapes.
The force of the sea and the rivers that cross here is present in its gastronomy, with the most varied dishes and well fresh seasonings, but also many other products from the fertile soils of the region, as various vegetables, fruit or goat cheese and sheep. Quality are also the vineyards of the region, which enable the production of fine wines.
This region is very rich in traditional dishes due to its extensive coastline and land bathed by the river Tejo, the region offers a wide variety of recipes with fresh fish and seafood. However many traditional dishes are also confectioned with the meat region, especially goat and lamb.

WE POINT OUT THE FOLLOWING RECIPES:

STEAMED CLAMS WITH LEMON AND GARLIC (AMÊIJOAS À BULHÃO PATO)

Prepare a special appetizer for your family or friends. Try this typical Portuguese recipe of clams, the lemon juice aroma and the chopped coriander gives it a special taste that everyone will like…

STEAKS WITH COFFEE SAUCE

If you want to prepare your steaks differently, you have to try this recipe. Flavored with coffee and with a delicious creamy sauce, these steaks are perfect to serve at any time!

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (recipe video)

Do you want to make Portuguese custard tarts at home? This Portuguese custard tarts recipe is simple and very tasty! They are excellent to serve for breakfast and snack with coffee.

PORTUGUESE SALT COD FRITTERS

This is a very appreciated recipe in our country. This salt cod fritters recipe is very simple to prepare, has few ingredients and excellent presentation. Serve with tomato rice!

SALT COD, POTATOES AND EGGS (BACALHAU À BRÁS)

If you like cod you will simply love this recipe! The simple way to prepare and the delicious aspect make this recipe ideal to serve in a dinner among friends!

SALT COD FRITTERS (recipe video)

This typical recipe of cod fritters is very popular in our country. It’s a recipe with excellent presentation that can be served on any occasion. Serve with lettuce salad and with a delicious tomato rice.

STEWED CUTTLEFISH WITH WHITE BEANS

The traditional Portuguese flavors are always welcome in a family lunch! Prepare this stewed cuttlefish with white beans for your family, they will love it!

PORTO AND NORTHERN TRADITIONAL RECIPES

Region of customs and traditions, considered the cradle of the nation, being bounded on the north and east by Spain in the west to the Atlantic Ocean and south with the vast Central Region. It presents a vast territory, with well disparate realities, from developed and prosperous cities to rural and mountainous villages lost in the idyllic landscapes of the Minho or Tras-os-Montes, remembering the great historical heritage of the region. In the North was born in the twelfth century, the first king of Portugal, who headed south conquering territories and forming Portugal.
In the northern region exist territories as diverse as the city of Porto, the second most important in the country, developed, rich and also historical, and the community villages of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Minho, of difficult access, almost depopulated and so traditional.
Full of natural parks with protected landscapes and species in danger of extinction, it is a region with a more rigorous climate and a more luxuriant vegetation where the soil has been wisely adapted to many different types of agriculture.
The Gastronomy of the Northern Region reveals a huge agricultural variety, fertile pastures, wise and ancient knowledge and expertise, which varies by landscape. With influences of the Atlantic, the fresh fish and seafood are an asset. Also presents quality meat, famous sausages, sheep cheese and goat, and the internationally renowned red wine, green, white and rosé.