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:

"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.
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:

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.
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.
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:

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.
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.
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:

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

Grind potatoes and sausage.
Fry the second cut component for two minutes in oil, remove from the container.
Sauté the chopped onion in the remaining fat.
Combine it with paprika, sulfur pepper, salt and cayenne pepper.
Pour in the potatoes and pour in the broth.
Cook until the potatoes are ready.
Remove the container from the heat and puree the contents.
Peel and chop the kale.
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:

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

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.

I became interested in Portugal just after I started learning Portuguese. Yes, that's how it went. In short, less than a year has passed since I visited this southern European country. Portugal is not Spain. Although “poor” Spaniards go to Portugal for the weekend, considering it as their summer cottage, these two countries should not be confused, much less compared, as some people do.

In my opinion, a trip to Portugal can be quite budget-friendly. Prices are significantly lower than in other countries, even several times lower, for example, than in Germany. And the quality of the products is the highest. Fresh fish, meat, variety of cheeses, plenty of fruits and vegetables. And strong, strong, delicious coffee. By the way, about Portuguese coffee. In my experience, one of the most delicious I have ever tasted. And I brought home a couple of packs of Delta - the most advertised brand, much tastier than the Italian Lavazza, and cheaper. Why don't they sell it here?

I'll move on to the food. I'll start with the budget.

How much money do you need to eat in Portugal? Naturally, everyone's needs are different. But the portions in Portugal are large. For example, a typical Portuguese breakfast of coffee + cake is 1.5-2 euros. Affordable, right? Dinner lunch. Don’t forget about the Portuguese siesta, it’s even stranger than in Spain. Establishments can only open in the evening, from 8 o'clock. You have to get used to this schedule. The most expensive lunch we paid for was 35 euros for two. I’m afraid to imagine how much it would cost in Minsk - an appetizer (cheese, butter jam, buns), a huge fish with a side dish, grilled squid with a side dish, two bottles of wine. And this despite the fact that this is not a cheap establishment in Lisbon from the “marishkeria” class (specializing in fish).

In Cascais, in one of the establishments, there were a lot of people, the check for the evening was only 21 euros.

A few rules for choosing establishments:

Rule #1. Look for establishments for locals (in fact, just like everywhere else) and away from the attractions of Portugal, of which there are a lot at every turn. How to determine? There is a lot of garbage on the floor (it is customary to throw napkins under the table) and in some cases pensioners may be sitting, but they already know where to go.

Rule #2. Avoid snacks. The thing is, as soon as you sit down at the table, they will not only set it up for you and bring you cutlery, but also a snack (for which, of course, you have to pay, usually around 2-3 euros). I saw that usually the locals immediately warn “nao”.

Rule #3. Most cafes and restaurants have daily specials or the main dish of the establishment. There is more than one dish, 6-7 dishes, plenty of choice. And their price is from 3 to 7 euros, which is quite affordable. Here's an example menu below:

Rule #4. To eat for pennies, you can go to local canteens. In Porto I saw two of them, one of which was located right in the center. Would you like a lunch menu for 3 euros? Please! Soup (something like our cabbage soup), 3 fish (mackerel) with potatoes, 0.375 house wine in a carafe. Nourishing, cheap, tasty.

Rule #5. There is no point in searching through the Internet in advance, because there are no problems with the restaurant business in Portugal; at every step there are a lot of cafes for every taste and color. Walk around, enjoy yourself, look at the price tags hanging on the doors.

What to try in Portugal?

Wine. More specifically: vinho verde. Light carbonated wine, a wonderful relief in the heat.

Beer. More specifically: Sagres. Divine beer. How do the Portuguese manage to produce such delicious beer?

Port wine. In Porto they pour it at every turn.

Coffee. The Portuguese drink good coffee. And no less than the Spaniards or Italians. There are many varieties, the most interesting is biko - a tiny cup of very strong (and very thick) coffee. Helps you wake up.

Local kitchen:

– simply a must-use. Simple and inexpensive food, the Portuguese are absolutely obsessed with sardines. Delicious fish and inexpensive. A serving of 4-5 pieces with a side dish of potatoes costs 5-7 euros.

Cod or bacalao. What do the Portuguese not do with it? But all the dishes turn out to be delicious.

Salmon and tuna. Excellent salmon steaks, and for only 5-6 euros.

Sea fish. There are a lot of species here. Once the cook tried to explain to me the difference between these fish. Well, I tortured him! After 20 minutes, restaurant patrons joined him. I had to point my finger at the one that seemed larger.

(translated as “little French girl”). I saw and tried it in Porto. In simple words, this is a huge sandwich, generously topped with cheese sauce. Served with French fries. I don’t think that if you eat this sandwich every day, you will become a little French girl. The portion is large. In principle, it’s delicious, until you realize that in one of the layers in the middle lies... the stomach.

Rabbit. Rabbit dish for 4 euros? In Portugal everything is possible. A huge plate of rabbit with pepper and tomato sauce. It's delicious.

Specialty cakes from Portugal. And if they are still real Belem...

There are many different cheeses to try in Portugal. For dessert, many cafes serve cheese with marmalade. Overeating, honestly.

Everything is tasty and affordable. Have a delicious trip!

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).

Portugal today is becoming increasingly popular for tourists, and with it its predominantly Mediterranean cuisine. Thanks to its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the inhabitants of this country are forever in love with fish dishes, especially cod, tuna, shrimp, and grilled sardines. Fresh seafood and spices are harmoniously combined here. This country is very fond of grilled food; barbecues in courtyards are commonplace here. As for meat, they prefer beef, veal, pork, chicken, although the Portuguese have a rather relaxed attitude towards meat dishes. If you do not take into account fish and seafood, pork is still the most popular ingredient for traditional dishes here. Local residents are also partial to rice, from which they make not only a side dish, but also desserts with the addition of vanilla, cinnamon and lemon zest. But the favorite sweets of the Portuguese are almond cookies, custard cakes, and marzipan desserts. Portugal is also famous for the production of cheeses, especially soft ones made from sheep's milk. The most popular drinks around the world are Portuguese wines - "Bairrado", "Borba", "Carcavelos" and of course the legendary port. Among non-alcoholic drinks, the Portuguese simply love to drink coffee.
Many guidebooks mention cod dishes - "Bacalau" and the dessert "Pastel de nata". Below we will tell you in detail how to prepare the legendary fish casserole "Bacalhau", the recipe of which was kindly shared with us by the Portuguese chef of the Portuguese Ambassador to Russia. We will also learn about the famous delicacy in Portugal “Pastel de nata”, a preparation secret that was hidden by Catholic monks for several centuries. These cakes are very tasty and are unlike any others that are prepared in Russia.

Traditional dishes and recipes of Portuguese cuisine

This country is considered the most peaceful country, not much happens here, thanks to this its residents have the opportunity to do what they love and develop it calmly. In addition, in this country it will not be difficult to obtain a residence permit and subsequently citizenship. So those who want to move to live in Portugal have every chance for this, especially since Portuguese cuisine will not leave anyone indifferent, whether you come to live here for a long time or to stay for a few days.
In general, Portuguese cuisine is one of the simplest and at the same time delicious cuisines in the world. What kind of food do the Portuguese prefer, what culinary traditions prevail here and what are the most delicious dishes in their kitchen?
So, go ahead and explore Portuguese culinary masterpieces!

First meal

Green soup "Caldo verde" is a traditional soup of Portugal. It consists of kohlrabi cabbage leaves, carrots, potatoes, onions and finely chopped garlic, celery root, leek and Chorizo - Spanish sausage with Chorizo paprika. The last ingredient is cut into thin rings and added at the end of cooking vegetables, previously fried in olive oil.
Portuguese fish soup
Portuguese fish soup has a very unusual taste. It is cooked from cod fillet, with the addition of rice, tomatoes, garlic, onions and olive oil. Before serving, you can garnish with lemon slices, capers, basil and parsley.
Green bean soup
Garlic and onions are stewed in olive oil, later potatoes and carrots are added to them, and lightly fried. Then add 2 liters of water, after boiling, add finely chopped tomatoes and green beans. When the beans are half cooked, add the pasta.
Lentil soup
Lentils with garlic and thyme are boiled, and 15 minutes before the end of cooking, onions, flour, and tomato puree fried in vegetable oil are added to the soup. Before serving, add red pepper and garnish with parsley.

Second courses

Stewed vegetables and seafood with rice (Аrroz de mariscos). In the south of the Portuguese Republic in the city of Algarve, cooking seafood dishes is common. One of the popular dishes here is considered to be stewed vegetables with rice and seafood.
"Pork in Alentejana" (Сarne do porco a Alentejana). In Alentejo, meat and sausage dishes became widespread. The main dish is considered to be “Alentejan-style pork”. This dish consists of pork meat with shellfish stewed in wine, olives and fried potatoes.
Duck in rice (Arroz de pato). The people of Alentejo are very fond of duck in rice. The boiled duck is baked in the oven with rice and shaurisu sausage. A tasty feature of the Alentejo region is the presence of a variety of sausages. They are usually fried on the grill or in cast iron frying pans.
Roasted suckling pig (Leitao assado). But in the center of the country, roasted pig is the signature dish. A young pig is baked whole in a special form and served with a special sauce. There is an area near Coimbra with restaurants that serve this unusually tasty dish.
Feijoada is a dish that is most common in the city of Porto. It looks like a thick stew and consists of beans, beef, and pork. Traditionally, it is served with boiled rice.
"Cozido a Portuguesa" This hodgepodge is considered a true masterpiece of Portuguese cuisine. Stewed pork and beef, different types of sausage, cabbage leaves, rice or potatoes are placed in it. The height of the hodgepodge is sometimes up to 20 cm. It is not immediately possible to understand what ingredients are in this dish. If you have visited the country of Portugal and have not eaten this dish, you have lost a lot.
Fish stew "Caldeirada" is the most common dish in Portuguese homes. This is a stew of various fish and shellfish, to which potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and onions are added.
Francesinha sandwich. The traditional “francesinha” sandwich, popular in Portugal, is definitely worthy of attention; it is symbolic of the city of Porto. Fried beef, sausages, bacon, cheese are placed between pieces of bread and baked in the oven. It happens that they bake it in an oven using wood, in which case the result is especially tasty. The sandwich is made in different sizes, topped with a fried egg and served with French fries and warm alcoholic sauce. The sauce recipe is the highlight of the sandwich and is kept secret by the restaurant that prepares it. The first place to try Francesinha is in the city of Porto. It is better not to eat for a whole day before consuming it, as it is very filling. The name of the establishment where this dish is expertly made is “Tappas Caffe”. The famous football player Ronaldo often came to this cafe to eat this dish. And the price itself pleasantly surprises any guests.

Cod dishes - "Bacalhau"

Does your family lose their appetite at the word cod? Can’t believe that you can make an excellent snack from an ordinary piece of fish fillet? This means that you have simply never tried the real masterpiece of Portuguese national cuisine “bacalhau”, which means cod in Portuguese. One of the most common dishes is cod casserole in milk. This dish is really very tasty, it is the national pride of the Portuguese homeland, and was even once included in the Guinness Book of Records. There are two types of "bacalau": fresh cod and dried cod. In Portugal, fresh cod is almost never eaten. Previously, cod was dried for two months in the sun and in salt, after which it had to be soaked in water for several days to cook the fish. Nowadays, drying fish does not take so much time, it happens in an accelerated process and is no longer in the sun. Local residents know more than a hundred ways to prepare dried and soaked “bacalau” in milk or water. Although they first started talking about this dish much earlier than a country like Portugal appeared on the world map. The sailors opened the groceries. They took salted and dried cod fish with them on voyages; it took up very little space on the ship. This is quite practical, since the fish does not need to be put in the refrigerator, hidden from moisture, it does not spoil. The method of preparing such cod was discovered by the Vikings. After World War II, cod prices rose and bacalau is now considered a delicacy. The first factories for the production of salted cod appeared in Iceland and Norway in the 19th century.
At first, “bacalau” was considered a common food, but now the Portuguese have a dish of dried cod as an indispensable attribute of all holidays. You can try a casserole, salad or appetizer in any restaurant in Portugal. True, food made from such cod costs much more than from any other fish. The Portuguese mainly buy dried cod from Norway due to which it is quite expensive. The price for one kilogram of “bacalau” reaches 20 euros, however, according to statistics, every Portuguese person eats up to 16 kilograms of this fish per year. On Christmas Eve alone, the Portuguese consume more than one thousand tons of bacalhau. According to statistics, Portugal ranks first in Europe in the consumption of fish and seafood dishes. Cod is also a dietary product; 100 grams of this fish contains 69 kcal.
There are many traditional restaurants in Portugal whose menu consists exclusively of bacalhau dishes, which are always included in the Christmas menu. Traditional dried fish must be soaked before being cooked and eaten. In Portugal, cod is fried, dried, dried, salted and stewed.
In Russia, this fish is healthy and affordable, but for some reason it is unpopular with our housewives. But in Portugal, it is cod that is used to make excellent national dishes “bacalhau”. Moreover, every Portuguese housewife can cook cod 365 days a year and not repeat it.
For us, cod is a simple fish and seems a bit dry, which is why it is not always possible for our housewives to make something tasty out of it. But Portuguese chefs believe that if cod tastes dry after cooking, it means it is simply not cooked correctly. In general, the Portuguese came up with a lot of recipes.
“Bacalhau in cream” (Bacalhau com natas) - cod is baked in the oven with fried potatoes and cream sauce.
“Bacalhau a bras” - a dish that is not inferior in taste to other dishes; it is cooked using fish with fried potatoes, adding onions and eggs and sprinkled with herbs.
Bacalhau com natas - on Christmas in the country it is customary for all families to cook cod in a creamy sauce.
Recipe for fish casserole "Bacalau"
Wash fresh cod fillets in cold water. Then put it in a saucepan, add water to lightly cover the fish, add salt and cook over low heat for about 8 minutes. After the time has passed, place the fish on a plate and cover with film on top. Leave the fish broth, you will need it later.
Next, we begin preparing the vegetable mixture. Cut the onion into half rings, cut the leeks into slices, grate the carrots and finely chop the garlic. Heat cold pressed olive oil in a saucepan. By the way, in Portugal, olive oil is often used in preparing various dishes, as it is considered very beneficial for health. Immediately add bay leaf to the oil for flavor. Then at the same time put the onions, carrots, leeks and garlic into the oil. It has been proven that even with strong heat treatment, carrots retain almost all their beneficial properties. Fry the vegetables over the fire for 5-6 minutes until the onion becomes soft. Add salt and spices to the sauté at the very end of cooking. Herbs and spices give bacalau a special taste. Add nutmeg; with its help, the Portuguese manage to use less salt when preparing dishes. Add dry white wine to the vegetable mixture and wait two to three minutes until the alcohol evaporates.
Next, deep fry the peeled potatoes in vegetable oil until golden brown. Then place half of the prepared potatoes on a towel.
Let's start preparing the French Bechamel sauce. In a saucepan, mix the melted butter with the flour with a wooden spoon to maintain the consistency of the sauce. And most importantly, mix very well so that there are no lumps. Then slowly add a ladle of the remaining fish broth to the dense mass. There is a secret: when the broth is mixed with a thick sauce, only then add another ladle of broth. Next, add 150 ml of heavy cream, constantly stirring the mixture until you get a thick and homogeneous sauce. The consistency should be similar to dough, then add a little salt and pepper.
We return to the previously prepared vegetables. Add the fried potatoes to this sauteing and pour in the bechamel fish sauce and mix well.
Place the boiled cod in the mold, cut into not too small pieces of 2-3 cm, do not forget to remove the bones from the fish first. On top of it we lay out the vegetable mixture, seasoned with bechamel sauce and grated hard cheese. Then we put the “bacalau” in the oven for 10 minutes at 180 degrees, until golden brown. Sprinkle the finished dish with parsley. It’s really very tasty. Surprise your loved ones with a brand new unusual dish!
Cooking on the grill. In this country, people especially enjoy cooking using the grill. All restaurants and even courtyards have barbecues, and meat and fish are fried on them every now and then. In local restaurants and cafes, the business lunch menu often includes dishes prepared in this way. The Portuguese believe that cooking food this way keeps you healthy longer. For grilling, they mainly use coals, and sometimes wood, which gives the dish a special aroma.
Residents of Portugal, as well as Russia, before grilling meat, always soak it in a marinade, which they usually do with wine, vinegar, adding lemon sauce, garlic and pepper. The difference between our cuisines is that in their country, pieces of meat are dipped in marinade and refrigerated for two days.
Canned fish
For canned food lovers, there is a wonderful store in Lisbon. Buying them in this country is a real pleasure.
Only in Lisbon shops you can buy a wide variety of canned goods, the trick is that they are all colorfully packaged, like sweet products. All of them are in beautiful jars, multi-colored packages, after purchase they are placed in boxes, then in bags. In general, everyone who loves canned food is here!

Portuguese desserts

The Portuguese have a terrible sweet tooth, and their cuisine includes many cake recipes. Be sure to visit the Majestic Cafe in Porto. Previously, this was one of the glamorous places in the city; all the elite gathered here - actresses, captains and other most famous and rich people. Now this is a very beautiful place with very tasty desserts. This cafe was founded in 1921. It is really worth stopping by and eating local food; they still serve delicious food and very good service. Here you can listen to the piano while enjoying a glass of Port. Here guests will be advised what is best to drink with this or that dish.
"Ovos moles de Aveiro (Ovos moles de Aveiro). This cake is worthy of the attention of tourists in the city of Aveiro. It is a small-sized cake made from puff pastry from egg yolks. For some reason, sponge desserts are not liked by the locals; there are the fewest of them here.
"Pastel de nata" These cakes are the hallmark of Lisbon. Their original recipe comes from the Pasteis de Belem confectionery establishment in Lisbon, which has been baking these most traditional cakes since 1837. This establishment is very large, it is famous throughout the country. You will have to wait from 30 minutes to an hour until you can get into this pastry shop and try this cake. There are many Pastelarias in Lisbon that sell these cakes. According to many sources, it is in this Pashtelaria that the most delicious “Pastel de nata” is prepared. In general, the Portuguese are very fond of this hissing letter “sh”; they use it in many words, for example: Cascais, Pastelaria, pastel.
"Pastel de nata" means cream pie in Portuguese. According to legend, this cake was first prepared in the 17th century in the Jeronimos Monastery. The recipe was kept secret by the monks and only persons of high position who visited the monastery were treated to cakes. After the revolution in 1820, state funding for monasteries was stopped. And the monks had no choice but to start selling these unique cakes. After a while, their recipe was bought by a certain Brazilian entrepreneur, who subsequently founded a factory for the production of these cakes. At this Lisbon factory they make 10-20 thousand pieces a day. It is believed that real Portuguese cream pies are produced only there. But the delicacy became so popular that many talented confectioners around the world tried to repeat the recipe and some were very successful. So today, your favorite Portuguese recipe can be prepared in Russia in an ordinary home kitchen.
How is the legendary cake prepared? Puff pastry without yeast is used for the baskets. The filling is made from sugar syrup mixed with milk and egg yolks. The cakes are baked quickly for no more than 10 minutes, decorated with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Serve warm.
By the way, the aroma of cinnamon stimulates appetite; in Europe, grocery store windows are decorated with cinnamon to increase sales. In general, the Portuguese add this ingredient to all desserts.

Portuguese drinks

Coffee
Coffee plays a huge role in the life of the Portuguese; they drink it in the morning, in the evening, and at lunchtime. There are even different versions of coffee for children and pregnant women, with water or milk with the addition of a small spoon of coffee. If a Portuguese places an order for coffee, it automatically means coffee called “Espresso,” which the Portuguese love to drink. Buying coffee of other names in Portugal, for example "Americano", is practically not common. You can, of course, ask for it, in this case they will simply add more hot water to the coffee. "Cappuccino" is also coffee with milk, but more of a morning option. But it is Espresso coffee that is everywhere and always. It is very strong, it is poured into small cups, and therefore it runs out quickly.
A mandatory ritual that must be performed when traveling in Portugal is to sit on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and drink coffee and cakes that you brought with you. You can simply go to a cafe close to the ocean; the surrounding atmosphere will leave an unforgettable impression on any guest.
By the way, there is an interesting feature in the Portuguese language that is difficult not to notice. During conversations, the Portuguese very often use diminutive forms of words. For example, when ordering coffee, they ask you to bring not coffee, but “caffeine”. In Russian, such a request would sound like “bring some coffee.” The Portuguese pronounce almost all words in this affectionate form. It is no secret that the manner of conversation shapes the thinking and worldview of the speaker. There is such an interesting feature in the language of the Portuguese, which, of course, makes them kind and nice people.
Port wine
It is impossible not to pay attention to the legendary port wine. Before recommending Portuguese wine to travelers, of course, you need to understand that the choice of wine depends on taste. When choosing them, their price category is of great importance. The presence of the inscription “reserva” on a bottle of wine indicates that the wine has been aged in a wooden oak barrel and is of the highest quality. Many Portuguese enjoy rosé port, which they learned to make about ten years ago. Residents of Portugal prefer to drink port wine only on holidays. The most commonly consumed varieties are red and white wines, not so often drinks with strong alcohol.
Liqueur "Ginja" Guests to Portugal should definitely try the Portuguese cherry liqueur or cherry-flavored liqueur called Ginja. It is served in chocolate glasses, and after drinking it, they eat it in the same glass. It tastes like candy with chocolate covered cherries. This drink is really very tasty. It is sold in Lisbon at Calcada do Carmo, 37, Lisboa.

Concluding our story, let’s summarize and list eight dishes that every traveler in Portugal must try:
- "francesinha";
- "feijoada";
- "Cusido a Portuguesa";
- grilled sardines;
- seafood with rice;
- fish casserole "Bacalau";
- dessert "Pastel de Nata";
- snacks for the table in a good restaurant: bread, olives, cheese, dried meat. In addition, delicious chips are often served at the table, which are made in the restaurants themselves.