When you think about the Portuguese dishes and the food in Portugal, what comes to mind?
Besides the famous Portuguese egg tarts or pastéis de nata, can you name other local Portuguese dishes?
Portugal’s rich gastronomy has been overshadowed by the culinary traditions of its famous neighbor, Spain, as well as by Italy and France.
The Portuguese love good food and this simple joy permeates all aspects of life. You’ll find many regional Portuguese dishes across the country, emphasizing fish, meat, olive oil, bread, tomato, herbs and spices.
The food in Portugal is made with simple ingredients that are impeccably prepared. The flavors are fresh and wholesome and the local wines and beverages to wash everything down is extensive.
When you travel to Portugal don’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in the local Portuguese cuisine.
Here are 10 popular and local Portuguese dishes you want to enjoy.
Bom apetite!
1 – Caldo Verde – The National Iconic Soup
From the north of Portugal, comes the famous Portuguese Caldo Verde soup. This is one of the most popular soups in Portuguese cuisine.
While the soup is particularly popular in the winter, you can enjoy it all year round, whether it is warm or cold outside.
This green soup is made with a particular dark green cabbage that is not widely available beyond Portugal’s borders. Substitutes include collard greens or kale.
Wonderful flavors from the combination of potato puree, slices of chouriço sausage and local Portuguese olive oil, complete this delicious and hearty soup.
We enjoyed this soup on several occasions. The soup is simple and full of flavor. Perfectly delightful!
If you want to make this soup at home, this Caldo Verde recipe will have you tasting Portugal in no time.
Beautiful mix of flavors and textures in this Caldo Verde soup2 – Bacalhau – One of the Most Treasured Portuguese Dishes
No trip to Portugal would be complete without indulging in this Portuguese traditional food. Bacalhau or codfish is a national obsession. In Portugal, there are over 365 ways of preparing bacalhau – one for each day of the year.
We loved the simplicity of the dish. The rich flavors and the the multiple ways of eating it. Bacalhau even landed on our personal list of “top 100 authentic food experiences to have before I die.”
Salted Codfish or Bacalhau for purchase in a local supermarket in PortoYou’ll find codfish prepared in many different ways. From grilled, baked, canned, and fried you’ll easily find your eating pleasure.
Our favorite codfish preparation is Bacalhau à brás. This is a codfish and egg scramble that is very popular. It is made with thin strips of codfish mixed together with potatoes, eggs, onions, garlic and olives and topped with chopped parsley.
Simple and uncomplicated, this is one delicious meal not to miss in Portugal.
If you are curious and want to try bacalhau, have it delivered to you by Amazon.
Bacalhau a bras (codfish)
cooked to perfection3 – Sardines – The Most Celebrated Portuguese Seafood
Grilled Sardines
Grilled sardines or sardinhas asadas is the summertime food of choice in Portugal. In June, the smell of grilled sardines infuse the streets of Lisbon for the whole month. That’s when Lisbon hosts the most popular festival dedicated to sardines.
The Day of Saint Anthony or Santo António Festival celebrates grilled sardines on June 12th and 13th. From there, the Festas de Sardinha season all other Portugal kicks off, where sardines are celebrated at several Summer festivals.
Where does the sardine popularity come from? Historically, the Portuguese with the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean have relied heavily on seafood for food and commerce.
In Portugal, sardines are primarily consumed fresh in with 12 tons of sardines eaten yearly, per person.
The best time to eat fresh sardines is during the peak season between June and August.
When fresh, sardines are eaten directly from the charcoal grill, marinated with Portuguese olive oil and served with salads, rice or potatoes. Simply delicious, this Portuguese dish is a feast for the taste buds.
Grilled sardines prepared with steamed potatoesCanned Sardines
Portugal is also historically known for fish preservation with canned sardines being one of its most popular culinary heritage. In the recent years, eating canned sardines, has become a gourmet activity, especially in Lisbon and Porto.
You will find canned sardines offered as petiscos or Portuguese tapas (small bites) in many bars and restaurants.
In our article about the food in Portugal, visiting the loja de conservas or House of Canned Goods in Lisbon is a great way to sample a variety of canned sardines.
Canned sardines are presented in beautiful cans with artsy designs. The sardines are preserved in various condiments and ingredients. From the simple olive oil, lemon, tomato sauce to the more creative red pepper fennel, curry or chickpeas.
You’ll find is a can of sardines for every taste.
Tasting of canned sardines, tuna and mackerelAre you traveling to Lisbon? Want to know what to eat beyond sardines? Get your hands on Lisbon in 100 Bites.
Zara Quiroga, Portuguese native and food writer has put together a delicious e-book to make the most of your foodie time in Lisbon. Divided into Appetizers & Snacks, Main Dishes (Meats and Seafood) and Desserts, you’ll find many of our local favorites included.
For €9.99, download your copy of Lisbon in 100 Bites.
4 – Bifanas – Portugal’s National Sandwich
Bifanas are traditional Portuguese pork sandwiches, so popular that you’ll find them everywhere in the country.
These Portuguese sandwiches are made of succulent marinated pork served with a crunchy white bread. The marinade is made with spices including paprika, garlic and white wine. The bread has a crunchy crust on the outside while being soft on the inside.
Bifanas can be served with a soup and fries for a full meal at lunch or dinner time. Or served with beer, for a typical late snack.
There are several variations of the bifanas sandwiches. You can add more ingredients to your sandwich such as eggs, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes or stick with the traditional one. Each eatery that makes bifanas will have their own secret recipe for the marinade.
The original bifanas recipe is said to come from Vendas Novas, a small town in the Alentejo region, mid-distance between Lisbon and Evora. While little is known about the original recipe, every Bifana eatery claims to make the original version.
Although considered a light-snack, be wary of the portion sizes. With a serving of fries, you will have as much as a full meal.
In this sandwich, you’ll find the perfect combination of crunchy bread and flavorful pork. So good, you won’t miss a bite.
A scrumptious Bifanas sandwich with egg, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and bacon added5 – Francesinha – The Famous Sandwich from Porto
The Francesinha sandwich is an impressive plated sandwich that will make your “heart sing”. Very popular in Porto, you will see it on almost every menu. Made with bread, ham, sausages and steak, the sandwich is typically covered with melted cheese and an egg on top.
What makes the francesinha unique is the secret sauce that each restaurant prepares its own way. It is a hot thick tomato and beer sauce used to dip or “flood” your sandwich. And the best part is that you can ask for more as needed.
Francesinha literally means “little French girl.” It is said to have been brought to Porto by an emigrant returning back from France. This sandwich is an adaptation of the French toasted sandwich, croque-monsieur.
Served with a side of french fries, this famous Porto food packs calories, with lot of meats, cheese and sauce combined!
Although it is quite heavy, it is surprisingly delightful. Calorie-laden, this sandwich to be enjoyed in moderation.
Francesinha the “calorie bomb” sandwichBook a Porto Tour
Get more from your visit to Porto, when you book a tour online.
6 – Chicken Piri-Piri – Portugal’s Outstanding Chicken Dish
During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portuguese explorers traveled through coastal Africa and discovered many new spices. One of the spices was a small spicy chili pepper known as Piri-Piri, Peri-Peri, or “African devil.”
Today, chicken covered in piri-piri served with chips or french fries and a small lettuce, tomato and onion salad is a very popular Portuguese national dish.
In Portugal, places that sell chicken piri-piri are called churrascarias. You’ll find them all over the place in neighborhoods throughout.
You want to eat the chicken, known as frango in Portuguese, using your hands. Locals do not use a fork and knife. The chicken is cut up in such a way that makes it easy for you to tuck in and get all the juicy bites around the bones.
For dinner or a snack during the day, we savored amazingly tasty chicken piri-piri from local churrascarias to go. We found the chicken in Portugal to be very flavorful, yet different from the popular chicken dish in Peru called pollo a la brasa.
One of the joys of traveling through the local foods of a country is experiencing each country’s interpretations of basic ingredients like chicken, sandwiches, bread and more.
You may be familiar with the popular chain, Nando’s, originally from South Africa, with Portuguese and Mozambique inspiration. Nando’s, has spread chicken peri-peri globally. Interestingly, you’ll not find Nando’s in Portugal, you’ll have to get your chicken at local churrascarias.
Roasted chicken piri-piri before the final cut (photocredit: Kolform)7 – Polvo à la Lagareiro – Traditional Fresh Seafood Prepared in Olive Oil
Portuguese cuisine is famous for its delicious seafood. Beyond bacalhau or codfish and sardines, octopus or polvo is another popular seafood dish loved by the Portuguese.
Polvo à la lagareiro is a famous octopus dish that you will find across the country. Lagareiro is a popular way of cooking seafood which includes generous serving of Portuguese olive oil.
As demonstrated in our Porto walking tour, olive oil is a vital ingredient in Portuguese cuisine, particularly with seafood dishes.
For this dish, the octopus is typically served with boiled potatoes. Then both the potatoes and the octopus are baked and roasted.
Polvo à la lagareiro is deceptively simple and exquisite. The octopus when well prepared is really tender and flavorful. The Portuguese olive oil adds unique fruity and slightly bitter taste to this seafood dish.
With this popular Portuguese dish, you’ll find yourself eating octopus like you never have before.
Polvo à la Lagareiro - octopus perfectly prepared with baked potatoes and olive oil8 – World Famous Black Pork or Porco Preto
One of the most expensive cured hams in the world is Jamon Iberico de Bellota from Spain.
What is not commonly known, is the same pigs are found in Portugal, across the border from Spain in the Alentejo region.
In Spanish, the pigs are known as Iberico pigs, some are raised in Portugal in the Alentejo region. Across the border in Portugal, the pigs are known as raça Alentejana. The pigs roam freely in the countryside eating acorns of cork and holm oak trees.
The Alentejo black pigs, produce amazing ham with exceptional flavors. In Evora, the capital of the Alentejo region, we wrote about the food in Evora including black pork or porco preto.
On your travels to Portugal, don’t miss the porco preto. You’ll find it on menus at restaurants in dishes like plumas or secretos, which is pork shoulder. And it is also quite popular in Portuguese tapas, known as presunto.
The flavors are second to none. The black pork will simply melt in your mouth. Be sure to taste the celebrated black pork unique to Southeastern Portugal.
Grilled Alentejo black pork plumas at 5 amêndoas Restaurante
Book a Tour of Evora and the Alentejo Region
Discover more regional specialties in Evora when you book a tour online.
9- Pastéis de Natas – Portuguese Iconic dessert
Pastéis de natas is the iconic and famous dessert of Portugal. Every Pastelerias or pastry shop has their own version of Pastéis de natas. This sweet, creamy egg tart might become your daily pastry of choice while visiting Portugal.
The Pastéis de natas are made of flour, butter, eggs, cinnamon and of course sugar. Lots of butter is layered in the dough which gives the shells their crispy and crackling texture.
The dough is then cut into small pie shell and filled with the egg custard preparation. Cooked in a very hot oven, Pastéis de natas is served warm with a strong and small cup of Portuguese coffee, called bica in Lisbon.
Take a bite of this crispy crust, creamy sweet custard, with a dust of cinnamon on top, and your eyes will roll with delight.
Absolutely amazing Pastéis de Nata from Manteigaria
But, did you know that the original egg tart is actually the Pastel de Belém?
Pastéis de natas are said to have originated in a Belém pastry shop in 1837. They were made by Monks who were expelled during a revolution in 1820 and began baking the pastries to make money.
The pastries became very popular with local visitors when a small store attached to a sugar refinery started selling them for the visitors.
Today, the store Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém has preserved the traditional recipe. Nowadays, they bake over 10,000 tarts per day to serve the many visitors seeking to taste this unique traditional recipe. It is the only shop that can sell these pastries under the name Pastel de Belém.
After eating many of these mouthwatering pastries, our preference goes to the original Pastel de Belém. Our second favorite is the Pastel de Nata from Manteigueira in Lisbon, featured in the Lisbon food tour article.
The only place to get the original Pasteis de belem 10 – Conventual Desserts: Portuguese Sweets For Every Taste
Beyond the Pastéis de natas, the most popular desserts in Portugal are what the Portuguese call conventual desserts.
Conventual desserts are pastries that were created in convents and monasteries typically made with lots of egg yolks and large amounts of sugar. Other common ingredients are almonds or cinnamon.
Traditionally, eggs whites were used in convents to starch the priest clothing as well as the nun’s robes. Left with the egg yolks and time to kill, the nuns had to get creative. Making the most delicious and famous desserts became a tradition in Portugal.
As a result, every city and every region, has their own conventual desserts, competing to be the best in class.
In Sintra, you can taste the Queijadas de Sintra and compare it in Evora with the flavors of the Queijadas de Evora.
In Braga, you’ll experience the traditional Tíbias de Braga, a puff pastry filled with a soft sweet creamy paste with powder sugar on top.
In Alentejo, you will find Sericaia a typical Alentejano dessert from the convents of Elvas, a city east of Évora.
Add to these: Pao de Lo, Queijadas, Toucinho do céu, Travesseiro and other conventual desserts and your taste buds will love you.
You can rest assured that in Portugal there is no shortage of conventual desserts to satisfy all your sweet cravings.
If you want to make these desserts at home, get Taste Portugal by Maria Dias and Lisa Dias, a simple and easy to follow Portuguese cookbook.
Pao de Lo, famous nun's sponge cakeIn Summary
Portugal has a lot to offer in terms of food and wines. From amazing Portuguese dishes from the sea, to world-famous pork and desserts, and everyday local favorites like sandwiches and chicken. You’ll find plenty of local Portuguese dishes to savor.
This list of the 10 most popular Portuguese dishes is only an introduction. There are many more local Portuguese dishes to discover. Use this list as a guide for your food travels through Portugal.
Portuguese dishes deserve more recognition worldwide. After you’ve enjoyed these local dishes, you’ll no doubt join us in singing the praises for Portuguese gastronomy.
Have you had Portuguese food? What was your favorite Portuguese dishes? Leave your comments below.
Find out What kind of food traveler are you? Take our quiz and get your food traveler profile in minutes!
Savor The Adventure!
Where to Stay in Portugal
Book your accommodations for your travels to Portugal below.
Love it? Pin it!
TAKE THE QUIZ!
Rosemary is a writer and culinary explorer. Together with her partner, Claire, they created Authentic Food Quest to inspire people to travel deeper through authentic food. Through food, they believe, people can have more meaningful connections on their travels. Prior to creating Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary worked as a director of strategy in advertising for over 15 years. Take the quiz and find out your Food Traveler Profile.
Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to invite you to explore the local flavors on your travels. Follow our quest for authentic foods from around the world.
AMAZING! I will be in Portugal and now I cannot wait to try ALL of these dishes haha! The food here sounds delicious
Awesome timing!! Please do let us know what dishes you end trying. Safe travels!
Grilled Sardines and Pastéis de natas looks so delicious. I am salivating already. How is the Veg food there any reccos?
The food in Portugal is divine and you can’t go wrong with the sardines and pasteis de nata. You can always find vegetarian options, you’ll just need to ask the restaurant/servers. Cheers.
Ooooh how I love food. The Porto sandwich sounds so unhealthy but amazing! All sounds great, not sure on the sardines though!
The Porto sandwich is truly tasty but rich. An experience worth savoring. The sardines are actually quite amazing. You have to try them, to believe it!! Cheers
mmmm yum! Now I’m hungry! If I’m ever in Portugal I will make sure I look out for these, thanks
You truly wouldn’t want to miss out on the local specialties in Portugal for a deeper travel experience.
Maybe it’s safer for me to never visit Portugal….I feel like I would leave a good 20 kilos heavier! I absolutely have to try one (or six) of those Pastéis de natas though!
Lol…if you eat in moderation and split the large dishes you’ll be fine 🙂 Also, lots of walking to burn off the excess calories. It’s safe to go to Portugal 🙂
Um those sandwiches look DELICIOUS!! I’d eat those any day. I was lowkey waiting for a malasada to appear at the end of the list as a Portuguese dessert, but the ones you listed look tasty too!
Great, so glad you enjoyed the articles and the sandwiches in particular. You’ll find all kinds of desserts in Portugal. We highlighted the not to miss ones here. Hope you get to Portugal soon.
I love the custard desserts! I used to go to a Portuguese bakery near my house which had them, I can’t imagine how good the authentic ones would taste. So awesome how we can get a taste of the world wherever we are!
Lucky you for having had a Portuguese bakery near your home. We do live in a time where we can taste the world wherever we are and that’s amazing! Thanks for stopping by.
Portuguese cuisine is not very popular like some of the other cuisines from Europe. These dishes look simple and yet flavourful. I am saving this post for my future reference.
You are right, Sapna, Portuguese food does not have the same recognition in Europe. We hope that by sharing the local dishes, more people will discover the rich Portuguese gastronomy.
It looks like a great food choice. Although i am a vegetarian but i am sure all these dishes must be delicious. Loved the desserts !
I tried Portuguese food last year, my favourite dish is definitely the Pastéis de Natas.
But I’d love to try Francesinha, that sounds like a delicious alternative to a croque monsieur!
Besides the pasteis de nata, what other Portuguese food did you try? If you go back to Portugal, definitively head to Porto for an authentic Francesinha sandwich. Thanks Lyne for stopping by.
There couldn’t be a better timing for this! I’m just planning a trip to Portugal and so glad to have found this article. Going to follow it. Thanks so much for sharing it.. Loved the attention to detail It was sooo helpful 🙂
You are most welcome. Glad the timing worked out. Do let us know what delicious delights you end up trying. Safe travels and have fun!!
Number 7 down have my full attention, especially the Polvo à la Lagareiro. I’d totally try the first few on the list, as everything Portuguese I’ve tasted is yummy, but I think I’d have a hard time with the canned sardines. Just really don’t care for fish in a can or jar. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the article. And agree, that Portuguese food is quite yummy. To that point, try Portuguese canned sardines first before judging them. These are the best canned sardines out there 🙂 Thanks, Leah
We have been following you eating your way around Portugal and it has been a delightful torture. We just started a Keto diet and are fighting to keep under 30 g of carbs a day. It is working on many levels, but there have been cravings. We have found solace in rotisserie chicken and that Piri-Piri chicken looks incredible.
Could not agree more about the dangers of reading about food when on a diet. We fight in the same battle. In addition to the piri-piri chicken, the sardines and octopus, will keep you honest 🙂 Thanks, Jenn and Ed!
I love the food in Portugal when I walked some of the Camino de Portuguese a couple of years ago. The franchesina was perfect to refuel on long walks. I loved the octopus too
That’s amazing that you walked part of the Portuguese Camino. Indeed, the franchesina sandwich will absolutely refuel any lost carbs 🙂 Great food in Portugal!!
When it comes to the must-try food in Portugal the first thing that comes to mind is the Pastel de Nata. We had it a few times when in Lisbon. And we had no idea that Piri Piri chicken is one of the popular national dishes in Portugal until we visited Lisbon. Caldo Verde sounds delicious we would love it try it sometime.
You can’t go wrong with pastel de nata and it’s difficult not to overindulge in Portugal. On your next visit, give the other dishes a try and be prepared to be delighted. Thanks for stopping by.
I was actually not able to answer the question of what Portuguese dishes come to my mind when I think about their local authentic food because I don’t think I have ever had Portuguese food! I am a foodie and I love trying local dishes when I travel and obviously I haven’t been to Portugal so I really don’t know what to expect there! However, your guide gives really good directions! I am not so sure about the green cabbage soup although I think I will give it a shot. I can see that a lot of sea food has made it to the list, like sardines, and I love sea food so I would want to try that for sure. Thanks for this detailed food guide!
You are most welcome Medha, and glad you have now discovered Portuguese cuisine. Definitively, keep this guide handy for your travels to Portugal.
I adore Portugal, and feel lucky to be able to fly there in 1 hour! The food culture is one of my favourites, more than Spain. The polvo is my favourite, and the pasteis de nata are to die for!
Lucky you for being only one hour away from Portugal. We totally love the food culture as well. We certainly share the same favorites 🙂 Cheers.
As a local, I always recommend folks to try any octopus dish. Particularly Polvo a Lagareiro. Some people are turned off by the look of the tentacles… but once you get past the “beast” kinda look, it’s so damn delicious!! 😀
Great point Zara, most times the most delicious flavors are disguised in “odd” looking foods. Let’s keep this little secret to ourselves and more polvo a lagareiro for us 🙂 Cheers.
Looks yummy! As a Goan, I am very interested in Portuguese food as much of the food in Goa has Portuguese influences, like the Chicken Cafreal and Xacuti. I don’t eat pork or beef but would love to sample the dishes that don’t contain it.
That’s good to know that you’ll still find Portuguese influence in Goan cuisine today. Besides the caldo verde, there are other dishes that are meat-free, what we highlighted here are the national favorites. You would eat very well in Portugal 🙂
I often eat chicken peri-peri. It is one of my favourite dishes. Have you heard of a chain called Nandos? They make divine Portuguese styled chicken. I am also a fan of pastei de nata. I am heading to Portugal later this year so this post will be really useful. I have bookmarked it!
Enjoy your upcoming travels to Portugal. You’ll find amazing food and very affordable prices. Just be wary of the portion sizes 🙂 In the article, we talk about Nandos and how you will not find it in Portugal. You’ll taste the original flavors, which are second to none. Cheers, Janine.
OMG I need to go to Portugal! I still can’t believe I haven’t been, I lived in Spain for 3 years so shame on me! All of these dishes sound incredible, I love bacalhau that I tried in Spain, and the octopus too, and wow that Francesinha sounds like a delicious heart attack waiting to happen!! 😀
You were right next door and never made it to Portugal? Understandable though, Spain has so much to offer and rich culinary tradition. The next time you are in the region, stop by Portugal and try these delightful dishes.
I have to start off by saying that I loved pretty much all the food we had when we visited Portugal for 4 weeks. We do not like spicy food, so Portugal was mostly perfect for us. We had to watch the chicken piri-piri though. Everyone told us we would eat a lot of cod but we really didn’t. Instead we ate so much great octopus that I thought I would grow an extra arm before we left! We liked the bifanas but really did not like the Francesinha sandwiches. Maybe we didn’t get a good one. We became quite addicted to the Pasteis de Nata and did find that the best ones were at Paseis de Belem too. I am drooling looking at your pics and remembering all the food of Portugal. Thanks!
That’s awesome and happy to share great drool-worthy memories. Like you, while we enjoyed the Francesinha sandwich, we particularly enjoyed a good bifana. We had to “go easy” on the pastel de nata, as they are quite addictive. So glad you enjoyed the article, Linda.
I wasn’t so impressed with Portuguese food. Maybe part of it was traveling in the north, we had a lot of rice dishes and rice isn’t my favorite thing. The bifana, the chicken and the octopus all look delicious. And I’ve had some pretty fantastic octopus, so I’d be all about this life changing one you’ve recommended.
I think the flavors are what make Portuguese cuisine so delectable. Not necessary “the look” of the dishes, but the flavors. Give Portuguese food another shot and yes, the octopus is to die for 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Jennifer.
wow! Such a mouthwatering post 😀 I didn’t know anything about Portugees dishes at all before reading your piece. Caldo Verde soup looks like a soup I had in the north of Iran. I don’t know why I always thought Chicken Pri Pri is Mexican dish. I think Portuguese dishes have some similarity with Mexican too, is it true?
So glad you enjoyed reading and discovering Portuguese cuisine. The food is exceptional and worthy of tasting. The next time you go out to eat, try a Portuguese restaurant in your area and you’ll be amazed. Personally, I didn’t find Portuguese food to have any resemblance to Mexican cuisine. The chili used in Portuguese cuisine comes from their heritage in India 🙂
Ahh so excited to go to Portugal! I never knew much about Portuguese food so I’m happy I stumbled into this post. I’ll be sure to try all of them when I’m there in a few weeks!
Perfect timing, Eli. So glad the article came right in time. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Safe travels and enjoy!
I don’t think I could name one single Portuguese dish, I’m afraid – even those Portuguese egg tarts (pastéis de nata) aren’t ringing any bells, but they look delicious! So this list was all new too me. It’s definitely whetted my appetite though! x
I’m glad now that after reading this article you are a little more familiar with Portuguese cuisine. If there is a local Portuguese restaurant in your area, highly recommend checking it out. The food is amazing and worth experiencing.
Other than Pastel de Natas, the bifana sandwich looks delicious and definitely top of my list of foods to try! Can’t wait to get to Portugal!
Are you planning on visiting Portugal soon, Claire? You will love discovering all the delicious bites. When you do go, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Cheers.
Loved this article. And I must admit that on a business trip to Lisbon years ago, except for eating the pastry at the Belem shop (divine!), I haven’t experienced all the other dishes. I dont eat pork but would love to try some of their seafood and chicken preparations if I go back to Portugal.
Thank you for your feedback Shweta. Hope you have plans to travel back to Portugal soon? There are many dishes that don’t involve pork. Spend time with the seafood dishes and be prepared to be delighted. Cheers.
What a sumptuous post! Portuguese food is often undersung, as is its wine. I’m a big fan of vinho verde at the moment!
Portugal’s dishes looks awesome and I feel bad that they are not very popular beyond Portugal. Thanks for sharing this list. I would love to try Caldo Verde for it suits me as vegetarian. Is there a veg version of Bifanas available?
For vegetarians, the Caldo Verde is the best option from the list. However, you can find vegetarian options in Portugal and you can also ask restaurants to make special vegetarian plates for you. Don’t let the food keep you from discovering this amazing country.
This is a mouth-watering selection, with a few I’d never heard of. Portuguese food has been unsung in our country for too long! I’m a big convert to vinho verde these days.
Portuguese food deserves worldwide recognition for the amazing dishes and superb flavors. Love Vinho Verde as well. The perfect Summer drink. Thanks, Nell.
You had me, I couldn’t name another dish off the top of my head beside their egg tarts, then Portuguese chicken followed quickly in my brain.
Then I kept reading and, of course, Bacalhau!! I knew that, just didn’t realise it came from Portugal…. whoops!
Now I just need to find a Francesinha locally. Wow that looks so good
It’s amazing Sara, how little is known about Portuguese food. Indeed, bacalhau is considered the national dish and the multitude of preparation styles is mind-boggling. The Francesinha is worth seeking out…but in moderation 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I really love Portuguese food so this post was heaven to me! The custard tarts are my absolute fave, still can’t find something close to what I had in Lisbon back home in London. I also love the Piri Chicken, we found an incredible little place down a side street in Lisbon that did the best version I have ever tasted!
Totally agree with you, Samantha…Portuguese food is the best. That’s awesome you found a little chicken piri piri place close to you. We did as well and it was divine. Along with the pasteis de nata for dessert, you’ve got the perfect combination! Any other favorite dishes from the list?
Seems like they are quite heavy on meat – specifically pork and sea food. Among the veg options, seems like we have the soup and desserts – which is not a bad option at all. They definitely look yummy. Lovely food shots
You are right, Ami, lots of delicious dishes and local food specialities. There are plenty of veg options available too 🙂 Glad you like the photography. Appreciate the feedback. Cheers.
I tried Caldo verde and Bifanas I absolutely loved them. Cannot wait to try these out later. Please keep up the good work Mam.
Thank you so much Ray. Really appreciate your feedback and so glad you enjoyed new Portuguese dishes. Let us know as you try more local dishes. Cheers!