Enjoy the best Portugal food

The saltier the recipe the better it seems in Portugal, so much so that over 1,000 dishes are cooked with Bacalhau, a salted dried cod adding intense flavour to pretty much anything. With at least one Bacalhau recipe for every day of the year, don’t delay in tasting the national dish of Portugal and ‘faithful friend’ of any local. Start with Bacalhau à bras, a dish of scrambled egg, potato, onions, garlic and of course Bacalhau, served up simply in just about any traditional restaurant.

The soup to try while on winter vacation or any time of year for that matter, Caldo Verde is always a hit. Hued green and served up specially at New Year, this simple soup is rarely found outside of Portugal in its pure form because its Kale-like veggie base is uncommon beyond the country’s borders. As well as the regional greens, the dish also features a blend of potato, chorizo and olive oil for hearty texture and a creamy taste, with added heat the further south you travel.

Another Portuguese traditional food for the seafood lovers among us, Polvo à Lagareiro arrives on the table with its star ingredient of octopus baked and roasted in a generous dousing of locally made olive oil. Skin-on potatoes are usually baked alongside the tender octopus, soaking up all the juices to balance the fruity and slightly bitter flavour of the olives. Sometimes, however, the dish is served up in other creative ways such as in appetizers, salads and on rice to satisfy any kind of hunger.

On the lunch list of all the restaurants in Porto, the Francesinha comes with zero fanfare but huge flavour. Porto’s signature version of the French croque monsieur, the Francesinha is simply two thick slices of bread filled with meat (steak, ham, sausage or chorizo), melted cheese, spicy tomato sauce and an over-easy egg for all the more gooey satisfaction. The Francesinha is a Portugal food favourite for obvious reasons, varying throughout the country and served with a side helping of beer sauce and fries piled high.

One of the more famous dishes to come out of Portugal, the Feijoada is like a hug in a bowl. Variations of the recipe can be found in countries like Brazil, Azores and India to name just a few, but the traditional combination of black beans, garlic, locally cured meats and bay leaves stewed in a thick clay pot is a Portugal original. Named for its key ingredient of feijão (that’s Portuguese for beans, honey), this colourful stew is perfect for a rainy day, extra filling thanks to a side of fluffy rice. If you’re a pescatarian, head to the coast where a version of feijoada made with sea snails makes an appearance.

Pastéis de Natas, pastel de Nata or simply egg custard tart, however you want to call it, this pastry is up there with the croissant as the world’s most loved pastry dessert. Made of flour, butter, eggs, cinnamon and sugar, the Pastel de Nata will ruin your detox but lighten your life with a crisp buttery base to compliment its rich custard filling. Best served warm and accompanied with a small Portuguese coffee known as ‘bica’ in Lisbon, this dessert can gladly be found anywhere in Portugal, though the best is surely to be found at Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, under the original name Pastel de Belém.

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