PortugalWhat to eat in Portugal: top 10 dishes
Traveling to Portugal? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.
01Marmalade
Marmalade is a sweet, tangy fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. The well-known version is made from bitter orange, but other citrus fruits such as lemons and limes can also be used.
Travel tip Eaten on toast at breakfast and sold at markets and shops as a local gift. The word itself comes from the Portuguese word for quince preserve.
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02Pastel de nata
Pastel de nata is a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry, optionally dusted with cinnamon.
Travel tip Sold at bakeries and cafés and eaten any time of day with an espresso. Many people sprinkle on cinnamon or powdered sugar and eat it warm.
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03Feijoada
Feijoada is the name for varieties of bean stew with beef or pork prepared in the Portuguese-speaking world.
Travel tip A hearty bean and meat stew, served in traditional restaurants and best for a big, slow lunch. The Portuguese version differs from the Brazilian one, which is usually served with rice and sides.
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04Francesinha
Francesinha is a Portuguese sandwich, originally from Porto, made with layers of toasted bread and assorted hot meats such as roast, steak, wet-cured ham, linguiça, or chipolata, over which sliced cheese is melted by the ladling of a near-boiling…
Travel tip A rich, filling specialty of Porto, found in cafés and restaurants in the city. It is often paired with fries and a cold beer.
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05Fios de ovos
Fios de ovos (lit. 'egg threads') is a traditional Portuguese sweet food made out of egg yolks, drawn into thin strands and boiled in sugar syrup. It is used as a garnish on cakes and puddings, as a filling for cakes, or eaten on its own.
Travel tip A traditional sweet used to decorate cakes, desserts and festive dishes, and a common feature of Christmas tables. You can often find it in pastry shops.
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06Bacalhau à Brás
Bacalhau à Brás is a Portuguese dish made from shreds of salted cod (bacalhau), onions and thinly chopped (matchstick-sized) fried potatoes, all bound with eggs. It is usually garnished with black olives and sprinkled with fresh flat-leaf parsley.
Travel tip One of the most popular ways to eat salted cod, found in many traditional restaurants as a lunch or dinner main. It is a casual, comforting dish that is easy to order.
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07Malasada
Malassada is a Portuguese fried doughnut from Madeira. It is made of flattened rounds of yeasted dough, coated with sugar and cinnamon or accompanied with molasses.
Travel tip A fried sweet dough, often eaten as a treat at fairs, festivals and in the Carnival season. It is best eaten fresh and still warm.
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08Alheira
Alheira, or Tabafeia in Mirandese, is a type of Portuguese sausage, made with meats (usually veal, duck, chicken, quail or rabbit) and bread.
Travel tip Usually grilled or fried and served with fried egg and potatoes in traditional restaurants, especially in the north. It is a hearty, rustic meal.
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09Caldeirada
Caldeirada is a Portuguese and Galician (Northwestern Spain region) fish stew consisting of a wide variety of fish and potatoes, along with other ingredients.
Travel tip A fish stew found in coastal towns and fishing villages, often shared in a big pot. Ask for the day's fish at a seafood restaurant for the freshest version.
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10Folar
Folar or folar de Páscoa is a traditional Portuguese bread served at Easter. The recipe varies from region to region and it may be sweet or savory.
Travel tip An Easter bread that appears at bakeries in the weeks around the holiday. Versions differ by region, so try the local one wherever you are.
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