27 Best Portuguese Foods You Need to Try
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Cozido à Portuguesa
Cozido à Portuguesa, also known as Portuguese boiled dinner, is a traditional and hearty Portuguese dish with various meats and vegetables.
The ingredients for cozido à Portuguesa vary depending on the region and the cook. Still, it typically includes a variety of meats such as beef, pork, chicken, and sausage, as well as vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage.
To prepare cozido à Portuguesa, the meats and vegetables are placed in a large pot and covered with water. The pot is then brought to a boil and simmered over low heat until the meats are tender and the vegetables are cooked through. The dish is typically served hot and accompanied by bread to soak up the flavorful broth.
Best Food in Portugal: Soups
Açorda (bread soaked in broth)
Açorda is a traditional Portuguese dish that consists of thin slices of stale bread soaked in a mixture of garlic, coriander, olive oil, vinegar, water, white pepper, salt, and poached eggs. It is typically served with chicken stock and can also include variations with shrimp or codfish.
The dish has a consistency similar to a bread paste and is known for its bright green color. It is popular in the Alentejo region, where it is also known as Açorda Alentejana, and can be served as a soup. Açorda is typically served as a starter or a light meal.
Açorda is a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for a cold day or as a quick and easy meal at any time.
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Caldeirada de Peixe
Caldeirada de peixe is a traditional Portuguese fish stew made with a variety of fish and seafood, including cod, monkfish, and shellfish, along with vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. The ingredients are simmered together in a flavorful broth made with white wine, garlic, and spices.
Caldeirada de peixe has a long history in Portuguese cuisine, with roots dating back to the country’s coastal communities where fish and seafood were abundant. It is a hearty and satisfying meal often served with boiled potatoes or rice. The stew flavors are bold and savory, with a hint of the sea.
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Sopa da Pedra
Sopa da Pedra, or stone soup, is a soup that originates from the city of Almeirim, located in the Ribatejo region, considered the “capital of the stone soup”.
Sopa da pedra is made with a combination of beans, sausages, pork belly, pig’s ear, and potatoes. This hearty and flavorful soup is often served with a side of pasta, carrots, or cabbage, and is a popular choice at restaurants and homes throughout the country.
According to legend, the dish originated when a monk in need wanted to prepare soup using only stones and water. When he asked for additional ingredients to add flavor to the soup, a generous family offered him pork cuts, beans, sausages, and vegetables, resulting in a rich and nutritious dish without any stones. Today, sopa da pedra is enjoyed by many as a comforting and satisfying meal.
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Cozido à Portuguesa
Cozido à Portuguesa, also known as Portuguese boiled dinner, is a traditional and hearty Portuguese dish with various meats and vegetables.
The ingredients for cozido à Portuguesa vary depending on the region and the cook. Still, it typically includes a variety of meats such as beef, pork, chicken, and sausage, as well as vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage.
To prepare cozido à Portuguesa, the meats and vegetables are placed in a large pot and covered with water. The pot is then brought to a boil and simmered over low heat until the meats are tender and the vegetables are cooked through. The dish is typically served hot and accompanied by bread to soak up the flavorful broth.
Best Food in Portugal: Soups
Açorda (bread soaked in broth)
Açorda is a traditional Portuguese dish that consists of thin slices of stale bread soaked in a mixture of garlic, coriander, olive oil, vinegar, water, white pepper, salt, and poached eggs. It is typically served with chicken stock and can also include variations with shrimp or codfish.
The dish has a consistency similar to a bread paste and is known for its bright green color. It is popular in the Alentejo region, where it is also known as Açorda Alentejana, and can be served as a soup. Açorda is typically served as a starter or a light meal.
Açorda is a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for a cold day or as a quick and easy meal at any time.
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Caldeirada de Peixe
Caldeirada de peixe is a traditional Portuguese fish stew made with a variety of fish and seafood, including cod, monkfish, and shellfish, along with vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. The ingredients are simmered together in a flavorful broth made with white wine, garlic, and spices.
Caldeirada de peixe has a long history in Portuguese cuisine, with roots dating back to the country’s coastal communities where fish and seafood were abundant. It is a hearty and satisfying meal often served with boiled potatoes or rice. The stew flavors are bold and savory, with a hint of the sea.
BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL
Sopa da Pedra
Sopa da Pedra, or stone soup, is a soup that originates from the city of Almeirim, located in the Ribatejo region, considered the “capital of the stone soup”.
Sopa da pedra is made with a combination of beans, sausages, pork belly, pig’s ear, and potatoes. This hearty and flavorful soup is often served with a side of pasta, carrots, or cabbage, and is a popular choice at restaurants and homes throughout the country.
According to legend, the dish originated when a monk in need wanted to prepare soup using only stones and water. When he asked for additional ingredients to add flavor to the soup, a generous family offered him pork cuts, beans, sausages, and vegetables, resulting in a rich and nutritious dish without any stones. Today, sopa da pedra is enjoyed by many as a comforting and satisfying meal.
