27 Best Portuguese Foods You Need to Try

BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL

Caldo Verde

Caldo verde is a soup native to the Minho region of northern Portugal. It is made with potatoes, collard greens, and slices of chorizo sausage and is flavored with various spices.

The soup is made with finely shredded couve-galega (a type of collard green in Portugal), potatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, and various seasonings. It is often accompanied by slices of paio, chouriço, or linguiça, and served with Portuguese cornbread or rye bread for dipping.

It is typically consumed during celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Although it also can be enjoyed on any day of the year. It is often enjoyed as a starter or a late-night supper, and is served in a tigela, a traditional earthenware bowl.

Some regional recipes may include variations such as turnip greens or added meat, such as ham hock, giving it a similar flavor profile to Italo-American wedding soup. Overall, caldo verde is a beloved and integral part of Portuguese cuisine.

Best Food in Portugal: Desserts

Pastel de Nata

Pastel de nata, or Portuguese custard tart, is a beloved dessert in Portuguese cuisine.

It consists of a flaky pastry crust filled with a creamy custard made from egg yolk, sugar, and milk. The custard has a rich, velvety texture and a slightly caramelized top, making it a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

The original recipe for these custard tarts is believed to have been created by monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, a Lisbon neighborhood. Pastel de nata can be found all over Portugal and is one of the most famous Portuguese desserts.

Pasteis de nata should not be confused with pastel de Belém (pastéis de belém), a similar pastry that is made using the original recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery and can only be produced in the Belém neighborhood of Lisbon.

BEST FOOD IN PORTUGAL

Caldo Verde

Caldo verde is a soup native to the Minho region of northern Portugal. It is made with potatoes, collard greens, and slices of chorizo sausage and is flavored with various spices.

The soup is made with finely shredded couve-galega (a type of collard green in Portugal), potatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, and various seasonings. It is often accompanied by slices of paio, chouriço, or linguiça, and served with Portuguese cornbread or rye bread for dipping.

It is typically consumed during celebrations, such as weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Although it also can be enjoyed on any day of the year. It is often enjoyed as a starter or a late-night supper, and is served in a tigela, a traditional earthenware bowl.

Some regional recipes may include variations such as turnip greens or added meat, such as ham hock, giving it a similar flavor profile to Italo-American wedding soup. Overall, caldo verde is a beloved and integral part of Portuguese cuisine.

Best Food in Portugal: Desserts

Pastel de Nata

Pastel de nata, or Portuguese custard tart, is a beloved dessert in Portuguese cuisine.

It consists of a flaky pastry crust filled with a creamy custard made from egg yolk, sugar, and milk. The custard has a rich, velvety texture and a slightly caramelized top, making it a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

The original recipe for these custard tarts is believed to have been created by monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, a Lisbon neighborhood. Pastel de nata can be found all over Portugal and is one of the most famous Portuguese desserts.

Pasteis de nata should not be confused with pastel de Belém (pastéis de belém), a similar pastry that is made using the original recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery and can only be produced in the Belém neighborhood of Lisbon.