Portuguese cuisine is known for its unique and diverse flavors. Whether you prefer seafood or meat, there’s something for everyone on the menu.
Portuguese food is bursting with bold flavors, often incorporating ingredients like potatoes, garlic, onions, and rice.
If you’re not planning a trip to Portugal anytime soon, don’t worry. You can enjoy Portuguese food at restaurants and bakeries across the United States.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even recreate these dishes in your own kitchen.
Here are a few popular Portuguese dishes you can try:
Codfish is one of the most popular foods in Portugal.
Bacalhau à brás is a classic preparation featuring shredded cod mixed with chopped onion, fried potatoes, thinly chopped and scrambled egg, according to Food & Wine.
This dish is traditionally topped with parsley and olives.
Another popular seafood dish in Portugal is polvo à lagareiro, which is octopus cooked with olive oil and potatoes.
While simple in its ingredients, the challenge lies in cooking the octopus to perfection.
The ideal texture is soft, rather than rubbery, according to Portugal.com.
In this dish, the octopus is baked with olive oil and plenty of garlic, served with smashed, seasoned potatoes on the side.
Arroz de pato, or duck rice, is another dish made with few ingredients but packed with flavor.
The shredded duck in this dish is served over rice alongside Chouriço, Portuguese sausage.
When making this dish at home, don’t discard the stock from the duck; use it to add flavor to your rice.
Arroz de pato is typically served on special occasions like Sunday dinner or holidays like
Sardinhas assadas, grilled sardines, might seem intimidating to first-timers, but it’s a beloved Portuguese dish.
The dish is available year-round in Portugal, but it’s particularly popular in Lisbon during the Feast of St. Anthony, Food & Wine notes.
The sardines are grilled after being marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic, and other seasonings.
Grilled sardines are often served on a piece of toasted bread.
If you’re a seafood lover, this dish is packed with fresh flavors.
This stew is made with an abundance of seafood, including fresh fish, clams, and shrimp.
White wine, olive oil, potatoes, onion, garlic, and tomatoes are other key ingredients in this popular dish.
Rounding out our list is a
This pastry boasts a flaky outer crust with a sweet custard center.
The custard is made using milk, cornstarch, vanilla bean, sugar, and egg yolks, according to All Recipes.
A sprinkle of cinnamon often tops the pastry, and it’s commonly enjoyed with a cup of coffee.