Top 10 Portuguese foods to try in Portugal

Portugal’s climate and cuisine are influenced largely by the sea. The best time to visit is in the spring or autumn, as the summers can get too hot and the winters too cold. If you’ve managed to get a hold of some cheap tickets on flights to Portugal and you are wondering what native Portuguese food will be like when you arrive, here is a rundown on Portuguese cuisine. The Portuguese diet consists primarily of cured meats, fresh seafood, bread and cheese. The sea has largely defined Portuguese cuisine and it is characterized by rich, filling and robust dishes. The food is most closely related to Mediterranean cuisine and is steeped in the country’s tradition of relying on the sea and the region’s resources for food. Here is a listing of the top 10 Portuguese foods to try while vacationing in Portugal. Salt Cod (or “Bacalhau”) 

The principal fish of Portugal, cod is almost always salted because it’s a tradition of preserving the fish that predates refrigeration. It is said that the Portuguese have 365 recipes for cod – one for each day of the year. Sweet Bread – Portuguese sweet bread is a staple at every meal. It can be served for breakfast, lunch or even accompany dinner. Pudim This dessert is also known as Crème Caramel. It is burnt cream custard that must be tried when visiting Portugal. Sweetened egg custards, like their French counterparts, are a traditional dessert in Portugal.

Patries de Nata – These fresh pastries are both delicious and addictive. Their smell will draw you in to the bakeries as you pass. Let them draw you in. Wine – Although wine is not a food, you cannot experience Portuguese cuisine without partaking in the regions favourite accompanying beverage. The regions many wines are rich, full-bodied and well-crafted to accompany the savoury dishes you’ll be enjoying. Portugal is famous for their Port wines. Sardines – In addition to cod and many other fish and shellfish, Portugal is known for its sardines. They can and export tons of sardines every year, but it’s great to try them fresh from the source. Many of the regions recipes benefit from the introduction of fresh sardines. Caldeirada The best way to take advantage of all the fresh fish that Portugal has to offer is to try one of their many stews. This delicious stew consists of a large variety of both shellfish and fish.

Sausage (or “enchidos”) – Portugal is known for their delectable and spicy varieties of sausage; the most popular of which is chorizo. Local meats are cured and blended with a variety of spices that add depth of flavour and heat to the sausage. Cheese – Like wine, cheese is a staple of Portuguese cuisine. They make some really high quality artisanal cheeses from goat and sheep’s milk and they are enjoyed daily as part of lunch and dinner. Olive Oils – As with other Mediterranean influenced diets, olive oil plays an important role in the Portuguese diet. There are said to be 1001 different varieties of Portuguese olive oils. Try and sample just a few. Don’t limit your food choices to the items listed here, but be sure to sample at least some of what’s listed. You will fall in love with Portuguese cuisine if you do. And if you can time your trip just right, there is even an International Chocolate Festival in the medieval town of Óbidos.