TOP MUST-HAVE TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE FOODS TO TRY ON YOUR NEXT TRIP
Portuguese food is all about local ingredients and big, powerful flavors. Whether you plump for the salty punch of bacalhau, the sweet custard kick of pasteis de nata, or the pungent combination of paprika, garlic and bay leaves that forms the basis of many local recipes, Portugal's traditional dishes offer bold and beautiful flavors. To guide you on your culinary explorations, here's our pick of the top 10 Portuguese foods to try on your next trip.
ALHEIRA FROM MIRANDELA
Alheira may look like a sausage, but it's so much more. Stuffed with chicken, or for the more exquisite version, game bird meat, it's compacted with bread and often enjoyed with a fried egg and fries. It's played an important role in history too, with Portuguese Jews conspicuously cooking the dish as proof of their conversion to Christianity.
HOT GREEN
A much-loved local dish, Caldo Verde might seem like cabbage soup to the uninitiated. Deceptively difficult to prepare, it has its greens cut up in very particular ways, absorbing much of the faint smoky flavor imparted by the addition of barbequed sausage.
CUSTARD TARTS
The mother of all custard tarts, Pasteis de Nata doesn't just have a continental standing but a global one. Sent all over the world, the best have lemon juice squeezed through their custard and a little nutmeg sprinkled upon their glossy film of a lid
GRILLED FISH
Despite lots of delicious fish varieties giving sardines a run for their money, it's the little nibbler that remains the most beloved. Affordable and delicious, they form the perfect accompaniment to jugs of sangria or served up with lots of vegetables.