Spain will get plenty of consideration within the meals world, however there’s loads of room on the Iberian Peninsula for 2 culinary powerhouses. As Portugal turns into an more and more standard trip spot—welcoming a whopping 30 million guests in 2023 (a 300 p.c rise over 10 years)—the delicacies is lastly getting its due. The cuisines of Portugal and Spain are related: Each are pork heavy and depend on a bounty of recent seafood—no shock, given Iberia’s countless shoreline. Saffron, recent herbs, garlic, and citrus are culinary throughlines uniting the international locations. However there are many variations, too, similar to Portugal’s nationwide obsession with bacalhau (salt cod), penchant for soupy rice dishes, and extra expansive pastry custom.
From cod-and-potato classics to immigrant-influenced crab curry, these are our greatest Portuguese recipes.
Portugal is understood for its dizzying array of salt cod dishes, however this recipe for crispy cod truffles from Pica-Pau restaurant is Lisbon on a plate. We like shaping them prematurely and frying them up simply as company are arriving. Get the recipe >
Plump, tender mussels and flaky white fish simmer in a garlicky tomato broth on this Portuguese American favourite. Riffs on caldeirada, a fish stew beloved within the Outdated Nation, are perennially standard throughout seafood-loving New England. Get the recipe >
Octopus is a well-liked protein all through Portugal—served grilled, braised, boiled, and umpteen different methods—nevertheless it’s particularly fantastic in rice dishes. Among the finest Portuguese recipes one can eat is that this cozy, tomatoey seafood rice involves us from winemaker Joana Santiago. Get the recipe >
This homestyle salt cod recipe is typical to Monção e Melgaço, a subregion of Vinho Verde in Portugal’s verdant north. The richly sauced, savory fish pairs properly with the native alvarinho wines; should you can’t discover one the place you might be, a slatey Spanish albariño will even do the trick. Get the recipe >
This lush flan-like dessert will get its mellow savory notes from a shocking ingredient: smoked presunto ham. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Get the recipe >
A hefty lamb roast wrapped in bacon and served with saffron rice, foda à moda de Monção is a show-stopping centerpiece hailing from northern Portugal. It’s historically cooked in a wood-fired oven in a “torto” terracotta pot, however a Dutch oven works simply high-quality. Get the recipe >
This easy, soothing soup recipe involves us from Lisbon resident Olivia Ferreira, who provides loads of chouriço sausage, accessible on-line from the home model Michael’s. Crusty papo secos, or Portuguese rolls, make the proper accompaniment. Get the recipe >
The menu on the tiny, brightly coloured Jesus é Goês restaurant in Lisbon is crammed with Goan dishes like these fritters that pop with conventional Indian spices and elements. The pillowy, onion-flecked bites are served with a pungent chutney made with cilantro, tamarind, chile, turmeric, and freshly grated coconut, however any sweet-and-sour dipping sauce will do in a pinch. Get the recipe >
The mixture of tomatoes, eggs, bacon, and chouriço works its magic on this satisfying stew greatest served with thick slices of nation bread. Get the recipe >
This dish from Taberna da Rua das Flores in Lisbon is a lighter, seafood-centric variation on Brazil’s gut-busting stew of black beans and meats. Get the recipe >
Paying homage to fish chowder, this stew brings sea bass and clams collectively in a aromatic broth enriched with cream. The recipe is customized from Cimas, a legendary restaurant in Estoril opened within the Fifties by a Scottish spy. Get the recipe >
Olive oil-slicked potato slices, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and flaked salt cod make this casserole top-of-the-line Portuguese recipes we will consider—at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Get the recipe >
This surf-and-turf stew brings collectively littleneck clams and medallions of pork tenderloin in a wealthy wine sauce. Get the recipe >
Mozambique was a Portuguese colony for practically 5 centuries. At Cantinho do Aziz in Lisbon, Khalid Aziz attracts crowds with Mozambican dishes that honor his household’s heritage, like this tackle a conventional crab curry. Get the recipe >
Petiscos are Portuguese tapas, and this gentle chew from Alentejo is a bracing, vinegary toss of salt cod, chickpeas, and hard-boiled eggs. Get the recipe >
