Portuguese Cuisine
Portuguese food is flavorful, rich and delicious. When traveling to Portugal, you must try the incredible cuisine. This article will give you a bit of insight into what you’ll find on a Portuguese menu and even what to do if you’re on a special diet!
Portuguese Cuisine – A Unique, Flavorful Indulgence
When dining on Portuguese food, be prepared to experience a wide variety of filling, full-flavored dishes designed to excite the palette and tempt the senses. Breakfast is light and simple, lunch and dinner often consist of soup and seafood and dessert may be anything from simple custard to a luscious egg-based tart.
Braised cod fish, potatoes and red bell pepper
Wine – The Compliment to Your Meal
To complement the rich, delicious Portuguese food, there are plenty of wines to choose from. “Green wine” or Vinho Verde is something you might want to try. The word green doesn’t refer to the color of the wine; rather, it refers to the age of the grapes.
While most wines are aged years before they arrive at your table, green wine is served young, within the year. Vinho Verde has a fresh, fruity flavor that’s sure to complement any of the seafood dishes you’re likely to encounter on your journey.
Seafood – A Bountiful of Plenty
Unless it’s breakfast, you’re more than likely to find a wide selection of seafood to choose from on any lunch or dinner menu. Portugal is a sea-faring country that boasts the highest European fish consumption per capita.
Bacalhau (cod) is the most common type of fish served in Portugal. It can be eaten grilled, friend, deep-fried, stewed, boiled, poached, simmered or even roasted.
Other common types of seafood consumed in Portugal are sardines, shrimp, prawns, clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, sea bass, ray fish and tuna.
Watch Chef Marino Tavares Prepare Traditional Seafood Cataplana
Dessert – Custards, Puddings and Tarts
In addition to filling meals, Portuguese cuisine also offers an impressive array of filling desserts. Rice pudding, called “arroz doce” is the most common dessert served. It is usually served with cinnamon, vanilla and milk. Set-egg custard is another common dessert comprised of egg yolk, sugar and flour.
Learn to make the Creamy Custard Tart Dessert with The New British Kitchen
( Find the recipe at http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/513551 )
Alcantara Café Restaurant – Lisbon, Portugal – Elegant Dining
To experience the cuisine of Portugal surrounded in modern elegance, visit Alcantara Café in Lisbon. Decorated in red velvet, ambient lighting and steel pillars, you’ll feel (and be treated like) a star as soon as you enter. Plan on dining late, Alcantara opens at 8pm and stays open until 1am. Dine on a mixture of traditional Portuguese food as well as an interesting blend of International flavors.
Green Pepper Restaurant, Lisbon, Portugal – Vegetarian
Vegetarians and vegans looking to experience authentic Portuguese food have the option at sleek, modern Green Pepper. Choose from delicious rice and bean dishes, tofu entrees, sandwiches, sushi or a buffet for lunch or dinner.
Open Brasserie Mediterrânica, Lisbon, Portugal – Gluten Free
Those on special diets are often hesitant to eat at any restaurant, let alone one in a foreign country. The good news is there are restaurants in Portugal that serve gluten-free food. The Open Brasserie caters to those on gluten-free and lactose-free diets. Fish, vegetables and lemon dessert are among safe foods for gluten-free folks to enjoy.
Learn to Navigate Through Portuguese Menus and Order with Confidence; An Interview with Lucy Pepper, co-author of Eat Portugal: The Essential Guide to Portuguese Food
Portugal is a gorgeous country filled with beautiful places to see and experience and sumptuous cuisine to enjoy. Eat authentic and experience the wonders of Portuguese cuisine.