For centuries, the Portuguese national cuisine has been created by fishermen and peasants. That's why most of the dishes are very hearty and quite simple to prepare. Traditional Portuguese dishes consist of seafood, fish, and vegetables.
It's worth mentioning that the Portuguese take their meals seriously. It's no coincidence that almost all public and office buildings close between 12:30 and 13:30 for a leisurely lunch. Additionally, each region of Portugal has its own national dishes. Tourists visiting this amazing country should definitely try the following dishes:
- Bacalhau - dried salted cod with chickpeas
- Captain Vila's Weeping Fish - a soup that includes still-living fish with added vegetables, spices, and oil
- Ameijoas a balhao pato - the national dish of Portugal, which translates to "shell kiss." It consists of boiled mussels with spices, olive oil, and garlic
Portuguese cuisine is famous for more than just fish dishes. Among the dishes that vividly characterize the national cuisine, it's worth highlighting:
- Feijoada - baked sausages with beans, dried meat, beef giblets, and garlic
- Cusido Portuguese - a dish that includes not only chicken but also pork, beef, and various cured meats
To savor traditional Portuguese sweets, tourists from all over Europe visit local patisseries and coffee shops, where you can find delightful treats like sweet almond balls, nun cookies, almond cookies, almond nougat, and powdered egg yolks.
The most traditional drink in Portugal is the famous Port wine. Additionally, Madeira's wines are world-famous, including Lycos, Verdilho, Cercial, and Bual. Regions like Alentejo, Vinho Verde, and Bairrady are renowned for their high-quality wines. For beer lovers, don't miss trying the foamy drink called Coral.
